Any of you guys use steel rigs for big lakers and pike? What brands do you use and where do you buy them?
Thx!

Any of you guys use steel rigs for big lakers and pike? What brands do you use and where do you buy them?
Thx!

What do you mean exactly Tuc?  Like spoons, or for getting down deeper? 

Chris K

Check this link out Tuc, i was talking to a guy last night that still does the wire fishing in Northern Sask. He swears up and down its the best method for Lakers. Sounds like they chum at around 80-100ft and then have at it.

http://www.thefishingnut.com/articles/wirelakers.html

I never use steel leaders, i make my own 24" - 36" out of 50lb flouro leader material crimping sleeves, swivels and cross lok snap swivels.

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What do you mean exactly Tuc?  Like spoons, or for getting down deeper?

Chris, I mean a heavier line for getting down deep too, but also a heavy line to bring them successfully to the boat. I  was talking to some of the locals over here and they said if I was going up north around Davin, I should invest in some (steel gear)? because the lakers and pike are big. The pike have been know to bite your hook clean off the line.
I thought they were talking about steel leaders. What I am asking , after the steel leader can I go with a regular 20lb test nylon line or should it be heavier or even steel?

TSS, thanx for your advice and the link, will study that...

Tuc, how deep are you talking?

Like TSS I usually build my own leaders out of 50lb fluoro leader material - works for the fishing I do in my 'hood', however if you're concerned about being bitten off out there you can get some pretty heavy steel leader material and just build your own with crimp sleeves like you would the fluoro. 

They guys you are talking to seem to be telling some fishy stories to me.  I would go with braid as Waxy said for a main line. 

Here is an example of making flourocarbon leaders.


There is also tieable single strand titanium wire that you can buy.  I saw some recently at a shop in Edmonton, and it looked good.  I am going to get some and try it out. 

Chris K

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Tuc, how deep are you talking?

150' in places. I have never fished for lakers this deep and I've seen pics of some dandy's that were caught there, I use braided line but my 20lb test isn't going to cut it. I think it would be the othere way around especially if a big northern grabs hold.  lol

Tuc,

I think maybe your friends are having a bit of a laugh at your expense, because I don't think steel is really an option.

Braided lines are available up to 250lb test.  People use it every day for catching anything from Muskies to sharks, I wouldn't worry about pike if you're using 30lb test plus line.  (I don't think you'll encounter too many pike in 150' for water anyway.) I can only think of a couple cases where pike have bitten me off using 6-10lb Fireline, and I've landed a lot of big pike on light walleye setups like that.

Here's the link to PowerPro's website -

http://www.powerpro.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/power_pro_v2.html

Fireline only comes to 30lbs I believe, but Berkley does make heavy duty braids, as does Spiderwire, etc...

Waxy