The more things change, the more they stay the same. In the world of walleye fishing trends come and trends go. The techniques that work the best live on and in some cases become classics.
Such is the case of lead core line. Introduced just after World War II when the then miracle fabric nylon was first developed, lead core line quickly became a popular way of trolling in deep water. This specialty line consists of a soft lead wire, encased in a braided nylon protective sheath. Relatively thin and strong, by deploying various amounts of lead core line anglers can target a wide variety of depths with popular lures including crankbaits, spoons and spinners.
Lead core accounted for countless fish during the post war days and right up into the 1960's. In the early 1970's when downriggers hit the scene, these new trolling tools quickly became the dominate force in depth control fishing and lead core slid into the shadows.
During the 1980's lead core enjoyed a renewed popularity, particularly among walleye anglers. Tournament fishermen got the momentum rolling this time. Lead core does an excellent job of targeting walleye found near bottom in deep water and lead core is also a deadly presentation for targeting fish suspended in the water column.
As the popularity of open water walleye fishing grew in the 80's and 90's lead core experienced a strong comeback. In the 1990's when in-line weight systems like the popular Snap Weight produced by Off Shore Tackle hit the market, lead core fishing suffered another set back. Snap Weights are easy to use and they do an excellent job of targeting suspended fish in open water.
Lead core has seen ups and downs in popularity, but despite all the trends in product innovations, lead core line has not become obsolete. In fact, lead core trolling continues to offer some very important advantages over other trolling methods when targeting open water walleye and also salmon.
WHY LEAD CORE?
It's important to understand that lead core fishes differently than other weight systems. Because this line spreads out the cumulative weight over a great distance, lead core sinks at a relatively constant rate. Compared to Snap Weights or keel weights that concentrate the weight in one spot, lead core is better able to maintain a specific depth.
Snap Weights and keel weights tend to constantly rise and fall in the water column. Because the weight is localized, it only takes modest changes in trolling speed to impact on the trolling depth of these weight systems. Some might argue that Snap Weights and keel weights are always searching the water column up and down. This is true, but when fish are using a particular depth range, lead core is the more accurate fishing tool.
Lead core has another characteristic most anglers don't realize. Most trolling lines form a well defined bow because of water resistance pushing against the line. Monofilament lines have the most pronounced bow because mono floats. The lure being trolled works to pull the line down in the water, while the buoyancy of the line and resistance (friction) created through trolling forces the line back upwards. The two forces react against one another creating a bow that is actually slack line. When a fish bites, the bow must be pulled tight before the fish can be hooked.
Lead core is different. The line angles down into the water on a predictable path (angle) from the surface to the lure. Only a modest bow forms in the line because of linear weight transfer. This in turn creates a direct connection between the lure and the rod tip. When a fish strikes, there is little bow or slack in the line to pull tight, which in turn translates into fish that are hooked almost the instant they bite.
POUND TEST
Like all fishing lines, lead core comes in various break strengths. The most common sizes include 12, 15, 18, 27, 36 and 45 pound test. Of these sizes 18 and 27 are hands down the most popular. In addition to understanding the pound tests of lead core, it's also important to understand that larger pound test sizes of lead core won't necessarily fish deeper than smaller pound test lines. Here's why. The lead wire used to manufacture lead core isn't sized for every pound test of lead core produced. The wire used in 12 and 15 pound test lines is the same diameter and weight. Lead core lines 18 and 27 share the same size lead wire as do sizes 36 and 45.
A spool of 18 pound test lead core weights the same as 27 pound test, but the 27 pound test line is thicker in diameter and therefore doesn't run as deep as the thinner 18 pound test. This is due to water resistance on the surface of the line.
Knowing these facts about lead core makes it easier for anglers to choose lines that meet their specific trolling needs. For example, walleye anglers seldom have need for a line stronger than 18 pound test, but a salmon angler would be better served with 27 pound test lead core.
LEAD CORE IS SPEED DEPENDENT
Lead core is catching amazing numbers of fish these days, but the reasons lead core hooks and lands so many fish is a little misunderstood. "Lead core is speed dependent, but not as bad as other trolling sinkers," says Mark Romanack, author of Precision Trolling and also Precision Trolling Big Water Edition. These popular depth guides published by Precision Angling, LLC, illustrate the precise running depths of lead core line and other common trolling hardware.
"The lead core data is based on different size lead core lines, various lead core lead lengths and also on trolling speed," adds Romanack. "The segmented lead core data provided in Precision Trolling Pro Edition involves 18# line and is the most applicable to walleye fishing. Trout and salmon anglers are better served with the lead core data provided in the Big Water Edition."
"There are effectively two ways to increase depth when fishing lead core," says Romanack. "Anglers can either let out more line or they can slow down boat speed."
HOW LEAD CORE IS MEASURED
Lead core line is produced using color coded sections that are approximately 10 yards (30 feet) per color. A core of lead core is 100 yards long (10 colors). The most common lengths of lead core for walleye fishing are three, four and five colors. For salmon fishing most anglers fish using five or 10 colors, but a few will fish as much as 20 colors of lead core line to reach deep salmon.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
The most practical way to fish lead core line is by using modest amounts of lead core line sandwiched between a monofilament leader and a backing material of monofilament or thin super braid line. Known as segmented lead core fishing, this method allows substantial depth to be achieved without using lots of lead core line. By simply letting out additional backing material behind the lead core, depth can be increased.
The best leader material for lead core fishing are fluorocarbon lines. Tough and very hard for fish to see, these special purpose lines are the perfect lure to lead core connection. A 50' leader of 10-17 pound test works well in open water. For trolling near bottom, a shorter 10' leader of 17-20 pound test is recommended.
For backing material 10# monofilament works well on walleye, but on smaller reels it may be necessary to use ultra thin super lines (like Berkley Fireline 10/4) that allow more line to be put on smaller spools. At least 200 feet of backing material is needed for fishing segmented lead core.
For salmon and other larger fish the backing should be either 17 pound test monofilament or 30 pound test braided line. Medium sized open water style trolling reels will handle up to five colors of lead core line, adequate backing and a leader. The Okuma size 20 levelwind reels are ideal for targeting walleye with three to five colors of lead core. For salmon fishing where more lead core is needed the larger size 45 or 55 Okuma levelwind reels are advised.
In walleye fishing depth is controlled in part by playing out a substantial amount of backing. Using a line counter style reel like the Okuma Convector LC makes sense for applying lead core to walleyes. For salmon fishing where larger amounts of lead core are used and backing isn't normally played out, less expensive levelwind style reels make more sense.
STEPPING UP TO BOARDS
Lead core line is the ideal tool for trolling both in open water and for structure trolling situations. In some cases lead core must be fished straight out the back of the boat. Fishing a channel edge or other defined drop off requires the boat to follow the precise bottom contour.
In open water situations, lead core is most effective when combined with in-line boards like the popular Off Shore Tackle Side-Planer. The in-line board is not placed on the lead core, but rather on the backing line. If monofilament line is used as a backing, the OR-16 Snap Weight clip (red) is the ideal line release to use on the tow arm of the planer board. If super braids are used as backing, the OR-18 Snapper Release features a cam action that holds thin and slippery braids and fused lines securely.
SUMMING IT UP
Lead core line has been around over 60 years and anglers are still discovering new ways to fish this classic depth control line. Combining reasonable amounts of lead core line, with modest boat speeds, yields substantial fishing depth. Add in planer boards and lead core lines can easily be deployed out to the side of the boat where lure coverage is increased and the threat of spooking fish is decreased. When it comes to lead core, there's no need to reinvent the wheel, just fish it with common sense and reap the rewards.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. In the world of walleye fishing trends come and trends go. The techniques that work the best live on and in some cases become classics.
Lead core has another characteristic most anglers don't realize. Most trolling lines form a well defined bow because of water resistance pushing against the line. Monofilament lines have the most pronounced bow because mono floats. The lure being trolled works to pull the line down in the water, while the buoyancy of the line and resistance (friction) created through trolling forces the line back upwards. The two forces react against one another creating a bow that is actually slack line. When a fish bites, the bow must be pulled tight before the fish can be hooked.
The most practical way to fish lead core line is by using modest amounts of lead core line sandwiched between a monofilament leader and a backing material of monofilament or thin super braid line. Known as segmented lead core fishing, this method allows substantial depth to be achieved without using lots of lead core line. By simply letting out additional backing material behind the lead core, depth can be increased.
