View Full Version : leadcore to fireline
milfish
10-24-2006, 11:46 AM
When attaching fireline to leadcore, will the standard nail knot hold up or does the fireline cut through. Or does someone have a better knot to attach the two together. Thanks
Milfish
Use the Willis Knot (designed by the great Charter Captain Willis Kerridge). It is easy to tie and slips through the guides with no hangups at all.
Pull the nylon sheath back to expose about 4-6" of the lead from the middle of the lead core and break the lead off. This leaves a 4-6" hollow spot at the start of the lead core.
Slide the sheath over the lead back up to the end of the lead. DO NOT PULL ON THE END OF THE EMPTY SHEATH OR IT WILL FLATTEN OUT AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THE FOLLOWING STEPS.
Now tie two loose overhand knots over the leadcore where the lead is still inside but do not tighten them up or pinch the hollow sheath together while doing this.
Thread the super line into the hollow spot in the lead core until it bottoms out onto the lead that is 4-6" up. Then slide the first overhand knot down to within 1/2" from the end of the nylon sheath and tighten it up. Then do the same with the second knot so it is about 1/2" from the first one. Pull on both line to do a final tightening of the two knots. This will keep the two lines from seperating.
Have never had a line seperate or break at this connection.
It sounds complicated but is really easy to tie once you do it a couple times.
Albe
Remove the inner core of lead, leaving the outer sheath.
Insert leader into the sheath, where the lead used to be.
Tie one, simple, overhand knot where there is the leader inside the sheath - your done.
Simple, strong, and small knot that will feed through rod eyelets.
But, don't trust me - tie one up, and pull on it until it breaks. Then make your own decision.
milfish
10-24-2006, 01:40 PM
I don't mean to sound like a dope but, I slide the Fireline into the lead core sheath once the lead has been removed. The two over hand knots are from a different piece of line just tied over the sheath with Fireline inside of it? What keeps the overhand knots from loosening? It would seem like the Fire line would still slip out of the sheath. Help!
borigini
10-24-2006, 02:01 PM
nail knot like the fly fishers use is what we on west coast use!!!
>I don't mean to sound like a dope but, I slide the Fireline
>into the lead core sheath once the lead has been removed. The
>two over hand knots are from a different piece of line just
>tied over the sheath with Fireline inside of it? What keeps
>the overhand knots from loosening? It would seem like the Fire
>line would still slip out of the sheath. Help!
You tie two loose overhand knots on the leadcore line above the hollow sheath. You should have two knots in the leadcore line above the hollow sheath. Then put the Fireline inside the sheath. Use a vey sharp or superline scissors when you cut the Fireline so it does not spread when cutting it.
Albe
It would seem like the Fire
>line would still slip out of the sheath. Help!
It would seem that way, but tie one up, and then pull on it until it breaks - the line does not pull through the overhand knot.
Pull about 4" of lead out of the sheath. Discard the lead. Tie a double uniknot.
The Willis knot is great, but I can tie a double uni a LOT faster. Plus you can use it for joining any combination of two lines together such as leadcore, braid, dacron, mono, etc. That means you get really good at it. It will work with just about anything but wire and copper.
SUPERTROLLER
10-25-2006, 04:48 AM
I agree, the Uni-to-Uni knot will be much faster and easier to tie than either of the 2 other knots mentioned. When they are pulled tight they will also glide through the the rod guides very easily. Trying to slide Fireline up into the dacron sheath doesn't sound like an easy trick but I might try it just for grins though. I do agree though that many people that have done it say that that knot system will hold the Fireline properly. I just prefer to have 2 knots pulled tight against each other with no worry's.
Stormsearch
10-25-2006, 06:53 AM
I've seen fireline cut through the leadcore sheath. We now either use the uni-knots or splice in a small piece of mono for the willis knot.
I also found it easier to tie the overhand knot on the line then slip the sheath through the knot when using mono.
Crankbaiter
10-25-2006, 07:52 AM
I am sure you have plenty of good advise here but Ill throw in my 2 cents anyways.
Give the "Albright" knot a try.
Easy to tie, and I have tried with and with out removing the lead and actually prefer to leave the lead in. It certainly saves time and the knot fits through even small rod eyes.
I have been snagged many times (to many) and when I have had to break off the 27# lead line has always broke before the knot or the 20/6 power pro I typically use for a leader.
Pond scum
10-25-2006, 09:12 AM
I am not convinced that this is the best knot to use for this purpose. I have had the Fireline leader knot pull through the leadcore knot. Thus I am curently looking for an alternative. I actually think that a blood knot will do the trick.
Milfish
10-25-2006, 01:21 PM
O.K. The knot is very easy to tie. No problems slipping the Fireline into the sheath and the overhand knots slide over very easily. I used 18lb leadcore and 14 lb Fireline and if this breaks on a fish, it would most likely be my fault. I think it is fast enough and easy enough to tie, that doing it fairly often will eliminate or at least reduce the risk of the Fireline cutting the Sheath. I just needed a couple of reels set up with 2 colors of lead for this weekend. I had a couple of Ambassadeur 6500 with 200 yds of 14 lb Fireline, I attached 2 colors 18" leadcore, then 25' of florocarbon 14lb clear, a #16 swivel, 6' 14# florocarbon clear, a coastlock swivel, and my favorite T Stick or Reef Runner and I'm going Trolling. Thanks for all the feedback guys, I'll update after the weekend.
Milfish