best musky leader ever!

i am on the search for the best musky leader ever…so if u don’t know the answer don’t even answer the question. lol i usually use joe boucher 10in. 175lb. test but the clamp at the top wears out fast and have had a few come unclamped. so i’m leaning towards the clamps with the circle…it clamps on better i think maybe?? i know some guys are using leaders without swivels on top for jerk baits so i’m looking for options with jerkbait lures to get better action. and also the difference between floro and wire i’m not sure what 1 is better for what. keep hearing different people say different stuff. hope we can get the answer here for the best musky leader ever.

I got 2 130# Stealth Flouros 3 years ago, both still going strong. Have used a dozen 174# wires ones in the same time frame. Only a leader with a Stay Lock snap goes on my lines.

I run the Flouro 99% of the time…

weis:

Best musky leader ever???? I am sure Joe Bucher would be happy to hear you said it was his!!!

Most musky gurus will tell you that you should probably fish with two, a straight wire model for gliders, etc. and either a stranded wire or floro for the rest of the baits… if you are a troller, then you might need one more, but that would be length dependent rather than material dependent.

The crosslock snaps are good, but any wire that gets opened and closed is going to fatigue (from the heat of bending) at a stress point, get weak and break!!! No one brand will get past this weakness.

There are some who will say that they fish all baits including gliders without the straight wire leader and in my opinion it can be done and that is how I do it. I do carry some straight leaders with me, but it is more for times when I have novice in the boat having difficulty working those baits without fouling.

There are those now who are tying their own leader to their braid using a surgeon, blood or uni-knot (any good line to line knot) and installing a either a snap or split ring to fasten the bait to the end of the line. I personally am really intrigued by this setup and finally got to start this last fall. Not enough time with it yet, but I think its a winner.

More later…

Mark

let me clear this up…i didn’t say joe boucher has the best leader ever. actually they are an ok leader but i know there are some better out there. i have heard stealth leaders are pretty nice i may have to buy a pack n try em out. just wanted to clear up joe boucher doesn’t make the best-nor the worst leaders.

Stealth, flouro and straight steel. He can make them with a solid weld ring on the end for attaching a split ring if you don’t like the stay lock snaps. I’ve been using them for 4-5 years without an issue.

make your own, I started last year and I won’t go back! and as mentioned above, I now only use stay lok snaps. I lost a very nice fish a couple of years ago to a snap that popped open and broke, nothing now but a stay lok at the end of my leader!

# 130 pound flouro with stay lock…

Best?
Can’t say for anybody else, but I use the lighter gauge seven strand wire with Sampo ends, never had one fail and don’t seem to lose any action, so I stay with that.

Have thought of using Fluro for some lighter musky baits like a 5/8oz or heavier jig with plastic, thinking the wire might be a bit heavy for that light of a lure and the fluro might keep the action while keeping Mr toothy from running off with the jig.

Not sure how tyeing 100# or so fluro directly onto the jig will work, but I’ll probably try it this year.

Al

130# flouro Stealth with a stay-lock snap! I am sure there are other good brands out there, but I won’t use any other type of snap other than stay-lock.

150# and 130# stealth flouro leaders are the best ones you can buy in my opinion. Like everybody has already said always use stay-loc snaps.

Jeremy