Author Topic: Steel or mono for notherns??? (Read 1781 times)

wesson4 · « **on:** Jan 21, 2010, 07:59 AM »

I have recently started to focus on northerns n i can't seem to make my mind up between steel leaders or heavy mono for my leader. what r some of the pro's n con's of each of these methods? ???

SEF830 · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 08:04 AM »

I use steel. The pro is that a northern has never, nor will it ever bite me off. I guess one con might be that it's more visible to the fish, but I've never found pike to be picky eaters. If you can get food where they can see it, they will eat.

captain54 · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 08:35 AM »

STEEL,when you hook a 20lb fish,you'll be glad

snapozz · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 09:14 AM »

i agree steel all the way when im fishing for toothy fish

snapozz · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 09:16 AM »

hey wes if you wanna get together today i mean latter this evening. call me maybe go out be4 dark and hammer them bluegills again let me know be4 it gets past 11 or im leaving without you. you know where ill be at tho.

wilenard · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 09:24 AM »

Never been sawed off using steel. Can't say the same for heavy mono or braided line attached directly to the hook!

bigmike7272 · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 09:28 AM »

make sure it's a good steel leader though i hate when they snap on me

J_Edwards · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 09:29 AM »

Titanium you can tie, I love it, but haven't used it long enough to give it to high of praise. I just love the fact you can tie it because I have had steel break at the snaps more than once.

dav · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 12:05 PM »

17# mono allows more action didn't loose my two PB 48" & 43"

IMO

dav

shawno · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 01:03 PM »

I too have had steel break...this past weekend, we easily had a pike in the high teens/low twenties snap off the steel quickstrike at the snap.

Has anyone considered using heavy floro? ( 80 - 100 lbs ) Just a thought.

Cheers,

shawno

Layne · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 01:43 PM »

Use steel or titanium in saskatchewan IMO, I would only use mono if the fish were really line shy.

hook_set · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 02:45 PM »

30lb flouro

combsey · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 02:46 PM »

mono you just can't horse them ,it makes it so much more fun

shawno · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 03:36 PM »

Does anyone know what they use to catch Barracuda further down south? If it works for those toothy critters...surely it will stand up for Northerns or Muskies.

shawno

97stang · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 04:32 PM »

i use 8# mono never lost one.

wesson4 · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 05:04 PM »

Quote from: shawno on Jan 21, 2010, 03:36 PM

Does anyone know what they use to catch Barracuda further down south? If it works for those toothy critters...surely it will stand up for Northerns or Muskies.

shawno

yeah just regular leader material. some use heavy florocarbon but u want to stay away from that unless u have deep pockets if ya know what i mean

wesson4 · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 05:06 PM »

hey thanks everyone for ur input. it was very useful.

lake snake · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 05:08 PM »

50# Seagaur flourocarbon

deadsmelthead · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 05:13 PM »

I use 40# Fluoro now. Used to use 30# mono and I just wanted to beef up in case a REAL big one wants to play...

Never had one snap or bite through either one so far....

My opinion is this,the older bigger Pike have seen a steel leader or 2 in their day and associate them with the experience of being hauled through a hole in the ice, which I'm sure isn't a pleasant experience...

Do I know this as fact ? ...... NO...

But if you read through the Pike section of this forum you will hear other members say that FLUORO increases their catch rate, I have fished side by side with guys who use steel and there has been a clear difference..
I believe that not only is Fluoro less noticable to the fish but it also takes less of a toll on your baits abiltity to stay active and lively longer...

mealworm · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 05:54 PM »

heavy# floro

Lobes · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 06:48 PM »

I prefer the black single strand steel. Mainly because the pike don't care if they see it and I have never had a failure on single strand wire. I have had failure with everything else on big fish.

NBG

ghostface · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 07:37 PM »

No doubt in my mind will never use anything other than titanium. It has the diameter of 6# test and far more strength than steel. 45 inch musky to prove it

serchn4monsterpike · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 07:57 PM »

I had two steel leaders snap on me 2 years ago with two big northerns, I have not used it since and I never will again.

ice--cube · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 08:05 PM »

Quote from: mealworm on Jan 21, 2010, 05:54 PM

heavy# floro

Agree

gruntngrin · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 08:35 PM »

Quote from: mealworm on Jan 21, 2010, 05:54 PM

heavy# floro

+1

FoxyCleo · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 08:36 PM »

Quote from: mealworm on Jan 21, 2010, 05:54 PM

heavy# floro

ya me too 40#

kiltman · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 08:40 PM »

Have used 17# seven strand wire for years. The only time been bit off was because of a kink in the leader.
This wire is great because you can "hay wire twist" it on the hook and a swivel with your forceps.
One does have to take care of this particular wire, though. It will have "spool memory".
I just take them off between trips.

GAMBELL · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 09:29 PM »

30 - 50lb. Seagar floro.

wilec · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 21, 2010, 10:52 PM »

i wrestle snapping turtles in the summer and they snapped too many wire leaders on me. i started using a heavy mono and didn't have that issue. it was not broken from them biting it, just getting tangled and trying to horse them in when things started getting dicey stuff like that. Sounds crazy but the mono held up better. honestly can't remember what poundage as someone gave it to me but it was heavy. I've gone to making my own leaders out of 3/16 braided cable they don't break that either and i have a little more confidence than mono. sorry to get off track there

pikeking · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 22, 2010, 02:01 AM »

Yo-Zuri 50# Pink Flourocarbon. I have not lost a fish on it yet.

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Author Topic: Steel or mono for notherns??? (Read 1781 times)