I'm currently using tygerwire (Surflon-Micro Supreme Wire is another brand) and works great, but your right about the coiling/kinking problem. Also the plastic coating tends to start falling apart, even after one fish, which makes the wire strands start coming apart. I use the 15lb stuff, which is 19 strand which makes it's less flexible, though it still is easy to tie.
Other options are:
Beadalon (or similiar) - You can find it at craft/hobby stores. It's the same stuff jewelry makers use for necklaces, string stuff together etc. I will be trying this stuff out this year. It comes in different breaking strengths and all the sizes are 49 strand. Oh and it's alot cheaper then Tyger wire.
Musky Mono - black colored mono. I use this stuff when making weedgards on flies and thats about it. I'm still not sold on mono bite guards.
Mono/Flourocarbon lines - Using high breaking strenth lines, like 150lb as the bite guard and shock tippet. It would well for shock tippet if you think you need it, but for a bite guard...mono is a no no for me.
Stainless steel leaders - yep the same leaders that hardware guys are using. I've never tried it, but having a snap swivel on the end would make it easy to change flies. I might give this a shot this summer. There are million different variations and brands, but I would look for something that has a small clip/snap to cut down on weight but not sacrifice strength. There are also Titanium leaders you can get, but never used them. Like all wire leaders, they all have a tendency to kink, but some are better then others.
Musky/Pike leaders - All the name brand leader makers make some kind of musky/pike/bass leaders. Like I mentioned above, I'm not a fan of mono as bite guards. Scientific Anglers has a Mastery Series Pike leader, but could be made easily yourself. It has a 6' of #20 mono tied to a 18" 38lb wire bite guard. A bimini twist knot is used to join the two sections, which actually makes a good shock absorber. The wire leader has a snap clip for changing flies easily. I'm going to evaluate one of these this summer.
Pike and musky are a blast on the fly rod!
