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Two kinds of metal leaders are usually used for fishing: the single-strand wire and cable wire. The single strand is made from either tinned piano wire or stainless steel wire. Tinned piano wire is suitable for fresh-water fishing but stainless steel wire is best for salt-water leaders. In fact, stainless steel wire is so inexpensive that it can be used for most of your metal leaders. You can buy it from the mail-order supply houses or in most fishing tackle stores, in coils of 25 feet or longer. Stainless steel wire comes in various diameters and strengths, from No. 2 which tests about 27 pounds on up to No. 18 which tests about 325 pounds. The lower numbers are used for fresh-water fishing and light salt-water fishing; the higher numbers are used for surf fishing and big salt-water fish. To make metal leaders from stainless steel wire you'll need diagonal cutting pliers, flat-nose pliers, and round-nosed pliers. For thinner wire, use the smaller jeweler's round-nosed pliers. For the heavier leaders the larger round nosed pliers are required.
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