Wire Leader?

[dulouz]

I frequently go fishing for northern pike and use a 6" 12lb wire leader and I was wondering if I could just use it on my bass rigs too. I have heard of people using snaps so you don't have to retie, which this would have. It would also help with abrasion resistence on braid. It would work on jigs, spinnerbaits, and cranks. Obviously there would be a problem for t-rig with a bullet weight and similar type rigs. What do you guys think?

[BassThumb]

I know a few people who only fish with steel leaders because of all the pike in the local waters. I use them when pike fishing, and they spook the bass. A steel leader with a swivel and snap doesn't work very well with slow presentations that allow the bass to closely scrutinize the lure, and it deadens their action, just like heavy, stiff line will vs. light supple line. Decent sized bass are way too line shy to get away with using store bought steel leaders. That's JMO.

[Raul]

Normally I don´t fish with wire leaders, down here there´s no pike/pickerel but, there are many places along the Gulf coast I´ve been to where fishing with a wire leader is advisable, them gar have pretty sharp teeth.

[SirSnookalot]

If I were to be targeting bass, mono leaders for me. If targeting pike wire is really the way to, I generally do not use wire for any species, I take my chances on losing lures and getting cut off. When I do use wire I will not buy manufactured ones with snaps, I make my own either using piano wire and a haywire twist or coated wire and crimp it.

[wis bang]

I remember being 12 and on my first trip to Ontario. My pappy rigged our trolling stuff w/ 30# woven 'squid' line and 36" wire leaders he made from stuff he got from Herter's. Then he re-rigged our spinning rods w/ new 15# mono and 12" plastic coated wire leaders he bought. Those Bass used to inhale those Jitterbugs leader 'N all!

Of course he had been fishing there since the 40's and knew what to expect; he would add larger treble hooks to the spoons we would troll and solder the split rings shut...

[jerkbait joe]

I use steel leaders when fishing spinner baits in Minnesota because of the Northerns. Doesn't really seem to affect the Bass bite much.

Wouldn't recommend them for other baits.

[TerryR]

For what it is worth, I have caught plenty of bass, including my PB, with store bought steel leaders while pike and musky fishing. I use the 12 inch 30 lb ones.

[Hooligan]

I've had better luck with heavy fluoro leader, actually. When smallies are in pike water we will go up to 25lb fluoro and a perfection loop with cranks or jerkbaits and haven't had a bite off in a while.

I did donate a Vision 110 to the fishing gods this year from a muskie bite off fishing for smallies. I had the fish hooked for two minutes, though, and she made multiple long runs. Had her at the boat once and saw her enough to judge size and she was in the mid 50" range....but I digress...

Go to heavier fluorocarbon and give it a shot as leader material.

[NBR]

Ive spent thousands of hours fishing waters with pike and pikeral and unless I'm speciticall targeting pike I don't use a steel leader. I've been bit off a few times but not many. Last time of not buddie brough a 16# pike in with 8# mono. He released the fish and cut off a little line then back to fishing.

I would not use a steel leader for bass under any cirsumstances. The weigh changes the sink rate and action too much.

[J Francho]

10 to 20# Cortland Toothy Critter tieable leader is what you want when you are in pike waters.

The bass don't care, just ask my son......

All caught in shallow, clear water using the knotable leader.