Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

[Mark_VTfisherman]

I was thinking about a fishing trip I am taking this summer. The lake in question has walleye, my target specie, as well as pike and tiger muskies. So I was wondering about using steel leaders due to the fact that some of the fish reported from the lake are substantial.

When I first started walleye fishing the tackle shop told me to use steel leaders, but after several dismal trips and thinking about line visibility I switched to 6# Berkeley Trimax Ultraclear (yes this was a long while back) and started catching fish. I still don't use steel leaders.

So my question is: Do other anglers find that steel leaders reduce their catch rate? Do you often use them? Attached is a poll which will let me and others see the general consensus for those who read iboats fishing posts. I did not include braided line...sorry.

Thanks!

 

[beermunk]

Re: Steel leaders - do they effect walleye?

Re: Steel leaders - do they effect walleye?

Depends on the kind of bait you're using. Most people can't get good results with leaders because the leader messes up the way the bait is supposed to run in the water.

I use them for trolling for walleye when pike or musky is possible, but not for casting. For casting I use a good braided line. You may lose a fish but at least you're catching them.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Steel leaders - do they effect walleye?

Re: Steel leaders - do they effect walleye?

Depends on the kind of bait you're using. Most people can't get good results with leaders because the leader messes up the way the bait is supposed to run in the water. I use them for trolling for walleye when pike or musky is possible, but not for casting. For casting I use a good braided line. You may lose a fish but at least you're catching them.

Gotcha. I fish bouncers with spinners and crawler harnesses sometimes, which are made with 12 or 14# test mono. Most of the time I drag Original Rapalas and Shadraps, so that does make a difference. I have 20# braided on several of my reels I use for trolling plugs, but I seem to get less hits on braided with plugs. I run 6 or 8' flouro leaders many times. My bouncers connect at the end of the braided and mono is on the spinner rigs, so those terminate with mono.

 

[John_S]

Re: Steel leaders - do they effect walleye?

Re: Steel leaders - do they effect walleye?

I have never used wire for walleye. Mainly 8lb mono. I primarily jig fish for walleye. Very seldom get cut-off by pike or muskie, and have landed upto 20lb muskies on 8lb mono.

I do get cut-off allot finesse fishing for bass in pickeral waters. Even the thinest wire will kill the action on weightless plastics. Braid gets clipped off as well.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Never had a bite-off from a walleye, and I fish them almost exclusively with 6-8 lb. mono. On the other hand, I fish for bass a lot, and use the lightest weight 6" coated wire leaders anytime I'm pitching crankbaits, jigs, or spinnerbaits, since the northerns, which I also love to catch, are in the same places as the bass.

The bass don't seem to care at all, and I lose less $6 crankbaits. Win win.

Some guys say that bass won't bite on a wire leader. I say they're wrong, and those same guys are motoring up near my boat when I'm bass fishing. Seems a bent rod attracts them.

 

[ProTurbo]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Personnal I will not fish will a steel leaders went fishing for walleye. Troling, casting or still fishing.

I find that is take away the natural look I am looking for.

I do fish with bottom boucers a lot and I make my own spinners. I will use a 17 pound seaguar flurocarbon to make my spinners. I use a heavy line because it will help me land more fish. And yes I check the line everytime I land a fish, especially a pike..

Dan

 

[Woodstock60]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

No steel, unless targeting pike or muskie using live bait, even then I use invisileader or heavy mono.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

No steel for me when after walleye. They are already smarter than me and I don't want to help them anymore than necessary.
I don't use steel when casting for bass either and I have lost a few lures to pike. That's just the way it goes sometimes.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

It seems to me that steel leaders offered a bigger advantage before the super lines were developed. Have you ever tried to cut braided line with your teeth. I would rather use a 20-30# braided leader than steel. I will still use steel leaders with spinner baits and rooster tails however because the action isn't affected.

 

[JB]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

I use titanium leaders when pike or musky are likely, short length of 50# Power Pro when expecting only Walleye or panfish.

Steel leaders kink up too quickly.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Thank you for your input.

I use braided line on several rods but mainly as "backer." Most often I have a long harness/spinner snell (36-60 inches of mono or flourocarbon) or a 6# or 8# mono leader off of that. I put a good snap swivel at the end of the braided. I use 20# braided Stren for it's small diameter and low resistance in the water, which lets my lures run deeper.

I guess what I am concluding is that I should maybe up my line size a little and stick with good mono or flourocarbon. I hate losing lures almost as much as I hate not catching fish. Any other thoughts?

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

My father was a walleye nut back for the better part of his life...I believe if i used a steel leader of any type during his tutalge...Yep he would have tied the anchor to my tail and let it rip....

In all seriousness walleye can be a very timid fish, great eye sight and a good nose. They can be so damm finky they will eat a worm right off a harness. Alought they have some sharp teeth...it is not to often you will ever gut hook one. Generally if the hook is set more than 1" in there mouth the bite is on really hard..Ofter as not in my experience's you get them on a swiping .

The only time ive seen heavy tackle work with them is the bottom bouncer setup...and then one generally uses 18-30" of mono leader..

Just a Opinion your milage may vary.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Mark,just go catch some fish.I don't want to hear any excuses that your steel leader kept hanging up,I catch Northern Pike here in Arizona with 8lb test and a rapala tied directly to it.I have never used a steel leader in my life,I lose more lures getting hooked in trees,I wish I was losing them from shear off from toothed big boys.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Mark,just go catch some fish.I don't want to hear any excuses that your steel leader kept hanging up....

Thanks- that is about the conclusion I have come to. I just wanted to expand my knowledge a little bit and not lean on just my experience and assumptions!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

I have settled on 14# flourocarbon for crawler harness / spinner snells, and will likely use 8# on my reels that don't already have 6#

I appreciate all the input and welcome anything new that could be added to this thread.

 

[Woodstock60]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Mark, have you gotten out yet?

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

Not really. I hit the Lamoille River with a small rod and a kastmaster just because the season was open for trout, but even Lake Elmore was still iced in last week.

Walleye here doesn't open until May 1st and the reports I have from Seymour still have it iced in- although Willoughby apparently went to 50% open water over the weekend.

It's coming!

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

I have settled on 14# flourocarbon for crawler harness / spinner snells, and will likely use 8# on my reels that don't already have 6#

I appreciate all the input and welcome anything new that could be added to this thread.

Walleye fishing is a lot like hunting from my experience's. Some common fishing times are from early dawn to 10-11am or a couple of hours after dusk. Many will tell you to find submerged structure such as islands or reef's...sand bars or rcok piles, they are all known hangout's. During the day deep weed lines are generally the cover they use and if thats not present they will generally just find deep enough water that makes them comfortable.

They also can be found in water in as little a 3-4' during mid day..generally in murky water....aka nice deep clear line of water right next to a shallow murky water where the current or the wind has stirred up the bottom.

As to equipment the lighter the line the better and weighting system your using..just enough to get you to the bottom.Worms are the all time favorite in my book along with a worm harness and maybe a trailing stinger hook just for good measure.Believe it or not leaches or blood suckers prove deadly to the fish also..and there a heck of alot more durable than a worm. Blade colors are all over the spectrum..green yellow,gold silver..dark light..

If you want to be successful with marble eyes.....patience is the key...simply said it's like getting a strange cat to give you luv...

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: fishing for walleye?

Re: fishing for walleye?

Mark, have you gotten out yet?

Hey Ronnie-

Now I have been up to Carmi a couple of times and caught a bunch of walleye- mostly smaller (12" to 16"). Haven't found where the normal (larger) fish are at yet, but still had a lot of fun. Had a 28"+?? Pike break me off at the boat and stole my J9 Perch! Enjoyed a nice dance with a 14" smallmouth doing a pretty decent impersonation of a 20" smallmouth- couldn't believe how small it was after the way it took line. Makes fishing fun!

Actually have been over to Champlain a few times, and caught a bunch of salmon, and I have been up to Seymor and landed 4 lakers in 9 strikes the first trip, and caught a nice laker and a salmon this monday afternoon.

Canoed Zach Woods Pond for brookies Sunday afternoon but I guess I need to use a smaller lure or hooks- had one chase my dark green/yellow spot spoon all the way to the canoe, hitting all the way, but never got hooked up.

Looking forward to fishing this summer!

Mark

 

[fishon13]

Re: Steel leaders - do they catch more walleye?

I've never used anything but 4lb test and an ultra light reel. so I wouldn't know I prefer the chalange and willing to lose a fish or two.