Leaders in pike country

[snake95]

I'm going to be doing some largemouth fishing in an area with lots of pike in Ontario.  I live in Georgia and typically fish ponds with bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish.

 

Where I'm going has lots of vegetation and I've caught both species readily at this spot before.

 

I plan to use some whopper ploppers and other topwaters that will appeal to both species, as well as jigs with paddletails.

 

The water, not surprisingly, is clear.

 

Which option of the following would you go with?

 

• Old fashioned steel leaders?
• Heavy mono or fluoro or hybrid: have pretty much anything in the 14 lb-50 lb test range.

This is a last-minute trip and I won't have time to get steel line (I don't think). 

 

Thanks for the input.

[Angry John]

I would run a tough fluoro like shooter or abrax for everything but topwater and except any bite offs as the cost of doing business. I would not run one of a kind or special lures on this trip that i would be sad were lost.   I caught a lot of pike on 65 braid and a topwater frog but never when i was trying to target them.

[Scott F]

14 -50lb mono/FC/hybrid lines will not hold up to a pikes teeth. If you have to use a mono or FC, you better upsize to 80lb minimum. I prefer “old fashioned” steel leaders. Much thinner and more reliable, as long as the hardware is of good quality. Cheap snaps won’t up any better than mono line will. 

[Vilas15]

20 lb fluoro/mono is probably fine for pike up to about 25". If you know you're going to run into larger fish then I'd go wire. Bait's that pause or suspend that they can dial in on are more likely to get swallowed further and end up with line in the teeth. Anything very large or on a steady retrieve is less likely to get choked in my experience.

 

@A-Jay can tell you about the tie-able wire he uses and post a picture of a gorgeous pike.

[NathanDLTH]

I live in pike and Muskie country aka Minnesota. My best suggestions in order to prevent bite wire leaders. That’s the only thing which can garuntee them not biting your lure off. On rare instances I’ve caught pike on braid, but it’s pretty tough with their teeth. 

[A-Jay]

10 hours ago, Vilas15 said:

 

@A-Jay can tell you about the tie-able wire he uses and post a picture of a gorgeous pike.

Thanks ~ 

 I use this ~

My experience with it is very good.  I lose fish & baits to pike while fishing for bass throwing anything else. (meaning any nylon or braided line)

A-Jay

 

[snake95]

41 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

57 minutes ago, Vilas15 said:

 

@A-Jay can tell you about the tie-able wire he uses and post a picture of a gorgeous pike.

Thanks ~ 

Thanks, guys.  I am sure I have seen that kind of steel line in stores in northeastern Ontario.  I've never used it before and this might be my chance to try it.

 

Thanks, everyone.  I will be sure to keep my whopper ploppers on a steel "leash" of some sort, and accept the risks that come with fishing everything else on lighter gear.

 

 

 

[Scott F]

Fishing topwaters around pike is the craziest thing you'll ever see. Small pike can be really bad at hitting them. I've seen them miss the bait by so much, they miss the leader and cut the line while they jump clear out of the water and do a cartwheel in midair. Those small pike will do all the damage to you and your gear. They are the ones that will cut your line. Have jaw spreaders and long handle pliers. Keep your fingers away from their teeth. Always use your pliers to get hooks out. Carry lots of band aids if you would prefer not to use pliers.

[A-Jay]

8 hours ago, Scott F said:

Fishing topwaters around pike is the craziest thing you'll ever see. Small pike can be really bad at hitting them. I've seen them miss the bait by so much, they miss the leader and cut the line while they jump clear out of the water and do a cartwheel in midair. Those small pike will do all the damage to you and your gear. They are the ones that will cut your line. Have jaw spreaders and long handle pliers. Keep your fingers away from their teeth. Always use your pliers to get hooks out. Carry lots of band aids if you would prefer not to use pliers.

Solid Advice right there ~ 

A-Jay

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, Scott F said:

Fishing topwaters around pike is the craziest thing you'll ever see. Small pike can be really bad at hitting them. I've seen them miss the bait by so much, they miss the leader and cut the line while they jump clear out of the water and do a cartwheel in midair. Those small pike will do all the damage to you and your gear. They are the ones that will cut your line. Have jaw spreaders and long handle pliers. Keep your fingers away from their teeth. Always use your pliers to get hooks out. Carry lots of band aids if you would prefer not to use pliers.

I used to live just south of the NY State border and did a lot of fishing in NY.  Pickerel were a given.  So I knew better when many years later (after a 23 year fishing hiatus) I caught a smaller one on a Smithwick Devil Horse.  Without thinking, I lipped it.  As anyone who has ever caught a smaller one knows, they don't just hang there.  I had a hook in my thumb before I knew it.  No one around.  Couldn't let go of the fish.  Got it out by putting one of the hooks over my rod and pulling it out.

 

By the time I was able to release that little sucker, my thumb looked like mincemeat. 

[snake95]

On 7/21/2018 at 11:21 PM, Scott F said:

Have jaw spreaders and long handle pliers. Keep your fingers away from their teeth. Always use your pliers to get hooks out.

Will do @Scott F

Thanks for the awesome pic @A-Jay.

Taking my son and the pic helped me hammer the point home with him.  We were catching bluefish a few weeks ago so now he appreciates that fishing an involve a lot of blood when we aren't just catching bass.  He's seen me catch pike there before and handle them carefully, but the reminder is appreciated.

We will be careful with the fingers!

[Hulkster]

i use old fashioned black coated steel leaders. I wouldn't want to risk flouro with a trophy pike on the other end. those big teeth are razor sharp