Action Loss On Swimbait With Metal Leader?

[demonjd22]

Hi everybody, this is the year I want to get serious about fishing with some swimbaits to catch some monsters.  I've got a few Mattlures, Spro BBZ and interested in acquiring that Spro Rat for some awesome topwater but the lakes I fish have pickerel, Northern Pike, Musky etc in them.

 

The thought of having a $30 lure cut off in 2 seconds by a 2 lb pickerel really scares me haha.  I'll be fishing 30 lb PowerPro braid and I was wondering if using a steel leader would really hurt the action of these baits?  Or will it not impact me too much and I can have some peace of mind lol.

 

Thanks in advance!!

[mnbassman23]

I'm in the same situation and it really depends on the bait. It may inhibit the action some, but I've thrown a steel leader with hard swimbaits like a spro and triple trout and their isn't much difference with the leader. For glide baits and top water swimbaits I don't use a steel leader and also with my soft swimbaits like a Hudd I won't. It sucks loosing lures but 95% of the time I take the risk. 

 

You also have the option to use a heavy fluoro leader. A lot of guys do this with 7 strand crimping sleeves and 60lb fluoro. This way you don't have to tie a knot which can be difficult with that heavy of fluoro. The fluoro is less visible and you don't have a big bulky snap on the bait. If you are interested in the fluoro with crimping sleeves let me know and I can post a video from youtube explaining how it is done. 

[bass1980]

Hey mnbassman23, I too fish MN waters and would like to see your video. I don't use swim baits much but this year I'll try to for fun when I'm not tournament fishing. I'll be trying a megabass Islide and a Jackall Gantarel. Not those $100 lures but still at $40 it's expensive for me lol. I have been thinking of this as of late using a steel leader so I'm interested in what others have to say.

[Bluebasser86]

For the baits you listed I wouldn't be super worried about a leader hurting the action much. What I would be worried about is that 30lb braid 

[mnbassman23]

Hey mnbassman23, I too fish MN waters and would like to see your video. I don't use swim baits much but this year I'll try to for fun when I'm not tournament fishing. I'll be trying a megabass Islide and a Jackall Gantarel. Not those $100 lures but still at $40 it's expensive for me lol. I have been thinking of this as of late using a steel leader so I'm interested in what others have to say.

It still hurts when those little snot rockets take a 40$ swimbait lol. The video is from a fellow MN swimbait chucker, Eric Aske. I cant remember if he says it in the video but if you are going to use 40-60lb fluoro you need a size A2 7 strand crimping sleeve. 

 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

You're gonna need to bump up that 30lb braid man.

 

20lb mono or copoly is pretty standard for the baits you mention, with a little variance either up or down depending on desired effect. As far as leaders, I'd stick with a heavier fluoro leader as opposed to a steel one.

[J Francho]

I use 60# -100# fluoro leaders or I flip to titanium. Another option is Cortland Toothy Critter in 20 or 30#. It's a tie-able leader you get in the fly dept. both swimbait rods have 20# CXX as mainline. No braid for me.

[hatrix]

That CXX though. A fish might break a tooth trying to bite through it

[demonjd22]

Thanks for the replies guys.  Forgive my ignorance but whats the reason for using a lower pound test mono instead of a higher braid?

[hatrix]

For main line mono or copoly is what is recommended for swimbaits. There are people who run braid even with big baits but even with heavy braid the chance or popping off a bait mod cast from a backlash is all to real. Not to mention it can't be good for a reel to have that much force hit it instantly.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Simple, diameter and shock absorbing qualities.

 

If you backlash with a 1oz bait on a good cast with 30lb braid, it's GOING to snap. Not maybe, GOING TO. You start upping that to 2, 3, 5oz baits it only serves to magnify the distance with which your bait is gonna travel without your line attached to it.

[J Francho]

Simple, diameter and shock absorbing qualities.

If you backlash with a 1oz bait on a good cast with 30lb braid, it's GOING to snap. Not maybe, GOING TO. You start upping that to 2, 3, 5oz baits it only serves to magnify the distance with which your bait is gonna travel without your line attached to it.

This is real important, and simple physices. The only thing absorbing that shock on a cast is the line. Your rod should be pointed at your target on the follow through, so it's not absorbing anything.

[demonjd22]

Gotcha.  I knew braid has no stretch but didnt factor in if I screw up the cast, which I know I will inevitably do.  Sooner than later as well haha.

[Bluebasser86]

Simple, diameter and shock absorbing qualities.

 

If you backlash with a 1oz bait on a good cast with 30lb braid, it's GOING to snap. Not maybe, GOING TO. You start upping that to 2, 3, 5oz baits it only serves to magnify the distance with which your bait is gonna travel without your line attached to it.

This is the exact reason I mentioned being concerned about your line. Everyone backlashes, if you do it with a heavy bait and braid you also get to lose a bait in the process. 

[SirSnookalot]

I don't use a metal leader too often, when I do I crimp 20# surflon, I think the lure works just fine.  About the heaviest lures I use are 2-2.5 oz with spinning there is no backlash.  I use 20# braid or 14# copoly for the larger toothy critters.  Mostly using a mono leader I do get cut off, more from the smaller fish as the teeth are closer spaced and sharper.  Not that I enjoy losing a lure but I feel I get more strikes not using wire.

 

Shock is something I normally believe in, but in this exception I don't use it.  I fish for barracuda using a barracuda tube.  We make them with a wire leader, the lure is attached to the the braid using a duolock.  The fish hit with enough force that line instantly pulls out, the drag is not set too tight and the strike sets the hook.  For other set ups and species I use shock leaders always. 

[Maico1]

I started to use this last year and it really did the job, you may want to look into it....http://www.aquateko.com/Knot_2_Kinky_Titanium_Fishing_Leader_Wire_s/1.htm

[WRB]

With swimbaits use 25 lb Big Game, toothy fish rarely miss a big lure that you retreive at a steady pace

Tom

[A-Jay]

I started to use this last year and it really did the job, you may want to look into it....http://www.aquateko.com/Knot_2_Kinky_Titanium_Fishing_Leader_Wire_s/1.htm

 

Looks useful ~ Which pound test of this are you using for swimbaits ?

 

Also, are you tying direct to your main line or are you using a small swivel ?

 

Thanks in advance

 

A-Jay

[Maico1]

Looks useful ~ Which pound test of this are you using for swimbaits ?

 

Also, are you tying direct to your main line or are you using a small swivel ?

 

Thanks in advance

 

A-Jay

A-Jay,

         I am using the 25lb. for SB's and yes you can tie it on directly. However it does not tie down completely like you are used to but I did not have any failure.....

[WRB]

When I use wire it's AFW a Surflon Micro Supreme 49 strand nylon coated 46 lb camo with #3 crimp sleeve. I use this to attached trap hooks onto swinbaits. Loop on one and loop with cross link or duo lock snap on the other for a leader. About a 18" long leader for wahoo, a lot shorter for fresh water toothy fish, about 8-10" should be good.

[Maico1]

Here is their section on knots....http://www.aquateko.com/category_s/22.htm

[BassObsessed]

I need to look into this. A big pickerel bit me off last week and made off with my Hudd Gill within 5 minutes of using it for the first time.