Question on leaders for toothy critters

[Fish-N-Fool]

I was fishing the PO river the other day and got bit off using 50# spiderwire. so I put on a steel leader and could not get bit. Took off the steel and got a fish on he first cast. I got bit off again a few mins later by a monster fish with the braid. So what do you guys use that they can't bite off easy, but is still hard for the fish to see? Anyone using like 50# Floro? or mono? I hate loosing my hallow belly swimbaits all the time as well as having a fish with a hook in it. I don't really like steel leader for lots of reasons and need a better leader mat.

[Lucius]

I was fishing the PO river the other day and got bit off using 50# spiderwire. so I put on a steel leader and could not get bit. Took off the steel and got a fish on he first cast. I got bit off again a few mins later by a monster fish with the braid. So what do you guys use that they can't bite off easy, but is still hard for the fish to see? Anyone using like 50# Floro? or mono? I hate loosing my hallow belly swimbaits all the time as well as having a fish with a hook in it. I don't really like steel leader for lots of reasons and need a better leader mat.

I use a 60 pound flourocarbon leader tied directly to my fishing line to eliminate the black/silver swivel that might deter to big girls. Although I was fishing with my buddys that had the swivel at the end of the leader and the snap at the other end and they caught just as many fish as I did. You could probably get away with a 30-40lb flour and you should be fine. Heavy mono in the 50-60 should work too. There is also that tieable steel leader that I used for awhile and I didn't have any problems catching fish on the P.O. Hope that helps. Write back if you need more information. Good luck!! And post pictures of you catch!!

[YJ Guide Service]

I use 60lb Flurocarbon also tied to a swivel just for the fact the so called experts say tying that double clinch or sinch knot with leader lines that arent within 2-4-6lbs to the reel line your using the knots arent as good. The line diameter is to thick when using the 60lb or even 40lb to sinch down on the regular line properly they do hold though. I fish the river just about 3-5 times a week and havent had any problems using both methods. I just feel safer i guess with the 60 lb Fluorcarbon to the blk swivel then to my lures. When it comes to this debate i guess everyone has a opinion on it. I never use wire leaders at all, just doesnt look natural and i'm more of a finese fisherman. Good luck fishing everyone

[dougw]

I have had very few go through my 50# Spiderwire. That said, I have switched to using 30# fluorocarbon since I feel you miss a lot of line/leader shy fish strikes. Have yet to test the fluorocarbon yet. I will hopefully put it to the test tomorrow on a fish or two. I really like the invisible factor, and think it will lead to a lot higher number of strikes. I would gamble there is a pretty low chance they will break the 30# fluorocarbon. Of course there is always an exception!

Most of the fishing I did as a kid for Muskies in Wisconsin, I used the heaviest steel leader I could get. Back then it was about a 30# steel. I think many of the 'would-be' strikes remained just that b/c the leader detracted from the presentation. I had my share of follows, but never as a kid put 2 and 2 together and threw the steel leaders back in the box. Wish I had. We caught quite a few muskies doing the bass fishing, which of course we never used leaders. Should have been a no-brainer, but common perception then was that you HAD to have the steel leader if you were going to land a muskie. Thanks go out to the line manufacturers for putting out a much higher quality product and better selection now.

[Kfedka]

I'm using a medium heavy bait caster 6'6" long. Main line is braided at 30lb, which I use a albright knot to tie to 80lb floro. What kind of knot would I use to tie 80lb floro to snap swivel or hook?

[Kfedka]

Found this link; Its called a canoe knot.
bnsm0imaR0k

Also read about crimping the fluorocarbon to form a loop.

[dblood1974]

Hey folks, new guy here...

I'm a recently addicted Pike/Tiger wannabe fisherman.

For those of you that are using the heavy fluoro leaders, what kind of knot do you use? I browsed the net and it seemed that the Palomar knot was the one most often referenced. I recently started using 50# fluoro as a leader and the Palomar knot is a pretty easy one to tie, but it can be a bugger to cinch down tight.

Thank you for your help!

Darin

[Rich McVey]

I have been using "Charlies Leaders". Most are 65 to 90 pound mono.

[dougw]

Darin,
I use the common knots that you would use on lighter mono lines. You're right, they can be a bugger to cinch down. I am only using 40# fluoro though. I generally cut a long (30-36") chunk of fluoro, tie it to my line using a uni-knot. I then tie directly to the lure I am wanting to use. I don't switch lures as often as most, and this allows me to get the best presentation possible. The long leader affords me several changes before I have to replace the continually shrinking leader when I do switch.

Specific knots I use are as follows:

Light line to heavy fluoro---- Uni-knot
Fluoro to rapala type lure---- Non Slip Loop Knot
Fluoro to spinner baits--- Trilene knot or polomar

That pretty much covers all of the knots I use. Seldom do I need to deviate from that..... One tip is to make sure you lubricate the knot before you cinch it down. Then use a pair of gloves to make sure you can tug on it without cutting yourself.

[dblood1974]

Thanks a ton guys, I really appreciate the feedback. Definitely a couple ideas there that I will be adding in.

Thanks again,
Darin

[Kfedka]

Darin,
I use the common knots that you would use on lighter mono lines. You're right, they can be a bugger to cinch down. I am only using 40# fluoro though. I generally cut a long (30-36") chunk of fluoro, tie it to my line using a uni-knot. I then tie directly to the lure I am wanting to use. I don't switch lures as often as most, and this allows me to get the best presentation possible. The long leader affords me several changes before I have to replace the continually shrinking leader when I do switch.

Specific knots I use are as follows:

Light line to heavy fluoro---- Uni-knot
Fluoro to rapala type lure---- Non Slip Loop Knot
Fluoro to spinner baits--- Trilene knot or polomar

That pretty much covers all of the knots I use. Seldom do I need to deviate from that..... One tip is to make sure you lubricate the knot before you cinch it down. Then use a pair of gloves to make sure you can tug on it without cutting yourself.

Did a pike/muskie ever engulf your Rapala(on occasions when a pause is made) and cut your 40lb Fluoro?

[dougw]

I have not had that problem yet. That being said, I do know some that have had 60# fluoro leaders bitten. Most of the time, they do not seem to fully engulf the lure like they do with the soft swim baits. (Knock on wood!) When I run out of the 40# leader material, I will be switching to heavier leader material, likely 60-80#.....

[Fish-N-Fool]

I have switched to 50 lb. Flouro and have not lost a fish since. I still use the braid for a main line though. For you guys that are looking for a great line to lure knot for heavy mono or flouro lines try my name sake the Fish-N-Fool knot. I started using this knot about 5 years ago now and it has proven to be the best all around knot out there. Knot wars found it on my website and used it on their TV show (without my permission by the way) But I didnt care, it made me famous. Try the Fish-N-Fool knot for all your line to hookeye or swivel needs. It's super quick to tie & super strong testing at or above the rated line strength. In many cases it tested 30% higher.
Tied with 14 lb Trilene big game mono it tested at 22.4 lb.
tied with 15 lb Trilene braid it tested at 19.2
For super heavy lines like 50 lb. and above I cut down to 4 wraps, I use 5 wraps for mono in the 15 lb. class. For light mono and Flouro lines I use 6 wraps, and I use 7 for braid.
Here is a ez referance guide on how to tie my knot.




Here is a link to the Knot Wars site where they do a head to head test for the Knot Wars Champion.
http://www.fishingclub.com/video/articl ... -v-palomar

Here is a U-tube video I did to make it easier to understand how to tie the Fish-N-Fool Knot.
oA2XKUF11_8

[Fish-N-Fool]

Here is some of the pike friends & I got this year on that flouro line.
The pixs of my biggest fish of the year didnt get taken as the guy running the camera had a malfuntion like he didnt know how to push the button. GRRRRRRRRRRR LOL It was a 36" fish
Here are some of my midsize fish
Got this 28" on a Hallow belly swimbait


Got this 26" on one of my own Soft plastic baits


Got this 40.5" 20 pound monster on a inline spinner


Another friend got this on a small mepps spinner

[dougw]

Some nice fish, Fish-N-Fool!!!