Leadcore

[Avid Angler]

i am going to buy 2 leadcore rigs tomorrow but need some help on my final decision. i will be using these for fishing late winter early spring salmon and spring browns on the fingerlakes. for the rods i am thinking okuma 8'6" rods. for reels maybe the Magda 30's or 45's depending. now for the backing, should i use power pro or should i use like 20-30 pound mono. and for the leadcore i was thinking like 20 pound leadcore. please let me know your opinion on this rig, what you use and have success with and any info would help. thanks!

[GAMBLER]

Did you ever think of using coppers? You can use short coppers and achieve more depth with less line out.

[Avid Angler]

do you think that would be a better option? how much copper would you put on a reel? 200-300 ft? what type of backing? also would i need a diff. rod cause of the copper?

[GAMBLER]

A 300' copper will get you down 66' with a spoon and around 60' with a flasher @ 2.2 mph (same lenght as 10 colors but a lot more depth). A 250' copper will put you around 55, a 200 around 44' a 150 around 33' and a 100 around 22'. I'm not sure how much copper a Okuma 45 will hold. A 30 will hold a 100' copper with plenty of 30lb backing. I ditch all of my leadcore rigs 5 seasons ago for copper and I have not turned back.

[Avid Angler]

Really!? well thats good to know. what type and pound test of copper you use? is it the single strand of copper?

[GAMBLER]

It is braided 45lb. copper. There is also 30lb but the sink rate is a little less.

[Avid Angler]

ok well i just might do that instead, thanks for the help and the info i appreciate it

[tcon]

If you are going to go with the lead core I just bought a whole set up the Okuma CV45D will hold 10 colors of core although If I had to change something about it I would go with the Power Pro instead of the Dacron that came with the Ready Core already set up. I went with a 6'6 medium heavy ugly stick rod probably could go with a medium rod with a little more length if your not going to be pulling 10 colors. I'm very happy with the set up it took the only two fish two weekends ago . Lead Core is a little more user friendly but like Gambler said if you want to achieve greater depths with less line out go with the copper.

Tom

[Avid Angler]

ok thanks which do you prefer for leadcore rods longer or shorter and why? would a 6'6" be better than a 8'6"?

[GAMBLER]

I run 8' leadcore rods. If you are running inlines, I would go with a 8'. Regular boards, you can get away with a 6'6" if it is stiff enough.

[Avid Angler]

ok i will be running in-lines so the 8' will work, ok guys thanks for all of the help! if i have any more questions i will ask, thanks

[Skipper1]

What lb. test lead core do you use.

[Avid Angler]

Normally they run 27 pound but i think for the finger lakes im goin to run either that or 18 pound. but 27 is very popular

[Skipper1]

Thank you

[Avid Angler]

hey i have another quick question, when running leadcore do your guides on your rod have to be metal over the plastic? i just set up a couple of leadcore rigs but the rods have the plastic guides and was wondering if that was ok? i know its a good idea for copper but not sure about the leadcore. thanks, Codie

[holy mackerel]

The guides are ceramic not plastic. Some have aluminum oxide. They may look like plastic but plastic would not last with any line. I have been rod building for 25 years.Have never seen a plastic guide.

[Avid Angler]

ok thats good to know, i looked on bass pro at my rods and they said that they were ceramic which was ok for leadcore. you have been making rods for 25 years!! thats awesome! do you make your own trolling rods or only like spinning/casting rods? once again thanks for all the info and help! keep up the good work!