Leadcore

Tell me what I need to buy to get started using leadcore? Which rod and reel and which line (# test). I have never done it and want to give it a try. Any other tips would also be appreciated.

Below is a link to a Leadcore thread which will give you some answers. Dean at Everts has in stock leadcore rods.
Thanks, Bill

Leadcore Thread

I use leadcore on the Great Lakes for Salmon and Steelhead so I am not sure if this will help you if this is a walleye question. I use 27lb. leadcore from Cortland. Your reel size will depend on how many colors you are going to use. A full core is 10 colors of leadcore and is 100 yards. Every color is 10 yards and will get you 5 feet of depth, so 10 colors will get you roughly 45 to 50ft. deep. I use a Penn 330 GTI reel for full cores and use 30lb power pro for backing with a 50ft. 20lb. mono leader. I use albright knots to attach everything together. You can also use very small spro power swivels if your level wind is big enough. For a half core or 5 colors, I use a Diawa 47H level wind, and for 2 and 3 colors rigs I use Diawa SG47LCA\\\’s. I always use 30lb Power Pro to maximize backing ( you need it if a 20lb. king smacks a full core going the other way. You can get away with mono backing for 2 and 3 colors. I also use Church Tackle Walleye boards for all my leadcore inline planers with running as many as 4 on each side depending on what the fish want (these boards will also hold 45lb. braided copper line rigs). They track well in waves and you can really tighten the release up to get the board in right away without allowing it to fall back to the fish. You could use Daiwa SG27LCA\\\’s for walleyes I assume. Not sure if a SG17LCA would be big enough. There are days when the sun gets high and cores will out fish wire divers, braided divers and downriggers combined. One way to pack backing, leadcore and leader on just right is to use 2 reels and put the whole setup on one reel in reverse. Put your mono or flourocarbon leader on first then wind on how ever many colors you are going to use and then add your backing. Pack the reel as full as you can go and then attach it to the other reel and wind it on the correct way. I always let my core out until the knot attaching the backing and the leadcore hits the water and then attach my planer board. Make sure to test your knots as they can look good but pull loose. If you ever pull more then 10 colors of lead core ( some pull as much as 20+ colors, which is no fun) good reels are Penn 345\’s and Shimano Tekota 800\’s. Just make sure someone else reels that fish in. Sorry to ramble on, hope this helps you out. Leadcore is really a simple and effective presentation in controlled depth trolling. Good Luck

I\\\’m not sure if Drew wants information on lead core for walleyes or lead core for salmon but I\\\’m looking at fishing salmon with lead core and therefore I really appreciate the info you\\\’ve given here. I\\\’m just a beginner at using lead core for walleyes and I\\\’m looking at trying it out on salmon in September over on Lake Michigan. I\\\’m still doing research on what rods, reels, and line to use as well as salmon baits etc. Thanks for your post.

If you would like a simple solution. Go to biglakeoutfitters.com or google leadcore combos and pick up a prerigged combo. I bought a couple of the Penn 330GTI/Shimano TDR 8ft. rod rigs this year. They worked great. My best full core setup this year has been a 8inch (white crush ice glow back) blue bubble spin doctor flasher with an Action fly blue bubble fly. Make sure your fly leader is 22 inches. Leader length is vital to the action of the fly behind the flasher. Silver bullet J-Plugs and 8inch pearl glow fish catcher flasher (aka hoochie mama) with mirage trolling fly have also been great. Also 8 inch Glow Mountain Dew Spin Doctor with Action Fly pickled sunshine fly has been hot. Once again I ramble, good luck.