Are steel leaders a requirement while musky fishing?

[retiredbosn]

I've always been facinated by these toothy monsters, pike, musky, pickerel, whatever.  Anyway are steel leaders a requirement or good insurance.  Will floro be sufficient?  If a leader is required how do you attach a buzz bait to the steel leader?

[Mobydick]

I dont think it is a must....but they definetly increase your chances of not loosing a fish. I know of instances where people have caught muskies on 4 and 6 pound test.

My dad wraps wire around the R shape on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. He wraps it around the bottom of the R so that it leaves anough room to attach the snap....but keeps it from sliding. It works.

                                                                   Ian

[Marty]

I have no musky experience, but plenty of pike and pickerel. I'd always use a leader. There's no evidence that I've seen that leaders inhibit the lure's action to any meaningful degree.

I'd use a metal leader, not fluorocarbon. A little hammer handle can cut line like a hot knife through butter, just imagine what a musky can do. There's no filament that I'd trust.

Fishing without a leader there's no doubt you'll catch some fish. Probably most people have stories about catching a sizable pike on a small lure, like my partner catching a 36" fish while panfishing with a 2" Husky Jerk.

However, without a leader, you'll lose fish, you'll lose lures, and I personally don't like leaving a fish having to swim around with a mouthful of crankbait or whatever, which is why I always use a leader.

[Gone_Phishin]

If I am targeting pike or skis, leaders are a must. Steel, titanium, or heavy fluoro. I have gotten big fish to the boat on light mono, (casting jigs for walleye) but I would not recommend it.

Most muskie buzzbaits have a loop in the frame to accommodate a leader's snap.

http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/web/index.php/id/1

[basser89]

From my experience, steel leaders aren't always the best choice when I musky fish. While I may not use steel, I do you a leader. I have heavy mono (80#), fluro (65#), braid (can't remember the test) and steel (45#, mostly just for bucktails). My partner and I split the cost of the materials and he ties them for us (except the steel, I use Berkley steel leaders). The musky in my signature was caught using a heavy mono leader on a top water lure.

[The Next KVD]

Muskies = STEEL LEADERS!! I have been in boats with friends that caught huge muskies 20-25lb range that were caught on 8lb line with no leader.  I don't know where everybody says u need a steel leader for pike, living in minnesota you catch way more pike than bass and never had a pike break my line b/c i didn't have a steel leader.  Personal best in open water: 15lb Northern Pike fishing a spinnerbait w/ no leader on 17lb test.  Personal best through Ice: 20lb

[J Francho]

15lb Northern Pike fishing a spinnerbait w/ no leader on 17lb test.

Spinnerbaits are a reaction bait that are rarely taken deeply and provide their own wire protection, so this is a case where a 20# FC leader will be fine.

I fish for Northerns. Depends on the bait. If I feel a wire or sevenstrand leader will inhibit the action, then I go with a heavy fluoro leader. Problem is, its a trade off. You can get away with thinner wire that fluoro. In any case, if your targeting them, you'll want to use something.

[SirSnookalot]

I have caught many muskie as well as other toothy fish both fresh and salt.  A steel leader is not a must but a good insurance policy to avoid a cutoff.  If a northern or muskie would hit a lure with a steel leader (and they do) I think fluro would be a waste, a good mono leader is more than sufficient, just check and change when needed.

When I use a steel leader I always make my own, easy to make and I think the quality is better or just use piano wire and twist it.

[Red]

i would never intentionally fish for muskie/pike without a steel leader, or a good set of pliers and jaw spreaders.  i once had a pike that was about 28 inches long on a rope stringer, before i knew it was gone, and my stringer was ruined, cut right through it!!  ;D

[firefightn15]

Pike I generally don't worry about.  To my knowledge have never been bit off by one.  Musky, in my experiance, have been a different beast.  Musky's in general will strike a bit from the side.  Not always, but probably 75% of the time.  Have one get a little over zealous, and jump the gun, and your gonna get bit off.  That's when your gonna wish you had a leader.  I won't debate a mono or fc leader, but for me, nothing but steel.  Whatever the material, get the edge and have a leader.

[CWB]

The trend seems to be to go with 80 lb Flouro.

Every musky show I've seen lately, the guys have been using Flouro.

Has anyone else seen Bob Mehsekomer's Simply Fishing?

That's one guy I would throw out of the boat if I fished with.

Talk about a pompous, condescending A**.

Bob Izumi is the flipside. Always joking but never ordering his partner around. Sorry to get off topic but I just can't stand Mehsekomer.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

knowing what a 12 inch pickeral can do with a j=11 on 12 pound test i will always use a steel leader if i ever went musky fishing. I lost that lure 23 yrs ago to HIM and i almost cried and he was only 2 foot from my hand >

[basser89]

knowing what a 12 inch pickeral can do with a j=11 on 12 pound test i will always use a steel leader if i ever went musky fishing. I lost that lure 23 yrs ago to HIM and i almost cried and he was only 2 foot from my hand >

Ouch! I know the feeling! Figuring that mid to upper 40's muskies have a head around 12", I go with an 18 to 22" leader. I like the extra length, gives me a little better chance if they go into the death roll and the line gets close to the gill plate. I've lost a couple different baits that way using a shorter leader. The toughest one to swallow was the Top Raider I lost (Cable Crossing if you're reading this Mat). That fight lasted about 5 seconds and was no more than 10' off the shore.  :'(

[MskSlyr]

Leaders of any material do keep the stroke from occuring that happens when those expensive muskie baits are lost. I shed a tear for that one myself Basser.

[coolhandlala]

I use steel or 60# mono leaders and haven't had any trouble with either, I actually prefer the mono for topwater or cranks.

[ww2farmer]

There are no muskies in my lake, but plenty of pike. I rarely target them, but catch tons. since I began using fluorocarbon line my bites offs from pike have been almost nonexistant. I know the serious pike guys around here all use fluoro now insted of steel.

[billbrum]

A leader is definitely needed, but it doesn't have to be steel. Actually the most popular leaders today are made of fluorocarbon. DO NOT use anything less than 100 lb., you will get bit off sooner or later.  

Personally, I use Stealth Tackle 130 and 150 lb. Fluorocarbon Leaders. I only used 2 different leaders all year last year, a 130 lb on my all around rod, and a 150 lb on my big rubber rod.  

Also, use a good snap, I like the Stay-loks. Never had one of those fail on  me.  One last thing, please stay away from Musky Bill's Leaders, they are absolute junk in my opinion. They failed me on 2 different occasions, both times I lost an expensive bait too.

[swilly78]

I might be in the minority here, but for pike I use 80 lb power pro braid for leaders.  Ive never had one get through it, maybe Im just lucky though???!!??

[.ghoti.]

I use this.

http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=GS182

10' for 10 bucks.

All of my muskie baits have a Tyger Wire leader tied on using a 1 1/2 turn clinch knot, and have a swivel on the other end. I wrap the leader around the bait, and store it that way. Just have to cut off and retie braid to swivel to change baits.

I've tried braid and flouro, and heavy mono for leaders when targeting muskie, and all I will say about that is; there's nothing worse than seeing a big muskie swim off with a big, expensive bait stuck in it's mouth. I always felt like I lost, and the fish lost too. I'm fairly sure that those fish did not survive.

[Cire]

Ouch! I know the feeling! Figuring that mid to upper 40's muskies have a head around 12", I go with an 18 to 22" leader. I like the extra length, gives me a little better chance if they go into the death roll and the line gets close to the gill plate. I've lost a couple different baits that way using a shorter leader. The toughest one to swallow was the Top Raider I lost (Cable Crossing if you're reading this Mat). That fight lasted about 5 seconds and was no more than 10' off the shore. :'(

I agree with the longer leader, especially with live bait. I have lost fish because they over-bite the leader. For spinners, cranks, etc. on reaction strikes they are not needed as much since I have caught plenty of northerns while fishing for bass.

Cire