Oh ya I am for sure over $100 a year for break offs. I just consider it as an expense. Just like losing golf balls

Ya I don’t use a short leader to prevent pike break offs. I don’t try to prevent pike break offs. I have just accepted that they happen and its just part of it. And if I am being honest I don’t break off to pike that often.

And I would argue that no matter how good you tie your knot that it is still a fail point. Especially when using casting rods and you naturally are setting the hook much harder with casting rods vs spinning rods. To me a leader knot is going to break before 40lb Braid or 17lb Flouro. But to each their own I guess.