Pike Opener

[rich_ace_G]

I only use steel leaders when using spinners or soft baits. but when i'm using 3" spoons or 4" plugs. It's mainline & lure for me. I just don't see my lures move natural with the leaders on. I will be trying deep diving plugs this season. But it's always suspending plugs when the fishing gets tough.

 

[MarksHooked]

You guys are great thank for the help. I'll have to make a stop at Fishing World before the first of May! I'll look for some quality leaders and will have to try with and without this year! I didn't catch a pike last year but I'm looking forward to targeting them and landing my first. I'll be beating the shore around Hamilton all year so if anyone sees me with my big red BPS backpack and Fenwick HMG feel free to say hi and help me untangle my line lol.

 

[Kasim Baluch]

I only use steel leaders when using spinners or soft baits. but when i'm using 3" spoons or 4" plugs. It's mainline & lure for me. I just don't see my lures move natural with the leaders on. I will be trying deep diving plugs this season. But it's always suspending plugs when the fishing gets tough.

Even spinners I feel like it restricts movement using a leader, I'll take my chances with mainline brain and spinner

 

[Bow Man]

Even spinners I feel like it restricts movement using a leader, I'll take my chances with mainline brain and spinner

Agree no leader for me on spinners, I Usually use 30-40 pound braid, when fishing pike and have not lost one yet ( keeping fingers crossed). The line has been a little frayed after I get them in, but I will cut and retie after bringing in a toothy bugger. Better safe then sorry.

 

[cptpronin]

I have found that the black steel leaders are best. As was mentioned 6" -12" length is good. I have used and had success on both the nylon coated leaders and the single wire leaders. I don't believe one is better than the other, but the important thing on the leader is to ensure the terminal ends are quality hardware. That meaning that the swivel and the snap end are not cheap.

I have lost to many pike/musky to not fish with a leader. if I am targeting pike/musky then a leader will be on my hardware list.

John

John, excellent point about the terminal ends. It really does make a difference with the lure action.

 

[John Da Silva]

I USE 100LBS TEST LINE FOR MY LEADER WORKS WELL

 

[morrisbp]

I stopped by Sail the other day, they are stocking alot more heavy steel leaders for musky and pike fishing. I grabbed a 2 pack of 100lbs black steel ones for about $6. They also have 130lb premade berkely flouro leaders aswell. I never picked one up but in the musky section they had crimping kits with pliers, sleeves and nylon coated braid of various sizes so you can make your own length leaders.

 

[prettyflyforawhiteguy]

My best day was last year Marten River just north of North Bay. Pickeral opener, 20lb braid, 6 in black wire leader, and they hammered a black and silver Yozuri crystal minnow. Nonstop action with pike all day.

 

[Jiggin]

I presently live in Zone 10, where pike is open all year. I frequently also fish in Zone 14, where pike is open all year.

I am 2 months shy of moving to Zone 5, but pike is open all year there as well.

Pike is one of my favourite species to target. It's not one of my favourite species to eat, but I find myself keeping more pike than anything. Sometimes they just hammer a square bill so aggressively that there's no way to avoid bleeding; the lure is just inhaled too deeply. This usually happens when I'm fishing for smallies and largemouth.

I've crimped all the barbs on my pike gear and try to stick to larger presentations to reduce damage to the fish.