Fluorocarbon Leaders

[Deleted]

Following on from Terry's post regarding braid and tackle when using heavier lures on a multiplier, I would like to give my view on fluorocarbon as a strong alternative as a leader.

I use 80 or 100lb savage fluorocarbon on all my heavy(100g+) multiplier set ups. The only exception is that I use the stiff stainless steel jerk bait traces when jerk baiting.

The strength and the fact that they are less visible in the water gives me greater confidence than titanium or other wire traces.

This is a touchy subject as many top predator anglers love them but there are many others who don't.

I can only say that I have used them for at least 4 years now and have never been bitten off. This includes many double figure fish and a 20lb fish.

All I do is regularly check them for any damage particularly after every fish.

Any thoughts?

Ian

[esoxuk]

Im sorry but I just cannot agree with you, paticularly with lures rigged with treble hooks as there is absolutely no proof that catch results improve with flouro leaders and it is a fact that no pike anywhere can bite through a steel trace.
They are actually thicker than Ti or multi strand wire leaders and at their thickness are not as invisible in water as the manufacturers say. This combined with the fact that all pikes teeth as well as a sharp point also have a very sharp cutting edge which will cut through flouro leaders if chaffing under pressure occurs.
I would ask that you reconsider as leaving a pike with a mouth stitched up with a lure is not worth the risk.
I will concede that lures such as small soft plastics and a small single hook jig head are a different matter, lets be fair there's plenty of pike been caught while fishing with worms etc for other species and such an hook will not impede the pikes ability to feed while it rusts out.
Phil

[Deleted]

You are obviously entitled to your opinion Phil, which is why I started the thread.

I know of some well respected predator anglers who like me have used these leaders for many years with no bite offs.

I wouldn't be able to guess how many pike I have caught over the years using them but it will be well into the hundreds without any problems. I honestly believe that a knot is more likely to fail than these heavy leaders.

As for the visibility in my opinion it is far better than any wire I have compared it against.

Ian

[Izzetafox]

Just to clarify for an amateur Ian/Phil....

When you say fluoro 'leaders' are you refering to a length between the braid and a metal based 'trace'? Or are you talking of fluoro right to the lure swivel?

What do you guys think of the Cannelle Wondertress for dead bait traces? I have just brought some and I cannot believe just how soft it is.

Terry

[Deleted]

I am talking right to the swivel.

I forgot to mention that apart from the strength and being less visible it also doesn't kink and will cause less damage than wire when a fish rolls and thrashes about.

It is also very easy to tie direct to braid without the need for a swivel which reduces debris catching on your line.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8bnjoKnKi8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJHGZqvZD4w

BTW Terry I am by no means an expert but I have had many years of using different leaders/traces when lure fishing.

I certainly care about the fishes welfare and wouldn't use or have ever used these leaders without taking good advice from the right people and some vigorous testing before use.

I haven't seen or used Cannelle Wondertress, but then again I haven't dead baited for years.

Ian

[Daz]

for heavy jerk bait fishing i use 0.08 stainless steel rod and 220lb snaps and swivels.

Terry i have used Authanic Wire which is similar to Cannelle Wondertress for tying fly traces but Ive not thought about tying deadbiat traces, it would prob get tangled on the cast do you think ?

[Izzetafox]

Steve at Future Fishing swears by it. One trace has lasted him for months. He ties over hand loops in it and just 'lassoos the hooks, that way he can replace hooks on the same trace. He showed me one in his van rigged and ready to go and he had been using it for ages and caught a lot of fish on it. It look mint no kinks or fraying.

Mind you at £12 for 2.5 metres it had better be good. Having said that I trust him!

When we meet next I will let you have some to make a rig up and see how you get on.

Terry

[Daz]

Jan 19, 2014 9:06:17 GMT Izzetafox said:

Steve at Future Fishing swears by it. One trace has lasted him for months. He ties over hand loops in it and just 'lassoos the hooks, that way he can replace hooks on the same trace. He showed me one in his van rigged and ready to go and he had been using it for ages and caught a lot of fish on it. It look mint no kinks or fraying.

Mind you at £12 for 2.5 metres it had better be good. Having said that I trust him!

When we meet next I will let you have some to make a rig up and see how you get on.

Terry

from what ive been told he knows his stuff mate

[pikewhisperer]

I'm must say I'm with Phil on this one, I really don't think pike are that tackle shy we need to worry about invisibility on a leader.
In fact for my dead baiting traces I regularly use heavy gauge wires in the 60lb and 90lb range and I have not seen a drop in fish since stepping up to thicker wire. Lure wise even on my tiny lures I will rarely go below 60lb as I will not fish with a trace with a kink in it at all and a 60lb trace will last longer, so I don't think thicker wires put Pike off when lure fishing either. Agreed there may well be a case for better presentation with a fly but it's not a risk I would be prepared to take when there are supple wires on the market too. I used FC a lot for leaders sea fishing in Florida ( I know a totally different style of fishing ) but the amount of bite offs which were just classed as "part of it" put me off even considering them for our native Pike.