On 9/16/2016 at 1:41 AM, MikeWright said:

Btw...I'd give any man a million dollars of I he could break a .012 grade 133 steel wire strand with his hands...very stout...very tough...and that's why I have invested in 60$ wirecutters

20 dollar set of Milwaukee linesman pliers would cut that stuff no problem. 

5 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

20 dollar set of Milwaukee linesman pliers would cut that stuff no problem. 

That 20 dollar set couldn't cut some .129s though!

Glenn here way back in the beginnings with spinnerbaits. I tweeked it and finally got my spinnerbait bite working. I was beyond happy. My last cast as I took the spinnerbait out of the water to avoid some shoreline rocks a 30" pickerel came out of the water parallel to shore and ripped my hot setup spinnerbait from my line. It was so violent and quick my jaw dropped in shock. I knew the pickerel, pike, Muskies can be very aggressive but this one assaulted my lure. They aren't playing.

Hint,,,,Wal-Mart steel leaders.

I lose a dozen spinnerbaits and a few rapala f11 minnows every year.  Lost a dozen jigs to them this year.  They give you fits sometimes.  20 lb floor or 80lb braid is no match for a 40" pike.  I will admit it's pretty cool when you see that mouth coming at you lure beside the boat.

On September 16, 2016 at 10:07 AM, J Francho said:

Thanks, you owe me some monitor wipes!

You gotta get a FIshGrip.  Those little hammer handles are the Devil's minions. 

They are such a blast to land, there is no quit in them, thought I had one tired out and put the net under her and she just about jumped in the boat trying to jump out of the net. This summer I had a pike and a Muskie jump out of the water boat side attempting to eat my RES. 

Personally I go all braid on my jig, crank, and jerkbait rods. I know fish all my jerkbaits with steel leaders after losing 2 scatter raps to nice musky. I have caught numerous pike and and a big musky on jigs only breaking off a few. I think where braid comes in handy, is with the hookset, I have lost a lot of fish because the slider jig would just not set in their mouth, have had better hooking percentage with swim jigs. 

Well I guess to the OPs original question slider jigs don't land a lot of pike so that would be one way to avoid at least some them. I like others enjoy catching the occasional toothy predator.

I don't mind losing a lure to a muskie.  A pike is another story.  Those friggin' snakes are the spawn of the devil