25lb leader stopping pike

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

I’ve never fished big swimbaits or glidebaits for bass. I live in an area where if I was to throw a 6in or bigger bait I’d probably catch way more pike than bass. I think I’m going to start swimbait fishing but I don’t want to be constantly loosing expensive lures. I normally use braid to leader for general stuff and the heaviest leader I’ve used is 20lb fluoro. I land pike with it regularly but I also break it off pretty commonly. Would upping my leader to 25lb and using something higher quality like Seaguar blue label prevent most of my issues? I know the only way to be 100% is wire leader but I fish clear water and I don’t want to stop those giants from biting. 

[Scott F]

50lb fluoro probably won’t stop bite offs. Musky guys who won’t use wire use 100lb fluoro. You can try using tie able wire in lightweight sizes. It’s a bit tricky to tie without getting pigtails but it works. 

[A-Jay]

IME, if you need wire and you fish in clear water (I do),

Use it.

The fish will still eat your bait and you will not get bit off, 

Recent bass fishing trip hooked a pike and landed it .

I was using AFW knotable wire which I show in the clip.

Been using this same stuff effectively for Years.

The below 2 SMB ate a jerkbait with a 20 lb AFW leader.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Team9nine]

Agree w/above. Either wire or 80-100# fluoro. That’s what most of the northern Spoonpluggers run around pike and musky.

[JackstrawIII]

I occasionally use titanium leaders when pike fishing. I never catch pike, but do still catch bass haha. Clearly the bass don't mind the Ti wire leader.