BWCA Light line tied to heavy fluorocarbon Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
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Heyfritty
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06/27/2022 02:39PM  
I searched the internet for 20 minutes and couldn’t find advice on what weight fluorocarbon leader that you can tie to monofilament. I’m using 8# Trilene mono and wondering what is the heaviest fluorocarbon line anyone feels comfortable with using as a leader? My hope is that the fluorocarbon will provide some protection against pike. I’d rather not use a steel/titanium leader, if possible. And if you know of a chart, that would be helpful. Thanks!

Fritty
 
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Savage Voyageur
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06/27/2022 02:54PM  
For Pike I tie a pre made fluorocarbon leader that is 50 pounds. It has a swivel on one end and a snap on the other. This will give you the protection from toothy pike. Just tie your 8# right on the swivel end. Fluorocarbon is almost invisible underwater.
 
06/27/2022 04:49PM  
I use 25 pound fluoro leader line on 6-8 lb mono.
 
WesternHills
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06/27/2022 08:02PM  
I'm not sure you're going to find a chart like what you're after. In theory any fluoro can be tied on as a leader. I would use 30# myself, but I think the other suggestions are just fine as well.
 
thegildedgopher
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06/28/2022 09:11AM  
When tying two lines together I try to match the diameters pretty closely (20-30 pound braid tied to 8 lb flouro), but that's not going to work for you in this case. I agree that using a swivel between the two lines is your best bet. In that case go as big as you want.
 
Scoobs
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06/28/2022 08:28PM  
Fishing for pike? By all means, go ahead and use a steel leader. You can even buy black wire leaders. Pike really don't care one bit.
 
Nomadmusky
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07/05/2022 02:29PM  
Don't worry about matching it up, think of the Fluorocarbon as a leader that has a job to do.

First, what is that job? The answer is to keep as many Pike as possible from cutting your line. Many people will give you different answers, but if it's a good fluorocarbon built as a leader like Seaguar or something of that quality you could do 30lb. If it's not built as a leader but as a mainline, I would move up to a 50lb test. Leaders are built harder and stiffer, whereas mainlines are built softer with more suppleness.

Second; you can afford to go heavier with Flouro versus mono's because pure flouros have the same refractive quality as water, so they don't "turn" invisible, but they virtually become invisible. Make sure it's not a cheap flouro with additives like colors or fillers because those have different refractive qualities and then become visible.

Thirds: How you tie it on. I love a uni to uni knot, but it's far easier to simply use a swivel.

I hope this helps.

Kevin
 
thegildedgopher
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07/05/2022 02:37PM  
Nomadmusky: "Don't worry about matching it up, think of the Fluorocarbon as a leader that has a job to do.

...

Thirds: How you tie it on. I love a uni to uni knot, but it's far easier to simply use a swivel."


I have tied so many double unis in the past 5 years that I can now do it on the water with the boat rocking in the waves and the wind blasting me. When I started I basically had to be sitting perfectly still under a bright lamp looking at a diagram :)

Re: your first statement -- I would agree if using a swivel, but with the uni/uni know I feel the strongest knot is obtained using two lines that are at least somewhat similar in diameter. Otherwise, in my experience, the bigger knot from the larger diameter flouro runs the risk of "swallowing" up the smaller braid knot, leading to failure.



 
07/05/2022 05:05PM  
Albright or nail knot works well for lines of dissimilar size. For tying 8 lb mono to 25 lb FC leader I’ve used those and the double uni. All seem to work.
 
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