FS Digest

I was fishing for largemouth this morning from the bank in a new spot that I wasn't too familiar with. Had my frog on my baitcaster using straight 30lb braid no leader. To my surprise, on my second cast, I see a pike launch itself out of the water at it. For whatever reason it didn't get a good grip on the frog and I lost it. Right away I cast back out to the same spot and this time the fish grabs it and takes it under. I leaned back and set the hook while the fish was taking it under and then I felt the frog come off. The fish must've bit through my line because I did not get my frog back when I reeled back in.

I'm still relatively new at fishing and I was wondering if it was normal for pike to be able to bite through braid? Do people usually use a steel leader? Or maybe just thick mono. I felt bad leaving my frog lodged in this guy's mouth and tried to see if I could get him to bite again but no luck.

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by UberGoober

Fiberglassworker Loc: cleveland Tn

Yes it is normal for large pike to bite through braided line or monofilament, use a wire leader.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

That's hilarious, the same thing happened to me this morning. The 30lb powerpro was shredded at the end, and my frog was gone. If you're fishing FOR them, a 4"-8" wire or braided wire leader is a good idea. If you're Bass fishing, the wire kills the action in some lures ,and adds weight to unweighted lures like worms and fluke.

Gary Northrop Loc: Richland WA

You can also use 60 - 80 fluorocarbon leader.

Denny G. Loc: Located in Central Michigan

I must be holding my mouth wrong or something. I have caught numerous pike while fishing for bass using wiggle warts and hot n tots and cannot remember when I had them break or cut my 30 lb test braid. Maybe the fish I catch are too small here in Michigan. I have had to retie due to frayed line but breakoffs I could count on one hand in decades of fishing.

agatemaggot Loc: iowa

Fishing around heavy weeds and slop on the Miss. river it's always a good idea to use a leader (WIRE) because frogs are pricey ! $8,00 and up to $14.00 ! Good idea to keep a small tube of bathtub sealer to patch the holes from their fangs !

harleypiker Loc: WA

The only way you haven't been bitten off by a pike not using a steel leader is that the pike have had only the lure shallow in their mouth or pure luck. As the saying goes, "fishing is 98% luck and the rest is all skill!!"

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Count your blessings Denny. What I've seen with my own eyes, is multiple Pike fighting for the same lure. I caught a 7pounder on a spinnerbait, and at boatside, while I was reaching for the net, another Pike appeared and tried to rip the lure out of the hooked fish's mouth. Instead he got the big willow leaf blade. After examining the lure, the ballbearing swivel broke off the wire frame. I've also had them shread mono and fluoro leaders, a foot or 2 ahead of the lure. If the lure is completely in their mouth, and the line is touching their jaws, then 2or3 head shakes will cut through almost anything, except wire, and if another one wants the meal, it's over.