Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! > Northern Pike

Steel leaders or heavy mono line?

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DR.SPECKLER:
Thought id spice the thread up with a nice 26" pike that was bleeding so i kept it and now resides in my pickle jar.pickled pike is excellent and i use a recipe from shotgun red on YouTube.

Iceassin:

--- Quote from: esox_xtm on Feb 10, 2021, 09:20 AM ---The pike leader rabbit hole again...

WARNING! THESE ARE ONLY MY OPINIONS BASED ON MY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES. NO DISRESPECT TO DIFFERING OPINIONS.

First, a mono leader would be a distant 3rd choice for me. #1 would be a thin, flexible wire and #2 would be fluoro in an appropriate # test. Any superline (aka "braid") is a big mistake just waiting to happen. And yes, the recommendation to use an actual leader material (whether mono or fluoro) is good advice. There is a big difference between spooling line and leader material.

For wire, #20 test is plenty. Very thin, very flexible (more flexible that an equal test of fluoro/mono) and pretty cheap. Still not a horse 'em rig. I've seen a few snapped when the fish comes out of the hole and thrashes it's head but not a single one cut. Ever.

Fluoro is a different cat. Normally I wouldn't recommend anything under 50# test but it's stiff and challenging to tie. I've seen #60 cut so that's why my minimum number is 50#. There are some highly regarded (by me) sources that are promoting the use of 20# with surprising results. The one caveat is use for open water only (as opposed to heavy cover - weeds, wood, etc.) is recommended. I may play with that at some point. I am currently experimenting in rigging dead baits with 20# fluoro with a short wire strike at the business end. So far I'm 2 for 2 with no lost fish and no leader damage so it's interesting.

I believe that the thought that fluoro/mono allows more action from the minnow is (mostly) wrong. If you're using a dime a dozen wire leaders from the store with stock heavy snap and swivel I'll agree. But very thin wire tied direct to small hook and small swivel is really very stealthy and supremely limp. On the flip side of that there are times (possibly more than we think) that overactive bait can be a turn off. That can, perhaps, explain some of the difference between more success with fluoro as heavier tests actually limit bait movement more so than wire even in same pound tests.

@Iceassin: Muskies do have teeth so if you want to land an incidental catch wire is a fine choice. Sturgeon, on the other hand, have zero cutting teeth (if any at all) so you could fish them with a superline leader and be confident.

@DR.SPECKLER: I'm in a bit of a slump myself. Not just ice fishing but my last two musky seasons have been absolutely horrible. It'll come around. I've got too many good experiences to blame it on anything other than happenstance. Last time on the ice I did bang out a limit of 10 nice 'gills in less than an hour (including sorting) and a coupla pike though one was on the jig rod.

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Did not know this. Good to know.

whiteymalone:

--- Quote from: DR.SPECKLER on Feb 10, 2021, 11:21 AM ---Thought id spice the thread up with a nice 26" pike that was bleeding so i kept it and now resides in my pickle jar.pickled pike is excellent and i use a recipe from shotgun red on YouTube.


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+1 on the recipe from Shotgun Red's You Tube channel. I think he called it a pickled shrimp recipe. Everyone that tried pike prepared with this recipe loved it.     RIP Steve Hall

river_scum:
been using 25# "big game" line for several years if not decades by now.  plenty of big fish to put leader to the test too.

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