I use sleeves to make a loop on the wire and connect the loop to a loop on the leader

I don't use line anymore, it's what I call "Captive Imagination" fishing. I haven't used it for pickerel this year, but I caught a huge Muskellunge last week (over 60 inches), late last year while imagining I was in the keys I caught several barracuda, damn things I wasn't even imagining targeting them but they kept showing up around my dream boat, anyway line was not a problem with this method (also saves gas, no fly tying, weather or time of day no longer a hindrance).

I can dig that.

I learned a slick leader connection last summer that you can use for any diameter leader material to any diameter tippet.

I'll try and explain it, hopefully this makes sense... knots are hard enough to explain in person.

/ Take the thicker material, whether that be tippet or leader, and loop a figure 8 into it nearish to the tag end. As flyfisherpeople we are all familiar with those lovely figure 8 wind knots, (well, I'm sure none of y'all are, but I am), but I swear this one is good.
/ Make sure that your figure 8 is loose enough that you can see daylight through the openings.
/ Take the thinner material and thread tag end through the openings in your figure 8, running the tag end of your thinner material towards the tag end of the thicker and then through the loops of the 8. To clarify, if you are holding the thicker material in your left hand (as I do since I'm a righty), then you're running the thinner stuff from right to left through the holes.
/ Run the tag out of the loops and give yourself enough slack to tie a Duncan Loop, aka Uni-knot, with the thinner material.
/ Lubricate the knot area; tighten the figure 8 down firmly but not tight
/ Firm down the Duncan to the figure 8
/ Tighten both knots smoothly , trim the excess

I have never seen this knot anywhere else but I have to say that this knot has revolutionized the way that I rig up leaders. I love to use this knot in conjunction with knotable wire when there is a chance of hooking up with a kingfish.

Hope that helped.

Wader
how would you rate the fishing down there, you fish the port a jetties alot don't you?
You hook up with many kings?
What are some other popular fish you hook into often down there?

PM sent

looked at bass pro last night, get a rio toothy critter leader, it has the wire nail notted on already with a little snap for fly connection

Captive Imagination fishing ............ love it

We fish northern pike and muskies often in Wisconsin. Many times you can get away with mono, but you can also shoot a whitetail with a 22 rimfire. Mono isn't toothy criter leader and a rimfire isn't a trophy deer cartridge. If you are after something that is bigger than a snake (we call the little fellows snakes because they are long and lean)use wire. No muskie fisherman that I know of would dream to fish those fish with mono. It's not that you can't get lucky and land a couple with mono but in the long run you will get cut off. I have also been cut off using braided lines. Wire all the way for me. I also prefer the stuff that is coated wire.

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/prod.php?k=266002&u=N_WNA

You can get 20# knottable leader wire and put a surgeons knot directly to 12-15# mono. If you can get a couple guys to split a spool of it, it becomes very cost efficient since each person is only using about 12". As far as a fly connection, I use a 20# saltwater rated snap swivel. They are small enough that they don't add too much weight and makes fly changes quick and simple.

+1 get some Tyger leader material...perfect for fly fishing

+1 get some Tyger leader material...perfect for fly fishing

I didnt know that tyger stuff is so EXPENSIVE! 9.99 for only 10 feet!