Musky inhaling past leader, breaking off...

[DaubsNU1]

Last summer on our trip to Canada, using 12" steel leaders chasing Pike...Brother had a huge pike inhale his lure past the leader and break off braid right next to the boat.

 

So Brother ties on 18" steel leader. Next day an even bigger Pike did the same thing...inhaling lure past the leader, and breaking him off.

 

Yesterday I get a call from my Brother...he stopped for a quick bank-fishing opportunity on his way home...throwing the big swim-bait with 18" leader...and the same darn thing happens...huge Musky inhales lure past the leader, and breaks him off(!)

 

Dang! Time to order up some 24 and 36" leaders.

[Further North]

Weird - I've never seen anything like that.

My leaders are all 12" - 18" long and tied directly into the main line with either an FG knot, or an Alberto knot (I dislike having hardware at the top of the leader.)

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

I’ve heard of pike and Muskie snapping the line with their gill plates when they turn. Could this have been what happened or did you actually see the fish inhale the bait that far? 

[DaubsNU1]

@10,000 lakes Bassin For the fish this weekend...Brother is speculating.

 

For the two Pike in Canada, he actually saw the fish inhale the bait past the leader...happened right next to the boat(!)

[Vilas15]

Never heard of that happening with a leader that long. Gotta be the bait choice. Too small and a probably sitting still between jerk/pull/twitches allowing them to line it up perfect and get the whole thing at once. If it's a bait that swings out wide maybe the leader ends up next to the bait instead of out in front of it. Better change something quick before he kills a few more fish. You don't even hear about this happening with live bait and some guys waiting minutes to set the hook (which you shouldn't do).