dsonnenburg Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 How heavy of line to avoid being bit off by toothy critters? Where I fish we have big northerns and muskies, I would like to throw my big expensive baits without worrying about being bit off. What pound test line would you recommend to help avoid bite offs by toothy critters? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWIMBO Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Fish with braid and 80# flouro leader FishDr and kayl 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gettin bit Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 The muskie guys that I know that fish big baits for big muskies run 130lb. flourocarbon leaders. Some guys may even run heavier. Fish at your risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishDr Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Search for posts by Speedbead in the Flipside, among others. He's decked a number of hefty muskies and has first-hand experience with the bite-off risks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtnasty Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Check out Eric's video on using leaders for swimbaits, He's the one that got me on the setup I'm using. https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6MuCm2g9xY kayl, iay and basskickinrednick 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsonnenburg Posted February 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Thank you guys very much for the input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkH024 Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 When I'm fishing big pike/musky waters, I use 65-80# braid with 100# fluoro leaders. Other places where it's a bass dominant lake I'll fish baits directly tied whether its 20-25# Copoly or 65/80 braid. I fished a 175SS in Canada with the Braid fluoro setup and did well.. The action does get hindered slightly but I'd rather that then $60-$100 baits getting bit off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsonnenburg Posted February 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Yeah, that's just the thing. For the most part it's bass so i would like to use as light as possible and not hinder the baits action, but every now and again a big toothy will come along and get ya. just a little nervous throwing some of the more expensive lures out there on the lighter line. Looking for a happy medium is there is one. Not hindering the baits action and not getting bit off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganBassman Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Mono or flouro 60lb and up. Don't use braided leaders. Pike and Muskies can slice thru 80lb braid like nothing. I know a few Muskie charters on Lake St. Clair and they run 60lb flouro leaders for trolling and don't get any bite offs. I know guys who cast those baits for them run 100+lb but I feel that's because the baits weight is so heavy you need those to not snap. But I've used 60lb and haven't lost a bait yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayl Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 I use 50# fluoro for my lighter baits and 80# for my heavier and more expensive ones. I use Eric Aske's setup posted in the YouTube video above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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