I'm dabbling a bit in Esox fishing but don't want to go crazy with tons of new gear.  Yet.  For the time being, I want one leader that will do.  What brand?  What weight or weights?  

The easiest, least expensive, and arguably best option is to buy a spool of tieable wire and tie it directly to your main line braid.  I use an FG knot for coated wire, and an Alberto knot for uncoated wire.  About a foot of wire is all your need.

Tie a swivel with a snap into the end and you're in business.

AFW makes a good tieable wire, as do several others.  I've been using Knot-2-Kinky 1 x 7 nickel-titanium wire this season and am seriously impressed.  It's true to its name - no kinks, even after bunches of fish.

Tieable wire is ok for small lures but if you’re after musky, and the larger lures generally used for them, you’ll want something heavier. What the leaders are made of is more important than brand. Make sure they have heavy duty snaps, welded rings and ball bearing swivels. Length will depend on the size of the lure you’re throwing. They should be a bit longer than the bait. If you choose fluorocarbon, 100lb test is the norm for musky leaders but those are more expensive usually than steel. 

15 hours ago, Scott F said:

Tieable wire is ok for small lures but if you’re after musky, and the larger lures generally used for them, you’ll want something heavier.

I've never had any kind of issue with any of the musky sized lures, baits or flies I use with my tieable wire leaders.

The Knot-2-Kinky wire I mentioned is available up to 100# in single strand and 25# in the 1 x 7 version.

 

 

The tieable wire looks interesting.  When I was a kid it was all Eagle Claw coated wire with inferior swivels and clips.

6 hours ago, MontanaBasser said:

The tieable wire looks interesting.  When I was a kid it was all Eagle Claw coated wire with inferior swivels and clips.

It took me a while to try it, but after I figured it out I was all in.

There's only two potential failure points: the two knots...and I never have to worry about the upper end of the thing wrecking my tip guides.

10" single strand wire has served me well for most baits. I use 18" of coated seven strand for quick strike rigs and jigging leaders. 

I’ve been using Seaguar Blue Label for my leaders. They’ve worked well for years.

 

However, I had a pike slice right through it the other day. That’s the first time blue label has failed me in years.

45 minutes ago, gim said:

I’ve been using Seaguar Blue Label for my leaders. They’ve worked well for years.

 

However, I had a pike slice right through it the other day. That’s the first time blue label has failed me in years.

It's good stuff, but I've seen that twice on really good fish...

 

Really depends on what lures you are looking to throw. I throw just about all my musky gear on 12" 80-120 lb fluorocarbon leaders and havent had any issues. 

On 8/16/2025 at 12:41 PM, Further North said:

I've never had any kind of issue with any of the musky sized lures, baits or flies I use with my tieable wire leaders.

The Knot-2-Kinky wire I mentioned is available up to 100# in single strand and 25# in the 1 x 7 version.

 

 

When do you prefer single strand to 1x7 ? Thanks

On 8/17/2025 at 5:37 PM, gim said:

I’ve been using Seaguar Blue Label for my leaders. They’ve worked well for years.

 

However, I had a pike slice right through it the other day. That’s the first time blue label has failed me in years.

What pound Blue Label were you using?

This is from 6 months ago, so I cannot say for sure. I want to say 30 pound test.

On 8/15/2025 at 9:19 PM, Further North said:

AFW makes a good tieable wire, as do several others.  I've been using Knot-2-Kinky 1 x 7 nickel-titanium wire this season and am seriously impressed.  It's true to its name - no kinks, even after bunches of fish.

I have a handful of these pre-made that I use when around toothy fish to keep my swimbaits safe. It's really great stuff.

Every seasoned Muskie angler will tell you that fluoro leaders are great, until you lose the fish of a lifetime on it...

I use 40 pound nylon coated 7x7 wire, and I have had fish that cut one or two of the wire strands, but never went all the way through it... I just put perfection loops at each end of the wire and the fluoro, then add a snap to the front end and loop to loop connect the leader to my fly line. I only fly fish for them though...

I use about a foot or so of wire then 3' or so of 40 pound fluoro to create my "fly leaders"...

If you are using heavy baits, etc... you will want to go heavier.

This guy is pretty much the gold standard and I am sure could help you dial in the absolute best leaders for your task... https://www.stealthtackle.net/

Keep in mind, thin non-coated wire is really really bad for the fish...

On 1/18/2026 at 12:09 PM, 1100RemingtonMan said:

When do you prefer single strand to 1x7 ? Thanks

Sorry about the slow response, I just realized the notifications icon got moved...

Great question: When I want the fly/lure/bait to have action on the pause, I use the multi-strand. It's amazingly supple.

When I'm just pulling a fly/lure/bait (think Mepps/bucktail/spoon, etc.), the single strand is great. It's also great for turning over heavier flies on the fly rod. I tie a double fly with about 18" of space between them and it works great for that.

On 1/20/2026 at 6:56 AM, Peninsular said:

Every seasoned Muskie angler will tell you that fluoro leaders are great, until you lose the fish of a lifetime on it...

Absolute truth.

On 1/20/2026 at 6:56 AM, Peninsular said:

I use about a foot or so of wire then 3' or so of 40 pound fluoro to create my "fly leaders"...

Same, but I use mono, and 50# on the 10 & 12 wt, #40 on the heavy 8.

On 1/20/2026 at 6:56 AM, Peninsular said:

Keep in mind, thin non-coated wire is really really bad for the fish...

I'm curious why you say this?
I've not had that experience.

9 hours ago, Further North said:

Sorry about the slow response, I just realized the notifications icon got moved...

Great question: When I want the fly/lure/bait to have action on the pause, I use the multi-strand. It's amazingly supple.

When I'm just pulling a fly/lure/bait (think Mepps/bucktail/spoon, etc.), the single strand is great. It's also great for turning over heavier flies on the fly rod. I tie a double fly with about 18" of space between them and it works great for that.

Absolute truth.

Same, but I use mono, and 50# on the 10 & 12 wt, #40 on the heavy 8.

I'm curious why you say this?
I've not had that experience.

Thin, non-coated wire will literally cut them when they roll on it, damages their mouth more, etc...

Take some 40 pound 7x7 that's coated and run it across your fore-arm with moderate pressure, then take some that isn't coated and do the same.

Removing slime barrier can kill fish, at the least can cause some nasty infections, etc...

Now single strand non-coated wire is a little better as it's smooth in surface texture, but you can still do some damage if they wrap on it if it's really thin, you can do damage with the coated too, just to a lesser degree.

It's a contact sport, can't deny that and stuff happens, but all my locals are wild fish, so I genuinely try to be as easy on them as I can be, I am always solo so I may not get them in the net quite as fast as someone with a partner, etc...