Durable line for pike infested waters

[Rick Tischaefer]

Folks,

Any suggestions for ice fishing line leader material when jigging blades and raps for walleye in northern pike infested waters? I have tried 10# Spectrum floro and Nanofil, but the northern pike seem to go through them like a hot knife in butter. Can get kind of expensive and I don't feel good about losing a northern pike with a mouth full of my artificial bait and treble hooks. Thanks in advance for the help, Rick

 

[luvcatchingbass]

30# flouro?

 

[LBrandt]

Barbed wire.

 

[deleted_account]

if fishing stained water run a titanium leader or another leader of your choice. walleyes won't care. if fishing clear water then yes some heavy duty flourocarbon (atleast 20lb) is probably your best bet

 

[SDMF]

Titanium Leaders.

 

[gr8outdoors]

Barbed wire.

Beat me to it!

 

[cooter00]

- - - Updated - - -

I use the above I have Evan tied spinners with it never had a gator break it but they can kink it pretty good walleyes don't mind it I've caught many on it

 

[Allen]

Knot too kinky, available at fine Walmarts near you.

It's the tie-able titanium stuff. I use it in pike infested waters during the summer. Great stuff!

 

[Rizzo]

14# Berkeley XT should do you just fine. Floro has its place but preventing bite offs is not it.

 

[svnmag]

Umm no.

 

[Sluggo]

Use these or make your own. The shorter one for ice fishing, longer one for open water. Available at most local tackle shops.
http://www.south-bend.com/products/terminal-tackle/leaders/invisa-leader-w-bb-swivel

 

[Fly Carpin]

14# Berkeley XT should do you just fine. Floro has its place but preventing bite offs is not it.

Fluorocarbon has nearly the same refractive index as water, aka as close to invisible as you can get. To me that translates to being able to get away with using a heavier pound test. Small barrel swivel off the main line, piece of 20 or 25lb flouro, no-slip loop knot (aka Rapala knot), DH Custom rattle bait. I'd put that rig up against 14lb XT any day. Also if you're into chasing spring pike on a fly rod, 50 lb fluoro makes one hell of an invisible tooth resistant tippet.

Oh and fluoro is superior to mono when fishing near coral. As one often does while ice fishing pike.

 

[DirtyMike]

Used 20 lb fluoro on Devils lake last spring. I lost three jigs in my first three casts. I'm headed back with 30 lb.

 

[SDMF]

Used 20 lb fluoro on Devils lake last spring. I lost three jigs in my first three casts. I'm headed back with 30 lb.

Titanium Leaders.

 

[LOV2HNT]

This ^^^^^

 

[Auggie]

I use AFW. It's flexible and ties better than Knot Kinky. I may only get a day out of it though versus a few days with Knot Kinky. I use 20lb fluorocarbon on my spinners. I do loose the occasional one or two rigs a day from pike. Florocarbon sinks in the water. Sometimes this is good sometimes this is bad. I have seen that when using this as leader material on jigs, I may have to down size my jig a 1/16 from time to time to get the right speed of jig fall to coax a hungry walleye. Here's a link to AFW.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/AFW-Surflon-Micro-Supreme-Wire/1317773.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FCQ_page%3D140%26CQ_search%3Dleader%26CQ_st%3Db%26categoryId%3D734095080[URL]http://www.cabelas.com/product/AFW-Surflon-Micro-Supreme-Wire/1317773.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FCQ_page%3D140%26CQ_search%3Dleader%26CQ_st%3Db%26categoryId%3D734095080[/URL]

 

[Bluegill]

I have used 30lb floro with good results. That's stuff will take a while for them to wear through

 

[MuskyManiac]

Most of the leaders I use for musky are fluorocarbon. Granted, they're 80 to 150 pound test, but I've never lost a musky from a fluoro leader breaking. (knock on wood)

 

[Rick Tischaefer]

Folks,

Thanks for your experience and suggestions. I'm glad to be able to bounce a dumb question or two off some great folks.

Rick

 

[Livetohuntandfish]

Prob not the most high tech solution but I usually use duck decoy cord for pike. Never had one eat through that. And in my past I use to only fish for them.....