Do I Need A Leader For Ice Fishing?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In order to be able to safely land your ice pike, you either need a

strong fluorocarbon leader of about 50-60lb

or a titanium wire leader of about 25-30lb. Both leaders have good abrasion resistance and will be able to handle the ice hole's sharp edges, even under hard pressure.

Should I use a leader for ice fishing?

In order to be able to safely land your ice pike, you either need a

strong fluorocarbon leader of about 50-60lb

or a titanium wire leader of about 25-30lb. Both leaders have good abrasion resistance and will be able to handle the ice hole's sharp edges, even under hard pressure.

Can you fish without a leader line?

Why would you fish Braided Line without a Leader? You can throw a

thinner diameter line

, without worrying about adding a big chunky leader. You eliminate one more potential weak spot. Tying on a leader, no matter what type of knot you use, adds one more potential weak spot to your setup.

How long should an ice fishing leader be?

I always cut my leader so that it is

6 to 8 inches longer than the thickness of the ice

. That way when you see the swivel, you can take your time getting the fish's head into the hole, rather than horsing it up and losing it on the edge of the ice.”

Do I need a leader on a tip up?

Rigging the Tip Up

For ice fishing, you'll want a

braided or Dacron ice fishing line

. … This will stop those fish from biting through your line. For fish like walleye, bass, trout, perch and crappie, you'll need about three feet of flurocarbon leader tied to your barrel swivel using a Trilene knot.

What line is best for ice fishing?


Monofilament

.

Mono

is still the best overall line for most types of fishing, both openwater and ice. It offers outstanding strength per diameter, handles well even in extreme cold, ices up less than other lines, and is inherently low-vis.

Can I use regular braid for ice fishing?


Nanofil

works great. You can use it outdoors in sub freezing conditions. Much better than any of the ice braids I have used.

Can fish see braided line?

Braided lines, despite the fact

they are thin, are more visible to fish

. Monofilament ones are a bit less visible than braided ones. Secondly, if the color is wrong, fish will see the line even better. Many fish species are very cautious and a simple thing like a visible line will easily turn them away.

Should leader be stronger than line?


Leader is usually thicker and stronger than your main line

. The length of leader will vary depending on what you're doing. When throwing lures, you want a shorter leader so it doesn't impede you from casting far (1-2ft). When using live bait, the decision is up to you.

Is there a difference between ice fishing line and regular line?

In a nutshell,

Ice Fishing line is stronger, thinner

, and has significantly less line memory. It is also less detectable when compared to regular fishing line.

Does line color matter for ice fishing?

No matter which type of fishing line you use, the most ideal color for line watching

is yellow

. In addition to being perfect for murky waters, yellow is very visible above the water and even more visible in clear waters and will let you detect the bite better.

How much line do you put on a tip up?

Re: How much line on a tip up? Standard tippy setup:

50 – 60 yds of 30 – 36# Dacron or equivalent diameter

, appropriate snap, attach leaders with a swivel @ one end and business at the other. Good advice here, not too expensive, not too thin and put enough on the spool to make it easy to pick up at the end of the day.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.