Should I use a steel leader with my Husky Jerk HJ14?

Rule of thumb, if you are targeting Northerns, use a steel leader. 'Eyes seem to see it, so it doesn't work with them. I personally think that leaders affect the action of the Raps adversely.

What Beemer said.....I never use a steel leader cause I fish for eyes & bass......still catch northerns

I would use a titanium leader, stronger, thinner, and does not kink like steel.

just an idea but instead of a steel leader just tie about 3'or 4' 20-30 pound flourocarbon with a snap swivel at the end. It's less visible you can still change your lure easily and most midsize pike will have trouble snapping it but if it begins to fray replace it those rapalas can get pretty expensive =)

When I go up north I use a light wire leader simply because I don't have all of my stuff along, and pike will eat them. The leaders that tend to ruin the action are heavier weight-wise as they wreck the neutral bouyancy. A lighter one is less apt to do so. My favorite lure.

When I go up north I use a light wire leader simply because I don't have all of my stuff along, and pike will eat them. The leaders that tend to ruin the action are heavier weight-wise as they wreck the neutral bouyancy. A lighter one is less apt to do so. My favorite lure.

Dont need leaders unless targeting pike specifically. I still bing in plenty of pike without leaders.

When worried about action on a lure (by something like a steel leader) use TWO swivels instead of one :) This trick also reduces snarls in your line when using spinnerbaits/spoons.

anyone use 50# braid for a leader? possibly same issue as a steel leader of being spotted but maybe not affect the action of the lure?

I fish for big pike in Wisconsin weekly and i never use a steel leader. I recommend either a heavy florocarbon or heavy mono leader such as Berkely Big Game. 30-50lb It keeps your bait our lures true, cheap, and works.

personally, I like to go without a leader and use 20# spider wire braid. Higher pound braid probably works ok too. Just got back from an 8-day trip without losing one lure (a first for me on a week trip I think). Several pike caught as well as walleye and a few bass. Only retied once due to frayed line.

It just doesn't feel right to use a leader, sometimes I might start with a 9" leader but after I get going I pull that off and just take a chance that the pike might get away.

I have seen those big pike in Wisconsin and they don't care if you use a leader, they bite any hoot.

Just make sure that the leader doesn't change the action of your jig, or crank bait. It is so easy to lose your concentration when you are worried whether your leader will slip off, because of a poor knot.

I like fishing without a leader.

Most of the others in our group use steel leaders, but I refuse. Yes, I lost 3 Tail Dancers and Minnow Raps to some dandy northerns, but I also was the only one of our eight to boat any walleye.