Leaders

[massbass]

I was curious what people use for leaders on their tip ups. With pickerel all around I usually have a 6 inch leader connected to  a 3 foot 12 pound fluorocarbon leader which connects to the rest of the line on the spool. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas

[esox_xtm]

I was curious what people use for leaders on their tip ups. With pickerel all around I usually have a 6 inch leader connected to  a 3 foot 12 pound fluorocarbon leader which connects to the rest of the line on the spool. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas

Good luck Billy... 

Either got to tackle up or live with the occasional bite off. Can't have both.

[massbass]

I’ve actually never had an issue with using both over the last 5 years Caught plenty of fish on my setup. Maybe I don’t need the fluorocarbon if I’m using a leader anyways. Was just interested to what other people do. Thanks though

[esox_xtm]

Wasn't trying to be a smarta$$ but, well...

It's just that lots of folks want a stealthy rig for fish without razors for teeth but still want to mitigate the occasional bite off. I really don't know of anything that truly provides both. You can go two ways - Increase #test on the fluoro leader but then it gets stiff, more difficult to tie and bait doesn't wear it well (again my opinion). In my experience even 25# fluoro does not provide adequate biteoff protection for pike/pickerel. I'm barely comfortable with 50# but don't care for how stiff it is.

OR go with really light uncoated wire. They make down to 8# test and it is super thin but you can't make many mistakes with that either or it'll break (but not from teeth cutting).Most folks think wire is evil so you'll have to make the call. My standard is 20# wire and I catch plenty of bass and walleyes on that same leader. Not much for trout or salmon in these parts so...

So we're all clear, it's your tipup line, a section of fluoro and then a 6" wire leader? Nothin' wrong with that. I wouldn't use a store bought leader. Too thick and too much hardware for my liking.

[massbass]

Yea I see what you mean, your probably right, it also depends where I’m fishing sometimes. Some places are loaded with pickerel and others it’s mostly bass, thanks for the thoughts. Something I’ll have to think about

[Eastciderida]

20-30 lb mono for fishing everything but trout. Trout I switch to 4 lb mono

[esox_xtm]

Yep. It's a choice...

[Tmuskie]

What are you using? To my dismay a few years back I got my PB pike  37”er, on a JawJacker set up with 10# fluoro. Today I got a brookie on a tip-up with 20# big game mono.

[Papa Sly]

for my regular non trout fishing I use my 30# dacron backer, spro ball bearing swivel, 30# 18" fluorocarbon leader crimped, never tied and a 1/0 to 3/0 octopus hook. I like florescent orange and chartreuse hooks with a perch Colorado blade sometimes. For pike I use 60# fluorocarbon and also knot 2 kinky tieable wire.

[fonzie]

I’ve had good luck with 30lb PP braid as a leader, bass still hit the shiners and slime darts don’t bite through it.

[PenguinIII]

20-30 lb mono for fishing everything but trout. Trout I switch to 4 lb mono
[/quote]

X2. In my opinion slime darts and pike are not leader shy.

[sangell]

I bring a variety and use over size duo locks to the braid, for an easy change for bait size and what I am pursuing. The over size duo locks are because it is easier to do in the wind and with cold hands. So, for big baits 20 lb flouro, medium 12 lb, and then trout 6 lb. In general 3-4' except for the trout I use 6'. I am sure I have had break offs but caught plenty of pickeral without and wire leaders. Eventually I have to swap out if the flouro get's frayed. I even have glo in the dark hooks / leaders for first and last light as well as night time. I am pretty sure I have over engineered this but it sure is fun rigging up.

[esox_xtm]

I am pretty sure I have over engineered this but it sure is fun rigging up.

There's a true statement. I think we all do (or have done) that to a certain extent with different things. And you're right, it is half the fun! 

[Velcro]

Usually a circle hook on 12 lb fluorocarbon,  I have only had one hook bitten off. Maybe I'm just lucky? I rarely target pickerel though I expect them everywhere I fish.