Leader vs Heavy braid to save my Swimbaits from Mr. Pike

[Bandersnatch]

I'm a braid to leader guy. I've recently started throwing the evergeen nd 180 as well as some hudds. The bass do not appear to be line shy however I do not want to go to any type of steel leader. My fear is that I'm going to get broken off due to the amount of decent sized pike in my waters. Am I safe to go with 65lb braid or add a small leader of my sunline 20lb system leader? 20lb is the biggest line I have. I understand I could go with a big game in as high as 50lb mono. What are you thoughts? 

[fishballer06]

Most muskie guys are using fluoro leaders with 80-120lb. Search around online and I'm sure you could find some muskie leaders. 

[Scott F]

A small pikes teeth are just as sharp as a big ones. Do not trust heavy braid or undersized FC leaders to protect your baits. 

[Team9nine]

5 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

Most muskie guys are using fluoro leaders with 80-120lb. Search around online and I'm sure you could find some muskie leaders. 

This ^^

 

Most all the spoonpluggers chasing pike and Muskie have gone to fluoro or mono leaders  of 50-80# test. Should be easy to find online...or just steal some from your weed trimmer ?

[WRB]

Why set against Surflon Nylon coated 7x7 micro steel leader?

No leader is going to protect soft Hudd swimbaits from be destroyed by Pike, you need lots of Mend-It!

80 to 100 lb  FC is very difficult to tie effective knots, should be crimped. Why the musky guys are using FC in lieu of mono is probably the same reason bass anglers use FC....it's currently popular.

Tom

[Brett's_daddy]

1 hour ago, Cheif250 said:

I'm a braid to leader guy. I've recently started throwing the evergeen nd 180 as well as some hudds. The bass do not appear to be line shy however I do not want to go to any type of steel leader. My fear is that I'm going to get broken off due to the amount of decent sized pike in my waters. Am I safe to go with 65lb braid or add a small leader of my sunline 20lb system leader? 20lb is the biggest line I have. I understand I could go with a big game in as high as 50lb mono. What are you thoughts? 

https://www.spro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SFCLPS-ALL

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Cheif250 said:

I understand I could go with a big game in as high as 50lb mono. What are you thoughts? 

You could actually go up to BG 130 lb. I find with longer lures, pike usually don't get their mouths around the front of the lure, but you want to have something fairly stout. I use 30-60 lb mono depending on the lure, and the size of the fish around. I have landed quite a few pike with 15-20 lb mono and the whole lure inside the mouth, the trick is to pull steady, and not apply too much sudden pressure. While heavy braid would be better than light braid, I've had way too much even 50 and 65 lb braid bit off to trust it.

[Brett's_daddy]

I know the young lady on YouTube (LadyBass...she's Canadian eh') uses a 50lb braid with a 40lb. mono leader and she's landed quite a few Canadian pike with that setup.

 

 

[MickD]

If you "don't want to go to steel," then just concede that you're going to lose some lures.  Try a fine steel leader you make from the tieable steel leader material, very fine and unobtrusive, but resistant to teeth.  This is not rocket science.

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

[Brett's_daddy]

43 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

A-Jay

Mic drop and everything...show-off .

[waymont]

On 8/6/2019 at 5:02 PM, A-Jay said:

 

A-Jay

 

You use this stuff in 20lb? What knot do you use to tie it?

[Scott F]

That tieable wire isn’t cheap. When tying knots, it takes some practice to make a knot and not getting a curled up pig tail. I used a small split ring on one end of a leader, where I’d tie it to my main line, and a loop knot on the other that I’d attach to my lure. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, waymont said:

You use this stuff in 20lb? What knot do you use to tie it?

Uni to Uni Knot.

 Knot Instructions are right on the package.

A-Jay

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve been using the surflon for a couple seasons now. Caught quite a few big pike and never once had any issues with breaking or knots. I use an Alberto knot for the leader to line connection and a clinch knot to the lure ( shows it on the back of the package), and it works great.