One of the gifts I received this Chrismas was 100 yards of Braided Lead Core line and I have no idea what it is used for. 
Could any shed some light on what type of fishing I would use this for? Should I return it and exchange for sinking tip line?
Thanks for any insight.
Back in the days of my childhood we used to use it for trolling very deep for lake trout. I have also seen people use it as a shooting head when steelhead fishing in fast water with a fly rod. I personally do not find either form of fishing much fun but some do. Of course it is hard to know if the iron headers find it fun or are just nuts.
David
I’ve made shooting heads out of them, for dredging in deep saltwater or where there is a stiff current or tide. It isn’t pretty but gets the job done and will bring in fish.
X2. I whip loops on either end and wear a batting helmet; great for shad fishing on the Potomac (although a Teeny 250 is nicer).
Regards,
Scott
It is old school before the more modern fly lines were developed, but it is great for trolling flies really deep in certain lakes, the ones where even our modern fly lines will not reach easily. Also a short length for streamer fishing in a fast and deep river.
Larry —sagefisher—
I was given a large reel full of this, with color changes to signal the amount of line out, by a guy who had used it to troll for lake trout in the NY Finger Lakes in the 1940’s. A friend of mine auctioned it off on e-Bay and I understand it went for an amount that surprised him. I have no clue if the buyer planned to use it or just collected antique fishing gear.
Some of us saltwater FF’ers use it to make a sink tip for our floating lines. Simply whip loops in both ends of a 12-18" piece and loop it to the butt section of your leader and looop your tippet to the other end. With a controlled drift the fly will fish quite deep and you won’t loose split shot. Ron
This is what I was given, 10 colors at 10 yard lengths. Starts with red, then blue, then tan, so on to white.
Well, looks like I have 100 yards of heavy leader for the swifter rivers and streams around here. Thanks for the information what to use this for.
I still make heads out of it. also i use it for a 2 hook setup. helps get the bigger double musky flies down.
If you troll that is what I’ve always used it for, set it up on a trolling reel or a big arbor fly reel and you’ll catch some serious fish with it, a dodger streamer combo on lead core can be quite effective and just for trolling conventional lures it is great as well.
I added 25 yards or so to my ross evolution to aid in balancing with the fly rod - http://www.flyfishohio.com/a_question_of_balance.htm
Adding a little weight makes the rig feel lighter in the hand to me…
I done the same thing with an older Pflueger 1495. It is easier than adding lead shot thru that little opening on the spool.
You might find this link useful. http://www.ehow.com/how_5175425_use-lead-core-fishing-line.html
I also put loops at either end of pieces of it. I carry several pieces of different lengths to quickly put a sinking head on a floating line. (The batting helmet while using it is a good idea.)
I’ve used Cortland LC-13 vinyl coated lead core line for making variable sink tips but not braided lead core line.
http://www.fishusa.com/Cortland-LC-13-Lead-Core-30-feet_p.html
The stuff is intended for use as a trolling line.
When you need depth and don’t have downriggers on your boat, lead core line will let you get down effectively. You gauge your depth by how many ‘colors’ you let out. Each color is ten yards long (30 feet). The actual depth you reach is determined by the length of line out, the speed of your boat, and the lift/drag of the lure you are trolling. Usually loaded on a conventional revolving spool reel, it’s often used with gangs of flashers and some kind of shiny spinner/spoon behind them. I’ve seen it used with live bait like a worm, or even just piece of corn when fishing for trout or land locked salmon.
Use of lead core line for trolling is popular on the many lakes that have Kokanie Salmon in them. We see a lot of this in the summer in Colorado.
Like many of you, I’ve made shooting heads for fly fishing from this line. Not too much fun to cast, but it will get you down right quick.
You can get this line just about anywhere that sells conventional tackle. Gudebrod makes the most of it, and it’s not expensive. It comes in several breaking strengths.
Buddy
I use some of this line in fly tying. Below is a Serendipity variant using 12# lead core as the body. This one still has the lead inside the braid.
I also use the 12 # lead core in place of .025 lead for weighting flies. Simply remove the lead from the braid. Keep the braid as it can be used for bodies. Regular fly tying .025 lead from Bass Pro is $3.29 for approx 1/2 ounce and 100 yards of 12# (.024) is $12.99 for about 1 pound. BTW 14# is .0267.
Now that is cool - thanks for posting
I use lead core to make sinktips and shooting heads. I just back the braid down the lead wire about two and a half inches, cut the lead wire, and use the now hollow braid end to tie a perfection loop at the end. Repeat at the other end and you now have a loop at each end. It sinks real fast! From what I have read, going to a higher breaking strength trolling line just means a thicker braid but the same size lead wire so it won’t sink any faster but will be stronger.