TOPIC:

I have a question about lead core line. I have never used it but looks like a lot do. My question is this: how do you guys normally spoil it? Do you use backing? How much? How much lead core do you use? How long of a leader?

I just bought a spool of it and would like to get a pole set up. Thank you for any help.

Most common in the summer is 10, 8, 7, 5 colors of lead per rod. I use mono backing personally and use a fill chart to figure out how much backing you can spool up. I tie my mono to lead core using a Willis Knot. This is the best one for the classic lead core line. The Willis knot does not work with the micro lead (I typcially use the 27lb leadcore). I use about a 20 ft fluorocarbon leader attached with another Willis knot. Some people also use braid as a backing but you should splice in a segment of mono right above the lead core. This mono splice will hold onto the planer board better than the braid will. Another thing you could do if you do not want to splice mono in but still use braid is to buy metal pins for the back of your planer boards, wrap the braid around the pins and release clip to prevent slip. Hopefully this will get you started as leadcore and copper lines are a must have in any summer program.

Tight Lines

Tim

Thank you very much!! I purchased sufix performance lead core 27lb test. Probably just going to have one pole for right now. Should I put all 10 colors on it or would you recommend two poles with 5 colors?

It really depends on what (and when and where) you are targeting.

Putting all 10 colors on would probably be fine. If you have 2 rods available for leadcore, a 2 and an 8 would give you a lot of flexibility. You can run the 2 up high for coho/steelhead this time of year. Or put it on a downrigger for an SWR. And you can run the 8 color down a bit deeper.

If you give us a rundown of all your rods and presentations that would probably help give more specific advice

I can run 12 rods if I put everything out. I run 6, 3 on each side, on big planner boards. I have 4 down riggers. And can run two on dipseys

I can do well in the early spring with coho. I'm not very good later lol. Not enough experience or knowledge for after the coho move out.

With your planer board rods, are all those flat lines right now?

If you are looking to get into silver fish later in the year, leadcore is often the hottest presentation. Like Tmik34 said (and he covered just about everything!) in the summer the best are anywhere between 5-10 colors.

If I was picking 4 leadcore setups for "all season" purposes , it'd be a 3, 5, 7, 10. If it was only post-spring fishing, I might go with a 5 core as my shortest

Thank you. Yes, right now they are all flatlines.

Another economical solution I have seen guys run is a segmented lead core rod. First off the reel is a 2 color, followed by a 50' or so section of mono(long enough to get from the board back to the reel so the next lead section is not in the rod guides), then a 3 color, more mono, then Maybe a 5 color and on to your backing.

I'm not a big fan of this due to multiple failure points with all the knots but guys are successful.

And NEVER clip the lead core to the board or have it stopped in the guides of the rod. Both will cause it to fail.

Good luck.

In addition to what Greg said,

Another easy solution to give you maximum flexibility with minimum rods spooled with leadcore is to get some dive bombs or torpedo weights. That way you can have a short core and still fish it deep if you want to.