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Why not braided line?.
I've been using 30lb braided haven't had any problems.
I use 7 strand wire in 18 lb test with crimps. Never had an issue or breakoff. Super thin and very easy to work with. My son bought into the 50 lb flouro and I never seem to get out fished. As Essox said the spot is likely more important. 18 lb wire is dirt cheap and super thin and will never get bit off. I color them with black marker to dull the shine of the wire. It does kink but most times you can straighten it out. If not, again cheap to replace.
For a pike leader? Either you're not catching any toothies or you need to go buy a Powerball.I've said it repeatedly, I get to say it again. Any plastic can be cut and at some point that will happen. Titanium? Really the only advantage over steel is it's kink-free nature which, for me, is not worth the much higher price point. Sure sounds cool to say you're using the "latest, greatest" but day in, day out I'd be very surprised to be significantly outfished by anyone using "alternative" leader material. Yes, I've been out fished on occasion but the key word here is "significantly". Also note that the word "consistently" is missing as it applies to neither steel, titanium or plastic.Lots (and lots) of anecdotal observations around "I get more flags with fluorocarbon" but I say if I had the "hot hole" (and you know they exist on any given day) I could use clothesline for leader and outfish everyone. It's the old deal, no one (well hardly anyone) leaves a decent bite to see if it can be even better or to prove worse or doesn't work.For me, 20# uncoated wire is cheap, dirt easy to work with (no crimps necessary), very flexible (more so than 60# fluoro) and cut proof. I did not say "break proof" and that can happen, especially at the hole if you don't mind yer p's and q's. OK. That's it. I'm done (again), at least for a while.
I've had a enough sound advice from esox_xtm in recent years to know that he is a better pike fisherman than I am and I'm just going to follow his practice. Farewell to the 40# and 80# fluoro and the Knot-2-Kinky and all the crimps and swagers. Hello to the single strand (have some 27#) and I can already do a pretty good haywire twist.
I don't use shorter than 12" and often longer (18"). Gets something thinner farther away from the Dacron, leaves room to retie for a kink without rebuilding and winds right up on your spool without memory issues.
I used 20-25lbs 7 strand stainless steel wire this fall. Look up how the guys in the UK tie their leaders. They call them traces no crimping required just twisting with locking pliers. I had no issues with them last fall I'll be trying them this winter on tip ups using dead herring and mackerel.
Finally got out today.Set my Finicky Foolers with 18 lb. braided wire out and my son put his tipups with 30 lb flouro out. Claims he was having luck with 50 lb. so decided to drop to 30 and see if odds improve. I got 4 takes, one being a 34 incher which was a blast to fight on 10 lb line instead of hand over hand but that's another story. My son got 1 and shortly into the fight bit him off. I got all 4 of mine in. The fact I got 4 takes vs. his one I'm sure as location but the fact that I landed 4 and his lone take bit him off was due to the wire. Watched the video Essox posted link to and don't need crimps anymore. Slick. 2 takeaways. I will always use wire and unless it's really cold I will use the Finicky Fooler. Sold my I-fish Pro. Too much messing around and didn't like the trip mechanism.
Many times have been broken off using fluoro that's why I switched to braid years ago.I know almost everyone hates it for leaders but it works for me and many others.Ive been using suffix performance braid in the 20-30 lb range.I use it on most of my reels as well as tipups because it's way cheaper than all different kinds of wire or braided wire(why)and easy to use.Yea you can rip your hand open when playing a fish by hand but not any different than with fluoro or mono etc.I always wear gloves.