iiwhistlerii

I started with store bought crimped leaders from companies like musky innovations. When snagged up the leader almost always broke at the crimp. II went through the same thing with multiple leaders and the crimp was almost always the weak point. I'm not saying they would have ever failed on a fish but I don't think my leader should ever fail before my 80lb braid snaps. Imo the best store bought fluoro leaders out there are from stealth leader company. They are nail knotted and then the tag end is crimped. These leaders never snapped before my line in a snag and the only failure we had with them was being bit off, twice with the 150 lb casting leaders like I mentioned above. For my fluoro trolling leaders I use today I only use knots and the weakest point in the setup is the 80lb braid.

I started as a die hard fluoro guy and would have argued with anybody that told me it wasn't bite proof. 2 years ago my fishing partner was bit clean off jigging a tube with a 150 lb fluoro leader. That day I decided I wouldn't use fluoro leaders for casting any bait i felt a musky could put down its throat. The next May I was casting a phantom softail for pike and using up the last of my short casting fluoro leaders and had a fish bite me clean off shortly after a hookset. If you are using a small lure or a lure that the leader lines up with the bait on a pause (glidebaits) those teeth can and will cut through fluoro like nothing. That being said I continue to use 6 ft tied 100lb fluorocarbon leaders for trolling on lakes like Chautauqua and st. Clair, don't trust crimps, when we jigged with fluoro and snagged up the crimps almost always failed before the 80lb braid or actual fluoro snapped, that's not acceptable to me. When I'm on waters where I'm slamming bottom like the Niagara I'll stick with hand twisted 174 lb single strand steel. Today for both casting a jigging I use 174 lb haywire twisted single strand steel with spro swivels and number 5 stringease snaps and have never had a failure. Leaving a lure in a fish with fluorocarbon isn't cool and imo using anything less than 80lb fluorocarbon trolling is just irresponsible.

You should really try some of the new braids that are available. I was once a die hard power pro guy but now I'm convinced the only people still using it either just don't know any better or are getting paid to use it. Suffix braid is smoother, rounder, stronger, smaller diameter, casts further, holds color/lasts longer and just all around a better product. I jig the niagara and could always break a snag free by thumbing the spool with power pro. With suffix I have to use my anchor cleat to snap it most times. Give it a shot, I personally prefer the original braid over the 832 but both are world's better than power pro I promise. I'm talking 80lb for muskies and I also rigged up my nighttime spoon chucking rod with 30lbs suffix a couple years back and I love it. I will never go back.

Filet and release.

Definately make sure the budget includes room for toys. My 36v 101 terrova with spot lock and I pilot has definately helped me catch additional fish. I have an hds 5 on the bow and a new touch 7 on the console and having GPS and sonar up front while casting and structure scan while trolling is an amazing advantage.

https://buffalo.craigslist.org/spo/4356008366.html I have this same boat and its a perfect set up for musky anglers. The front casting deck is like a football field, rear deck is sweet set up for 2nd angler and with a traxtech system and down east salties its a well rounded musky machine. This boat looks super clean in pics.

They definitly don't rely on just vibration at night or in the mud. Color is very important while night trolling the Niagara. I have a few colors that just won't produce and some that take most of my fish. Same thing with Jigging or trolling off color water up there, lure color definitely makes a difference so they can see in both situations.