Wire Leader for Muskies?

[BarnesX.308]

Do you guys use wire leaders for muskies? Do you feel they are necesarry? We use them but, I've caught plenty a big pike in Canada with mono and had no problem. Is it overkill?

[coyote caller]

Having Lake St. Clair in my back yard, I do a lot of musky fishing. Most of my fishing is trolling, off of planners boards, With a couple of rods trolled in the prop wash off the back of the boat. And I never use leaders whats so ever when trolling. Mainly because we use 50lb trilene Big Game line as leads. Casting the channels and weed beds I'll put on a 10in. wire leader because of the line weight difference.

[Lilhunter]

I would agree to what CC mentioned. It seems when trolling the fish will take the lures less deep. I am chasing Pike as we have no Muskies up here....sure wish we did though!!!

When casting I would use wire most definatly. If pike can cut through 20 and 30lb mono, you can sure bet a big musky will.

I've used some fireline as an alternative. So far I am about 50 50 on it. Sometimes it works great, somtimes they cut it like a hot knife through butter....... I really like fishing sluggo's though and they usually take them hard and fast which can mean lots of teeth!!!

[whitetails & muskies]

There's no doubt that you can catch muskies without wire leaders, but should you get a decent fish on, you will want one on the end of your line...for sure. I don't troll, at least not very often, only a bit when up in Canada. People I know that troll alot will typically use "hard mono" or flourocarbon leaders. Clear water too. It's not so much that a big fatty will bite you off, but when she starts rolling at boatside, them big gills can slice most any "line".

PS-I tie all of my own leaders. I typically use 90# 7 strand for crank baits and bucktails, then single strand 125# wire for jerk baits and big rubber, etc.

[semi]

i would always use a steel leader. I think it's foolish not to if you are serious about catching a trophy muskie. Muskie's can be few and far between so why take the chance.. I have seem plenty of muskie's bite right thru the line with a shake of the head. Then all you have is the sinking feeling and a loose fish with a $20 lure in it's mouth swimming around. I use a 9" leader currently cuz i have seen some big fish engulf a 7" lure well past the swivel.

[gopher slayer]

I fish alot for big pike and i always use steal leaders because i have lost a few expensive lures by not using a leader. a leader realy takes away from the action of rapelas and other crank baits, so when im using those i just but ona 15lbs test leader. i usaly fish with 6lbs test it makes it more fun.

[KonaBoy]

I always use a leader when I'm fishing for pike because they always bite through my mono and I don't wanna lose a expensive lure.

[whitetails & muskies]

Loosing a bait is not the issue...the issue is a trophy fish swimming around with a lure in it's mouth which could potentially kill the darn fish!

If your fishing clear water, go with 100# flourocarbon for a leader. It's tough and hard to see.