Probably every person who has a professional fisherman as a friend knows that he has a huge number of different devices in his arsenal, which includes a lure leash.
The leader is an important component of a successful catch and is the material that connects the hook and line. As has already become clear, in this article we will talk about this device, and also talk about the types of leashes and read consumer reviews.
Lead material for pike - types, their pros and cons
Flood functionality:
- As a result of using this device, you can very quickly change a hook that might have lost its functionality.
- Inconspicuous in water due to its small size and correctly selected color.
- The leash also protects the rod from breaking.
- The bait moves more naturally.
Varieties:
- Neutral - using lightweight materials.
- Pop-up - used when fishing in overgrown places.
- Hard – the diameter of the leader should be 2 times larger than the bait itself.
- Sinking people lie down on the bottom, where it is clean.
- Combined - several types that are combined into one.
Tungsten
Tungsten is a metal that has a number of unique features, which include:
- Highest boiling point;
- Solid.
Pros of using tungsten in a leash:
- Reliable to use.
- Lightness that will not harm the spinner.
- Low cost.
The only disadvantage can be considered the distortion that can be obtained when catching a large predator. To extend its service life, you can straighten the leash and hold it over an open fire. The price of one meter starts from 40 rubles.
Kevlar
The most popular material from which the flood is made is Kevlar. Despite its softness, it is durable, which gives it maximum uniqueness. Features include remembering the previous form, which remains unchanged even over time.
It can be used in the absence of visibility, namely in muddy water in which nothing is visible. A Kevlar leash will help you catch large pike without effort. The cost of 1 meter is 150 rubles.
Titanium
Titanium is a new material that has not yet gained the trust of consumers. Titanium leashes are strong, which allows you to get a big catch. It is recommended to use with high-quality baits when a break is definitely not the case. In the case of cheap baits, you need to use something different.
Pros:
- Does not deform;
- Lasting;
- Steel is 2 times lighter.
Minuses:
- High price;
- Lack of transparency.
But every day this material is becoming popular among fishermen. The price varies from 100 rubles per 1 meter.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon leaders are made from a combination of fluorine and carbon. This material is recommended for use in the case of suspicious fish that are afraid of being caught; it is transparent and almost invisible.
Disadvantages may be the large diameter, which does not have the declared properties.
The advantages can be noted:
- Transparency and invisibility.
- Minimum time for immersion in water.
- Can be used at any temperature.
- Maintains appearance.
The diameter of the material depends directly on the weight of the fish.
For example:
- 0.16 mm – 1.5 kg;
- 0.31 more than 5 kilograms.
You can buy from 50 rubles per meter.
Special leader material
Specialized leader material can be divided into:
Coated material:
A cable made from steel. Suitable for spinners that have more significant weight.
Pros:
- Small price.
- Disguise by choosing the right color.
- Resistant to frequent use.
Minuses:
- Over time it becomes shaggy.
- Has significant weight.
Price starts from 5 rubles per meter, sales are carried out only by footage.
Without cover:
You can use it thanks to:
- Low price.
- It becomes noticeable in water.
There are other aspects to using such a leash:
- Fragility that occurs over time.
- Capricious fish can easily subtract the bait and not bite it.
The most affordable price is from 25 rubles per meter.
Steel leashes
You can purchase it at any store that specializes in fishing, or you can also make it yourself. Can be used in twitching or fishing using a wobbler.
Wobblers are large baits that are made of plastic or wood. The shape and size can be varied. The color doesn't really matter, the deciding factor will be the model.
Advantages of using a steel leash:
- Hardness.
- No option to get confused.
- Low price.
Flaws:
- Volume.
- Poor quality components that can fail at an important moment.
The cost starts from 200 rubles per coil containing 0.069 millimeters.
Special materials
In a fishing store you can purchase special leader material, for example, the Proleader brand. Its structure consists of thin steel threads, which are tightly woven and covered with a plastic sheath. To secure these products, special fasteners and swivels are available, which can be purchased additionally.
The wobbler has a slightly different technique of use. It can play in different ways if equipped with an oscillating motion. Special varieties are used to make leashes from leash material with a length of no more than 30 cm. The finished leash can withstand a load of up to 8 kg. Advantages of the material:
- softness of the structure,
- little memory,
- optimal strength, due to which the pike is not able to bite these products.
There are also some disadvantages. For example, this type of leash can curl. It can be seen in the water, so it will not be possible to catch active individuals with it. Over time, its main characteristics are lost. The leash increases in size, and therefore the fish easily notices it.
Lead material is in demand due to its affordable price, which is only 20 rubles. per meter Any category of fishermen can afford to buy it. Experienced fishermen leave good reviews about this material. Moreover, if you lose it, you don’t have to regret it too much, because in fact, not that much money was lost. It’s much more offensive to lose leashes made of Kevlar and titanium.
Steel products
Perhaps this is the most reliable of all fishing leashes that exist today. More recently, fishermen even used guitar strings as a metal leash. Some people still use this method. Why is steel the most popular? This is explained by the fact that the pike is not able to bite through such a leash.
The material can withstand almost any weight and has an increased degree of reliability. Among the disadvantages, we can note the fact that it is not difficult to notice such a product in the water. It is characterized by a certain rigidity, and therefore it will not be possible to play with the bait as naturally as possible.
The use of the product is complicated due to the presence of residual memory. It's difficult to straighten it. Modern companies produce wires that are characterized by thinness and flexibility. Due to this, it is possible to ensure natural play of the bait.
Tungsten Accessories
Tungsten is quite soft. This does not have any effect on the performance of the bait. At the same time, these products have a serious memory, which is a significant disadvantage. They are not able to withstand even a few bites. For the same reason, it is recommended to check the integrity of the wire every time before casting. But even despite all these disadvantages, anglers continue to successfully use these devices for catching pike.
How to choose a leader material for pike: tips
The choice of flood directly depends on weather conditions and the fish that you plan to hunt. Pike is a large predator that has large teeth, and also sharp ones. You should choose the strongest leash for it to avoid breakdown.
In addition, the flood must meet the requirements:
- The material should not weigh down the fishing rod so as not to affect the nature of fishing.
- Inconspicuous - so that the pike does not see it.
Let's celebrate! In some situations, strong and thin have completely opposite meanings, so the fisherman’s task is to find something in between.
How to make a leash for a pike with your own hands?
Making a flood with your own hands is absolutely not difficult, you just need to have the necessary tools, the material itself and a little idea of how to assemble it.
Here we will talk about several methods.
steel flood
Necessary:
- The required piece of steel, which will not rust after contact with water.
- Carbine.
- Cambric
Cooking steps:
- The string is 30 centimeters, on one side of which a loop is made.
- They are threaded into the cambric and bent around on all sides.
- The other end is threaded into a carabiner and secured.
The result is a wire with 2 ends, one of which has a carabiner and the other a cambric.
Fluorocarbon
Required:
- The material itself is above 0.35 millimeters thick;
- The tube is 10 centimeters long, which is 2 times the size of fluorocarbon. If the material was taken 0.5 millimeters, then the tube should be 1 centimeter thick.
The manufacturing steps are similar to the steel flood case.
The most important thing is to learn how to tie a flood, so to speak, for beginners who have not yet developed automatic fixation, but for a professional fisherman it will cost a maximum of 5 minutes to make a flood and fix it.
Reviews from fishermen
Of all the floods, I like the fluorocarbon one, but unfortunately, it is enough for 5-6 times of use. And taking into account the fact that I am a regular fisherman, it is not durable for me, but I haven’t found a better one yet. I can’t say about other materials that they are bad, because each fisherman has his own habits and preferences. Grade:
Alexander Nikolaevich, 58 years old
If you catch a large pike, then you should choose steel material, as it will simply bite or tear off others. In winter, fluorocarbon can even rupture due to friction against ice. I’ve had a steel flood for about a year now, and I haven’t noticed any defects yet, although I’ve caught 4 kilograms of pike with it. Grade:
Mikhail, 35 years old
I don’t understand fishermen who buy cheap pacifiers and then say that they quickly break down. Everything in my arsenal is of high quality, albeit expensive. Grade:
Valery, 41 years old
I agree with the previous commentator, the miser pays twice. Although I understand a person who buys cheap floods, perhaps he just rarely goes fishing and doesn’t need expensive ones at all. Grade:
Leonid, 49 years old
Due to the fact that I am new to this type of recreation, I have not tried a steel flood yet, I will definitely buy it and try it. Grade:
Andrey, 24 years old
Let's celebrate! Fishing is one of the most relaxing types of recreation, which is why it is so popular among men. If the material does not inspire confidence or there is no desire to invest money in a leash, you can build it yourself.
Most popular products
There are several best leash materials . This:
- Kevlar;
- titanium;
- fluorocarbon.
Kevlar leader material is unique for a number of reasons. This leash is durable and soft at the same time. Its notable property is the absence of residual memory. It makes sense to use it when it is necessary to maintain minimal visibility of the product in the water. Among other things, the leash makes it possible to cope even with large pike without any problems. For 1 m of such material it will cost approximately 100 rubles.
The titanium leader material is durable and modern. However, it has the disadvantage of an impressive price. Such products are not particularly in demand, as they are not considered economical. However, it still makes sense to discuss them. This pike fishing leader has similarities to standard leader materials. It can be clearly seen in the water, as it glitters.
It can be seen even from afar. This factor can influence fish behavior in different ways. In some cases, the pike thinks that the leash is an extension of the bait. Accordingly, there is a visual increase in the size of the bait. The fish thinks that the enemy is larger than its own size and can harm it, and then refuses to pursue it.
It also happens that the fish ignores the bait and tries to attack the leash. Despite all these factors, such a product also has some advantages. He has no memory. It can be bent in every possible way, but its quality does not suffer. In addition, these types of leashes can be used for an unlimited time. During the operation of the products, a fisherman can lose dozens of leashes made from other materials.
On the other hand, you can easily lose a titanium leash if it gets caught on any obstacle. In this way it is no different from the standard modification made of steel. Anglers have recently increasingly resorted to using fluorocarbon leashes . Compared to other types of products, they also have many advantages. Fluorocarbon is relatively soft. It is difficult to notice in the water. This is explained by the fact that its refractive index is similar to that of water.
Fluorocarbon sinks quickly. When casting gear, this moment is essential. He also has no memory. You can bend it as you like, its structure remains smooth and does not deform. Accordingly, it can be used many times. At the same time, fluorocarbon is not resistant enough to withstand the teeth of predatory fish. She can easily snack on it.
You can use fluorocarbon if you cannot catch a pike due to careless behavior. For a leash, you can take fluorocarbon with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.4 mm. The cost of 1 m of all material is about 150 rubles.
