15 lb fluro sound about right for chain pickerel?

[wasabi_VA]

Gonna target some pickerel at a lake known for them next week. Most will be 2 to 3 lbs. I have some 15 lb. fluoro to use as a leader - does that seem sufficient?

[padlin]

I use both 15 and 20, whichever I have along, still have to keep an eye on it for nicks.

[casts_by_fly]

I don’t worry about pickerel biting me off. We have tons and I’ve caught tons of them while bass fishing. I can’t recall a single bite off. This was 10# supernatural, maybe the last thing you’d want to ward against bite offs-small diameter super soft mono.  Yes, that’s the bait completely choked.
 

[LonnieP]

I’ve caught quite a few chain pickerel while bass fishing, including a couple of big ones. All were caught on 12lb fc or copoly. Never had one break me off.

[padlin]

I lost a lot when I was using straight braid, went to a fc leader, took care of most of them. If you refuse to use new lures the bite offs disappear too.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I used to use #10, #8 blue label and other flagship FC leader material and I can't remember a single bite off.  Of course when pickerel are hooked they turn and dig and that's when you bit off if its going to happen.  Even if they dont bite you off they can damage #15 enough to require a retie. 

I went to using standard FC like invizx and red label after a while.  Immediately I started getting bit off, so there's a huge difference between an actual leader material and standard FC.  I dont recal any bite offs with 15# off the top of my head, but Ive lost quite a a few vision 110s and other expensive baits.  Theres definitely a big difference between smaller and bigger pickerel in terms of damage they cause.  Once they get to 2lbs they have enough power and resistance in water to cut through lighter line quickly, the smaller ones more or less saw at it as they turn and dig.

Keep in mind too that when you increase leader size you can really kill the action of baits if you're finesse fishing, especially if its stiff leader material.  If you're actually targeting pickerel it shouldn't matter that much.

29 minutes ago, padlin said:

I lost a lot when I was using straight braid, went to a fc leader, took care of most of them. If you refuse to use new lures the bite offs disappear too.

Isn't that the truth.  I cant tell you how many times I've lost my last bait of a certain color or decided to swap out an x rap for a 110 jr the last 20 minutes of the day and immediately i get bit off.