Sawed Off Swimbaits ?

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Permalink Reply by Todd Reis on January 20, 2013 at 10:17am

Thataboy! Just use some good braid. 80lb or better with leader of about 12 inches. Flouro leaders work good. Good ball bearing swivels should do ya good. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by gary northrop on April 12, 2013 at 3:25pm

I catch a lot of BIG pike on big swimbaits in northern Canada each year. I never have any trouble with 20lb braided and handtied 26lb wire leader.  I was in a camp with Matt Straw from IN FISHERMAN one week, and I observed what he was slaying them with, and I've stayed with it ever since: the largest Lunker City saltwater  swimbaits on their specially designed jigheads. The plastic is extremely tough. I also epoxy large plastic eyes on the jigs, which are made with large eye depressions. I'm sure muskies are like pike in that they must often engulf the whole lure, but I find a 10" leader is plenty.

Permalink Reply by Mark Wells on May 18, 2013 at 10:00pm

Fluorocarbon has replaced wire in many musky circles for most lure types and for good reason. Wire can cut a fish. Wire also kinks easily and when that happens, you've got a very weak leader. Fluorocarbon won't kink and is mostly invisible in water and if using 80# minimum fluorocarbon and preferably 125#, you won't have to worry about bite offs.

I used wire leaders in the 75lb range for years but replaced them when they got kinked. This resulted in throwing away 3 - 4 leaders per trip at a cost of $4 - $7 each. Expensive.

Now I use strickly fluorocarbon leaders made by Charlie Runyon http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-MUSKY-MUSKIE-LEADERS-100LB-FLUOROCARBON-B... and the snaps wear out way before the fluorocarbon. I've used the same leader for 8 - 10 trips retying each trip. You cannot do that with wire.

Ebay Seller name: charlier2753