Leader Lengths
 

Ok Gents, I'm reaching out to the masses for a little thought (or help) on a good leader legth for ice pike.. Currently I'm tailoring my set ups with approx 2 feet of 20-30 lb flouro with good results.. I know some Musky guys running 5-7 feet of flouro.. Also is coiling a major issue with these longer lengths..

This is friendly information sharing and not meant to be the new great debate.. Thanks in advance!!!

Re: Leader Lengths
 

The longer the better when it comes to the leader. It does coil but seems to uncoil quickly with a little tug on the line. I lost the biggest Pike of my life using 30 lb fluoro. I recently upgraded to 60 lb fluoro and have had great results landing Pike, Bass, Musky and Pickerel. Don't be afraid to go to big. I have 2 sets of Heritage Laker tip ups, one set is set up for monsters, the other set is your basic 20 lb fluoro and smaller hook rigged for the lakes that don't have toothy critters!!!!

Re: Leader Lengths
 

a good way is to pre tie your leaders and stick them on a pool noodle, the larger the diameter the better. Then just tie them onto your dacron with a palomar knot they wont coil too bad. I always stretch my mono before putting bait on, grab both ends and stretch for 2 seconds, works great. I run 15lb seaguar for general use and 30lb for toothies, havent had a snap off yet

Re: Leader Lengths
 

eddie and jimmy said it all.

Re: Leader Lengths
 

That 30 lb test is real sketchy when it comes to teeth. I lost 3 monsters between this year and last. I had Pickerel bite through 30 on many occasions. Its all about where the fish is hooked, luck of the draw. guys going for Musky through the ice are using 80-120 lb fluoro as leader with great success. Wire is a thing of the past.

Re: Leader Lengths
 

Yeppp just like the boys said ....... sucks fluro so damn expenssive esp. The heavier stuff but you gotta do what you gotta do! Big leader big hook big baits!=big fish!

Re: Leader Lengths
 

For what it's worth (this is open water but still) my friend wanted to catch a musky and although I always just use lures I threw out a sunfish for him just to up the chances. With next to no pressure on that line drag it got crushed and in that instant with no pressure the sunfish hook and a few inches of the 80 Seagar flourocarbon were gone. Like a hot knife through butter.

I'll be experimenting with super thin tieable knot2kinky wire as leaders but I think there r days where you'll only get a bite on light line and you just have to hope it gets their lip.

20 p-line usually withstands toothy fish to a certain size but like I said I personally witnessed 80 lbs quality flourocarbon cut in half like nothing by what was probably a massive fish.

Eddie said it best, luck of the draw

Re: Leader Lengths
 

Thanks for the good discussion boys... Eddie is right, it is "luck of the draw!" My PB tooth-monster was 43 inches and came through first ice this year.. Out of 5 tip ups, she bit the smallest bait with the lightest leader out of my set..
Gonna tie some long, heavy ones and give it a go!! Great info guys.. Thanks

Re: Leader Lengths
 

3+' of 50 or heavier fluoro, a 4/0, 5/0, or 6/0 octopus hook should do it. I also do exactly what jimmythegreek mentioned... I pre-tie a ton of various sized hooks on various leaders from 6/0 on 60 lb fluoro to #4 on 10 lb fluoro. I also add a snap clip to the end of each for easy swapping/removal. Don't cheap out on the snaps either. (Actually... Don't cheap out on anything. It could mean the difference between landing or losing the fish of a lifetime!) I use Rosco/Sampo snaps. They're tough as nails and won't open on you. The wider pool noodle coils the leader but they quickly straighten out... Especially when you use baits the size of your forearm! Attached is a pic of my leader box. It looks a tad OCD, but when it's cold or you're in the midst of a hot bite, it pays dividends. And tie good knots! When in doubt, cut and retie!

Do the best you possibly can to eliminate user error from the equation... And while big leader, big bait, big hook should lead to bigger fish, elephants eat peanuts... Expect the unexpected!! Catch em up!

Re: Leader Lengths
 

Very well put Jigman. Totally agree. I think it's the small things that most would look past rather than look into that segregates what caliber we're angling at. I've always liked your end quote as well and think that goes hand in hand with this. Great info bro!