Mono(flourocarbon) leaders VS. Steel Leaders!!????

[Meat-Run]

Hey Muskie/Pike Guys,

I'm in the process of making a bunch of leaders with Flourocarbon and want everyones advise. They are some what new to the industry and I want to know who uses them and for what situation? Would you use them for all applications and what size would you use 80lbs., 100lbs, 1501lbs, 200lbs.????

Currently I have been using Titanium because they just are harder to kink. This is going to be a fun project to start to help me get ready for the muskie season and I'm making leaders for tip up fishing for LOW this weekend.

MR

[Stratosman]

I usually make mine out of at least 100lb flourocarbon, if you do any trolling in rocky areas, don't be afraid to go up to 150lb....I make some 7 strand leaders as well, but I think the flourocarbons are a bit easier to get the crimps to hold on...for me anyway, I have more confidence in my leaders when using flourocarbon and I fish mostly clear water which I think they excel in.

[setterguy]

I always use 100, I use floro when throwing plastic baits (bulldawgs ect.) They seem to chew them up a little less on the casts.

[Meat-Run]

Setterguy and Stratosman,

would you guys use Mono for all your needs except jerk baits??? Have you ever lost fish because of the leader ever breaking for nicking??

mr

[Stratosman]

I use them for most every application except jerkbait's, I have my jigs tied direct with 7 strand, I think it cuts through weeds better than flouro...? I can say I have never had one break on me. It's a fun little hobby and you can crank out quite a few leaders in no time flat. I like longer ones for trolling (like 30" or so) which I do very little of. Experiment with lengths for casting, too long and you run into figure 8 problems, too short isn't good either..16" seems to fit me.

[Meat-Run]

Stratosman,

you answer my next question how long. I might make some 14, 16, and 18" leaders. Were is the best place to get terminal tackle? I priced some snaps and bearings at Reed's and GM and that stuff isn't cheap either, wow!

mr

[RK]

Hiya -

Here's my take...

I have gotten to like Fluoro in a couple situations. Great for bucktails, topwaters, and crankbaits, and for trolling when you aren't around rocks. Main reason I like them for trolling is they're so easy on the fish when they roll. Steel leaders can really slice up fish sometimes, which I hate.

I use 100# test minimum with fluoro. Any less and you can have cut leaders. No good. I use #130. I hate knotting the stuff, so I crimp mine, but you MUST have the right tools. The cheap, red-handled crimping pliers are bad news with fluoro. They have point to cup crimping jaws. which just crushes the sleeve (and the leader material) rather than compressing the sleeve around the leader. Use compound-pressure cup to cup crimpers like you can get in saltwater catalogs (I think Thorne Bros has them too). 3mm sleeves are the right size for 100-130# fluoro, and I prefer oval aluminum our double-barreled steel sleeves over round ones. When you do it right, the crimp should have ends that are flared like the bell on a trumpet.

Fluoro is tough, but it seems like once it gets abraded, it loses strength dramatically. As soon as I see wear I replace the leader.

For casting jerkbaits I use 145# or so single strand wire leaders. I make my own - a coil of wire is pretty cheap. I buy swivels in bulk, and #9 Berkley Cross Lock snaps by the gross (literally). You can re-use swivels over and over (I put ruined leaders in a box in my boat and cut them apart during the winter), but snaps should be replaced frequently. As soon as they start to wear I replace them.

For trolling around rocks like fall trolling on Lake of the Woods I use a stranded wire leader (for both fluoro and wire trolling leaders, my leaders are about 5' long - extra length is nice when fish roll up in the line). I used to use long single strand leaders, but I hated what they did to fish when they rolled, and 7-strand was worse yet, plus I didn't think it was durable as single-strand, and it kinked like mad. The last couple years though I've been using 175# 49-strand wire I found in England, and it's awesome stuff. Unbelievably soft and durable, doesn't kink (I used to go through 2-3 leaders a day on Lake of the Woods in October, but last year I used the same leader for 4 days), and really easy on fish when they roll. Love the stuff.

For jigs, I use 90# uncoated stranded wire, and crimp them direct to the leader (snaps pick up too much gunk). I just use a solid ring on the top rather than a swivel (do the same with jerkbait and crankbait leaders for that matter - line twist isn't an issue with them after all so why not?).

Anynow..that's what I do. Not as complicated as it sounds really.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Meat-Run]

Rob,

thanks for the tip on the ring at the top. I was thinking that but in some cases jerk baits and such a swivel isn't always needed. I have all the correct tools to crimp and on certain lures I could crimp directly to the lure, cut and replace as needed.

mr

[Huey]

I use 100 lb mono, tied with a perfection loop, for everything but trolling rocky areas. I use 105 lb single strand, with hay wire twists, for trolling around rocks.

I like the lure action that I get with mono and the relatively light 105# wire. Knock on wood. I've never had a leader failure. Knock on wood again.

My $.02, Huey

[AWH]

MR,

Rob mentioned everything that I was going to and much much more. 100 pound fluoro is the absolute minimum I would run, especially with the waters that you fish. As far as components, depending on how many you're looking to buy at a time, you have different options. I bought a bunch of stuff from Moore's Lures a few years ago. They had the best deals I could find at the time on snaps and swivels. You can get discounts on higher volume orders with them as well.

Aaron

[Meat-Run]

AWH,

Lastnight I made up three leaders, 100, 150, 200lbs. One little problem that I noticed is when I put the sleeve on and pull the line down to make the loop smaller closer to the snap or swivel it will scuff up the line even after I wet the line. Maybe I need to apply some kind of oil to reduce the friction. Otherwise I'm excited to start making a bunch.

mr

[AWH]

MR,

I've actually never tried to crimp anything. I don't trust myself to do it right. I made up a few fluoro leaders for myself a few years ago. I tied them. I think it's a solid knot, but it doesn't look the best. From here on out though, I'm just going to buy Stealth fluoro leaders. At least I know they're made right and I can trust them. I also like the idea of bumping up to 130 pound, which I haven't been able to tie decent.

Aaron