MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
To comment about superline...I am 101% convinced that superlines like spiderwire, power pro, and suffix 832 are the most prone to bite offs of all lines. Using this stuff for leaders is counter productive. you are better off with 10lb mono than 50lb super braid. I actually went as far as experimenting with a large pike I took home to eat after getting severe gill and throat damage. I could not cut 20lb mono or fluro without raking it back and forth on the teeth several times. 10lb mono took 3-4 swipes. 50lb Spiderwire and 30lb power pro cut in the first rake. I wish I had taken a video of this.
My buddy got cut off before he even got to the flag while he was using 60lb floro. He got there and no line was out and the hook and bait was gone. He was using dead bait and there was no drag tension on the tipup, the fish bit through the floro in the initial strike. If they bite the leader the right way even a small fish can cut 60-80lb floro. That being said I like using 60 or 80 floro because I fish pressured lakes with clear water and I've got a lot more flags since I switched from steel. You will get cut off occasionally even with line that heavy, going lighter than 50 and your asking for trouble. I've also messed around with crimps using steel, titanium and floro and I'll never use them while ice fishing again. I've seen them fail too many times. If you crimp it down too hard you can damage the line, not enough and it will slip, and even if you crimp it just right water gets inside the crimp and when you take your tipups out at the end of the day the water inside the crimp can freeze and expand the crimp causing it I slip on a future trip.
Completely agree with the crimping.. As per your buddy, it sounds like something else went wrong to me, like accidently reverse winding the line on the tip up for a few wraps.. Ive caught myself doing it a few times.. Just seems like you would need a cut edge to cut edge pinch point to sheer through 60lb fluro hanging freely... Just my opinion..
i have used 20# mono for years with no complaints. pike arent line shy. we just used to tie to the 40# dacron years ago, and still caught fish.
As per your buddy, it sounds like something else went wrong to me, like accidentally reverse winding the line on the tip up for a few wraps.. Ive caught myself doing it a few times.. Just seems like you would need a cut edge to cut edge pinch point to sheer through 60lb fluro hanging freely... Just my opinion..
To play devil's advocate...I've noticed a a direct correlation between "bite offs" and poor ability to tie a knot while fishing with others. Guys who fumble with their knots or only can tie one or two knots effectively get "bit off" much more than guys who have a half dozen or more knots memorized and understand when to use them. The best line on earth is worthless if it cant be terminated effectively. Why do people have this knot slipping/breaking problem with pike? They are heavier in the water, and anglers tend to set the hook with much greater force than with other species.Also, I notice MANY more "bite offs" in zebra mussel infested waters. Those things are a real pain.I think lots of line and knot failures get blamed on pike teeth. I'm pretty sure there are other factors in play in many cases though.
Used to use 20# mono leader about 2' long, caught 100's of pike up to 15# and was never bit off!! Maybe just lucky!
Never bit off once, 20lb mono, hundreds of pike. hmmmmmmmmmm..
100s of pike here also.. more than a few over 20lbs , never had fish bite through the line.. Must be the 2 luckiest fisherman alive..Naw, where I live the pike have sharper teeth!
100s of pike here also.. more than a few over 20lbs , never had fish bite through the line.. Must be the 2 luckiest fisherman alive..
I heard they have a better dental plan out your way In all seriousness, confidence in what you are using sometimes is all you need.. The leader debate will never die. Steel, wire, fluro, mono, braid, dacron .. The all work...