Lead Core?

I tried to do an IDO search and for some reason when inputting “lead core” in the subject and choosing any or all categories, I found quickly that there was no mention of my subject line in the couple of postings that came up on the search.

SO I quickly gave up thinking I was doing something wrong but could not understand what it was.

My question is, What strength and brand of lead core would you buy?

Which Daiwa Sealine line counter would you put it on?

Which rod as well?

I have never messed with it ever, think I might need it to pull cranks deeper than I’m used to up to say 12 to 16 feet. I’ve used inline weights before to get em’ down a bit better and a long leader after the weight and swivel. I maybe needing to reach dephts of 24 to 33feet.

What say you all?

Thanks!

Denny O

18lb suffix lead core, I would use a diawa sealine 47 if using more than 5 colors or 17 if 5 colors or less. I use a lead core rod from Dean’s Tackle Box Rods, he appears to be sold out now, but should have them back soon!

I upgraded my reels to Shimano Tekota 500LC simply because of the drag system.

Denny, I am assuming you are talking Walleye fishing for the LC use.

In that case go with the 18#
As far as reels I would use the 47 series. They will allow you o get a full core (10 colors) on with backer. A 27 series will work but you will be limited to 6 colors with 100′ of backer.

As far as rods go, the sky is the limit, many will chime in but I prefer a MH in the 8-10′ range.

Also, look up the Willis Knot on you tube or google it. It is the only way to tie on backer or Leader IMHO. Be aware it does not tie well with Suffix brand LC due to the nature of the sheath they use. Courtland, cabelas or mason work well for the Willis Knot.

Jason Halfen has some good write up a well. In addition I have made a starters list in the IDO groups titled Rigged Rite. Sign up and I will let you in.
-Mark

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18lb suffix lead core, I would use a diawa sealine 47 if using more than 5 colors or 17 if 5 colors or less. I use a lead core rod from Dean’s Tackle Box Rods, he appears to be sold out now, but should have them back soon!

I upgraded my reels to Shimano Tekota 500LC simply because of the drag system.

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Right on Cal. Those SeaLines are the standard, but I’m with you on the Tekotas. Definitely the premium option and worth every penny.

Joel

Shimano 500LC instead of the 47’s?
Got to use backing to start with, I assume, (What? how much?)
Is there a reason not to put all 10 colors on the real at one time, or would you just never get into that much of the lead core.

What is the preference for the tag line to the lure then.

Attachment knots to use at both ends?

As I said I have basically no knowledge to this lead core stuff.

WOW you guys are fast!

Yep using mainly for Walleye hunting.

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Shimano 500LC instead of the 47’s?
Is there a reason not to put all 10 colors on the real at one time, or would you just never get into that much of the lead core.

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at 5 feet per color, all ten colors would put you at 50ft deep. 5.5 colors are the most I have had out, but I do have 10 colors on for the back up in case I am having a bad day and get a huge mess from tangled lines and feel it will be quicker to cut and retie. That way I am allowed a couple of major screw ups before

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What is the preference for the tag line to the lure then.

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I put 30 foot leader between the lead and the lure. Some cases it doesn’t seem to matter, other times the long leader is catching more fish. But that might also be due to the fact that the two set ups are running slightly different depths because of the leader.

One key thing I have learned, as this is my first year of lead core, is that when deploying, best to keep the boat running straight as any lines already deployed are running a different path than what is being deployed and you will be laying one line right over the top of the other.

Also make sure your lures are running true and re-check after a hook up

There is alot of good information on here already and I have a few things to add. If you use the cabela’s leadcore on a Sealine 47, it will only fit 9 colors so I like to throw away the first color on the spool before putting it on the reel. That way all the rods still end with white being the first color in the water. The Willis not works great for this set up. On my other reels, I run a size 16 swivel between the leadcore and leader. The 9’6″ Mr. Walleye leadcore rod is pretty sweet.

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18lb suffix lead core, I upgraded my reels to Shimano Tekota 500LC simply because of the drag system.

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Shimano Tekota 500LC, The line counter for salt water? You seem to think it is worth twice the price?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve paided more that that before for “belief”
Been married 36 years now.

Mark, Joel, Otis and Bigfife, I thank you as well and am noting your comments for my purchase.
Thanks Guys!

Looking for any other comments as well.
Denny O

The shimano is well worth the money if you are going to do alot of leadcore fishing.

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18lb suffix lead core, I upgraded my reels to Shimano Tekota 500LC simply because of the drag system.

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Shimano Tekota 500LC, The line counter for salt water? You seem to think it is worth twice the price?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve paided more that that before for “belief”
Been married 36 years now.

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I’ll disagree with Cal and Joel. I’d never spend the extra money on a Tekota for pulling core. The Sea Line or the Cabelas reel in a 47 is fine, i’ve been using both for years and haven’t had an issue. Cals come back will be that he catches bigger fish than I do, but I believe a longer lead core specific rod will be much more beneficial than the reel. Go with a 9 foot or longer rod. I run two 10’6s as primaries and 9 footers out the back if there are 2 guys in the boat.

100 foot of backing, then tie on a swivel, I run the river the majority of the time so a 10 foot 20lb crystal leader to a #2 snap.

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18lb suffix lead core, I upgraded my reels to Shimano Tekota 500LC simply because of the drag system.

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Shimano Tekota 500LC, The line counter for salt water? You seem to think it is worth twice the price?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve paided more that that before for “belief”
Been married 36 years now.

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The shimano reels are so smooth when reeling vs. the sealines, the drag system is night and day as well. Its a personal preference to the reels and rods. The Tekota is a very good reel and also an expensive reel, but I think its worth the extra money to have a good drag system and a smooth retreive as well.
I am also running a 30′ mono lead usually in a 10lb. Lots of talk about which knot to use when joining the lead to backing or lead to leader. I use a blood knot on the suffix and last weekend I was running a full 5 colors of lead where the knot was actually at my rod tip, I have full faith in those blood knots.

Who doesn’t catch more fish than Ritter..

Great discussion, Denny’s probably getting more than he wanted.

I own some Sealines and a Cabelas reel or two for the leadcore, and I’m steadily replacing them with the Tekotas. Pretty expensive, but they’re just built better.

Agree with Ritter on the rods, the longer ones are very nice, but good to have some shorties for behind the boat rods. I use a shorter fireline leader and swivel if pulling on Pepin because of the zeebs and the amount of times I’m dredging bottom and the crankbait blows out and puts twist in the line. For lake situations, esp clearer water, I’ll run either braid or mono, but it’s always longer.

Joel

Even when I use a line counter for lead core, I still count colors. So, this old shool guy does not rely on a counter. If you want a quality reel that will hold 10 colors, has a great drag and clicker, check out this reel. Bullet proof for over 10 years now.

(The 200 size)

Shimano TR200

You can get that reel on a combo Cabelas rod for an additioanl $20 bucks.

-J.

18 lb. on Sealine 47’s. Limit Creek has a new leadcore series that was designed for this (12′ with 5′ runt) is the best combo, and their is a 8’6″ telescoping model as well. Dirty water I use a 10ft leader & clear water I will go up to 20-30′, but as mentioned try to make sure they are all the same, and reels filled to the same level so you can accurately duplicate the prodcutive depth. Good luck!

Not true Joel!
I’m still very open for discussion.
So tie backing (10lb mono about 10 to 100 yards) to the lead core (17lb 10 full colors) with a blood knot.
Tie lead core to leader (10 to 30 feet mono or braid 17 lb and higher) with a blood knot again.
Attach a #2 swivel at the end of the leader and clip to the lure’s ring?

Do I pretty much have as the basics?

Still want to hear more about rods.
I’m between the Sealine 47 and the Tekotas.

How is running lead core so mush different than using my line counter w/ braid line attached with a 2 oz or better inline sinker then using a leader of 10ft or so to the crank bait?

I put about 75 yards of backing onto the reel in a 10lb mono, its very important to take out approx 3-4 inches of lead to allow the mono and lead core to attach via blood knot, if you fail to take the lead out of the line then your risking the strength of the knot which will most likely end up slipping at some point.
I then put on 5 full colors and once again attach a 30 foot leader of 10 lb mono for fishing mille lacs, sometimes I use florocarbon but mostly just trilene XT 10lb. Some people use a small swivel at this point vs the blood knot.
At the end of the 30 foot lead attach your favorite snap to attach to crank and then start fishing.

As for rods I can only use one rod on mille lacs so I like the soft tip rods like what Dean has for sale at Deans tackle box in the 8’3″ variety. I will use a shorty if I troll more than 2 people here in MN.

Anyone know which size Tekota is needed to fit 10 colors of 18lb lead and backing? By comparing specs it appears the 600 has about the same capacity as the Daiwa lc47 reels – is that right?

Denny,

Lots of good info so far.

I’d also do a search under Brad Juaire, and go back at least 3 years of his fish Reports.

Everyone of his reports is very good and VERY detailed.

Every detail is not covered over a few Reports.

I have used the Diawa -47s a long time and never have had an issue.

I would NOT use a metal swivel on my leader to LC line. with 30-50 back, every time you let line out, or reel in a nice fish that metal is rolling through your line guides, am sure that would eventually wear or even break a guide; why risk it.

Brad has also done an On The Water fishing clinic out of his boat for a number of years. If you can meet him on Mille Lacs for an all day trip, it is Very well worth it.

good luck

Jack

Here is Brad’s link

I use a swivel between the lead and mono. I tried without one and snagged a weed and without the swivel it twisted my line to the point it ruined my lead. After that I went back to using one. I don’t like using a snap swivel at the bait.

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Anyone know which size Tekota is needed to fit 10 colors of 18lb lead and backing? By comparing specs it appears the 600 has about the same capacity as the Daiwa lc47 reels – is that right?

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Yes it’s about the same line capacity.
TEK600LC = 20 lb / 300 yards
DiawaLC47 = 20 lb / 280 yards

So the big question is how much backing should I put on reel and still have my TEK600LC be calibrated? Keep in mind your line counter reel doesn’t actually measure feet – it measures revolutions of your spool. So if your reel is only half full in will measure more like 14-16 inches versus 12 inches. A fully spooled line counter reel usually measures correctly – 12 inches per revolution. You can calibrate your line counter reel by measuring out 100 feet in your yard with a tape measure and then pull your line off your line counter reel to that 100 foot spot and see what your line counter actually reads. Add or take away line and measure it again until it reads accurately.

OK – now back to how much backing you will need:

The easiest and most accurate way to do this IF you have two reels is to put the lead core line on first and then add your mono backing until your spool is full and then go calibrate it before you cut your mono line. Once your reel is calibrated – now move that line to your other line counter reel so your backing goes on first followed by the lead core line.

If you only have one reel it get’s a little trickier. In order to figure out how much backing you need – there are 3 things you need to consider:
1. the amount of lead core line you are wishing to add
2. the line capacity of your reel
3. and line diameters

Now let’s do the math:
1. you are wishing to add 100 yards of lead core line
2. the TEK600LC line capacity = 20 lb / 300 yards (keep in mind this capacity is figured for mono).
3. the line diameter for 20 lb. mono = .018
3. the line diameter for 18 lb. regular lead core = .025
The difference is .07 or 39%

Now add 39% to your lead core line: 100 yards * 39% = 139 yards

Minus that from your TEKLC600 line counter reel capacity: 300 – 139 = 161 yards

Add 161 yards of 20 lb mono backing and then add your 10 colors of lead core.

I had trouble getting 10 colors hand wound let alone 161+ yards of mono on a sealine 47