Braid for Pike?

[Brett's_daddy]

I was just talking to a co-worker who just caught a decent 32" Northern Pike and asked him what he used and he said 30lb braid. I asked if he used a leader and he said he didn't. I have always been under the assumption that pike could saw right through braid so you would need a steel leader to catch them but he said he never has used a leader and always just straight braid and he's caught many pike. If I wanted to try and catch some pike would you chance using straight braid without a steel leader?

[Dwight Hottle]

No!

Your co-worker has been lucky he wasn't cut off. Braid for pike is good as long as you use a heavy fluorocarbon or wire leader. 

[Scott F]

Plenty of pike are caught without using a leader but it is usually because the line managed to avoid hitting their teeth. If you don't mind leaving lures imbedded in the jaws of pike on occasion, don't use a leader. I like getting my lures back so I use steel. I make my own to keep the costs down.

[J Francho]

My experience is that moving baits are less likely to be bitten off, if you get a fast hookset in.  Big topwater plugs seem okay, too.  Toss a jig or Texas rig at them, bye-bye.  It doesn't really matter what line you use, any with get bit off.  It's always a risk.  I like something like Cortland Toothy critter for leaders.

[tkunk]

As others have mentioned, he got lucky.

 

I typically use 180 lb Stealth Tackle fluoro leaders for pike and musky. I've had fish bite through 100 lb leaders, so I don't screw around anymore. I've never had a 180 lb leader break, and they last a long time.

 

I dislike wire leaders, because they kink.

[Jar11591]

I’ve caught pike big and small on straight braid, but I’ve also had them saw through 50lb braid before I can even get a hookset. I’ve even had 15” pickerel bite through heavy braid. If you’re actually targeting pike, straight braid isn’t something I would recommend.

[Brett's_daddy]

Let's assume that I use a leader...say 130lb. fluorocarbon pre-made leader...on my heavy rod I have a Daiwa Tatula CT Type-R 8.1:1 spooled with 50lb. Sunline FX2 braid, would this setup be sufficient for pike?

[Scott F]

It depends on what lures you are throwing and where you are fishing. Match the rod to the size of the lures. If you are going to use musky type lures, the heavy rod will be fine. I’ve found that although pike will eat large prey, they respond better to smaller lures. A medium heavy rod, probably what you use for bass was always my first choice when I was doing fly in trips ro Canada where the pike average considerably larger than they typically do here in the US. 

[Brett's_daddy]

Well, I have a 7'3" Dobyns Fury 734C which is technically a Heavy rod but fishes closer to a MH, I have a Shimano Curado 200i 7.1:1 on that spooled with 17lb. Sunline Armilo Defier line...would this work too?

[J Francho]

I've caught pike on everything from a whippy, light, cranking stick to XH muskie rods.  Match the rod to the bait you're throwing.  It's that simple.

 

Here's an accident caught on medium light, moderate action rod.  Daiwa Alphas reel, and 10# Invisx.

[Brett's_daddy]

I'm thinking nothing special, maybe some larger spoons and inline spinners.

[J Francho]

I highly recommend a bent shaft spinnerbait. They’re weedless and made out of wire, so you don’t really need a leader. That and big topwatrrs are all I generally use for pike. 

[Brett's_daddy]

So for now since our season is rapidly coming to a close (first ice on the ponds/lakes could happen anytime now) if i wanted to just see if I could get a pike for fun I have some 20lb Seaguar Red Label fluorocarbon...could i use that as a leader to either my 50lb. braid or my 15lb fluoro?

[Rick Howard]

Yes but you still might get bit off if the line contacts the teeth.  If you just use a steel leader than you don't have to worry.   Unless the fish rolls and the teeth contact the line above the leader (this would be a stretch).

[Scott F]

Pike can be just plain crazy, especially small ones. I've had small pike go air born when they missed hitting my topwater. They missed it so bad, they caught the line above my steel leader and cut it. It actually has happened on more than one occasion! They will roll and your line can get cut in the gills also. I've caught 1000's of pike. You just never know what they might do. One extra note....keep your tackle box closed while there is a good chance of catching a northern. Once you bring one over the side, at some point, one is going to shake loose from your grip and will land in any open tackle box it will find. The mess will be worse than you can imagine.

[Brett's_daddy]

So would something like you see at Wal-Mart...Eagle Claw 30lb steel leader 12" long be sufficient?

[Scott F]

You'll have an easier time casting a shorter leader. The general rule would be to use a leader that is just longer than your lure. A 6" to 8" steel leader will work just fine. Be sure NOT to get the cheapest leader you can find. The snaps on the cheapos have a very bad snap that almost any pike can tear open.