leadcore leaders

[jobobranger]

I am curious as how you guys attach your leader to leadcore line. Do you use a swivel or line to line? What kind of knot do you tie to attach them? As I fish rivers mostly, I have been using fireline because of the zebra mussels we have here. Any input on this? Lastly, what leader lenghts do you normally use and why. Thanks for any feedback, Jim

[SUPERTROLLER]

I use Fireline or Power Pro, whatever I've got around at the time. I want to continue with a No-Stretch line on my No-Stretch leadcore to be able to get maximum feel. I tie them together line to line using a Uni-to-Uni knot. I find that this knot goes through the eyes on my rods very easily and winds either on or off the reel without catching the line as it rotates on the spool. I start with about 20 ft. leaders and stay with that leader until it is either showing too much wear or until I have retied and cut it shorter than about 6 ft. Just a personal preference thing. I fish mostly cloudy murkier type waters and don't really worry about line visibility. If you fish clear waters you might want to use Flourocarbon and retie when the leaders get to be around 10 to 12 ft. instead. Just for piece of mind.

[SUPERTROLLER]

I use Fireline or Power Pro, whatever I've got around at the time. I want to continue with a No-Stretch line on my No-Stretch leadcore to be able to get maximum feel. I tie them together line to line using a Uni-to-Uni knot. I find that this knot goes through the eyes on my rods very easily and winds either on or off the reel without catching the line as it rotates on the spool. I start with about 20 ft. leaders and stay with that leader until it is either showing too much wear or until I have retied and cut it shorter than about 6 ft. Just a personal preference thing. I fish mostly cloudy murkier type waters and don't really worry about line visibility. If you fish clear waters you might want to use Flourocarbon and retie when the leaders get to be around 10 to 12 ft. instead. Just for piece of mind.

[jdino]

I attach a small barrel swivel with a palomar knot. Small enough to reel up into the reel. Make sure that you strip the lead out of the sheathing before you tie the knot. Leader, I have been using Fireline and recently, the Crystal. Seems to work good for me. Leader length, as a starting point, I go with twice my rod length. Might not be the best set up, but it works for me.

[jdino]

I attach a small barrel swivel with a palomar knot. Small enough to reel up into the reel. Make sure that you strip the lead out of the sheathing before you tie the knot. Leader, I have been using Fireline and recently, the Crystal. Seems to work good for me. Leader length, as a starting point, I go with twice my rod length. Might not be the best set up, but it works for me.

[times two]

Use the "willis knot". Very easy and holds.
Go to glangler.com and search it. There is pictorial.

[LoveFishing]

Jim,

All I do is pull crankbaits, and I use fireline or leadcore. I use fireline leaders, sometimes with swivel, and sometimes not. I use 14/6 fireline for leaders... and for longline cranking.

I used to use a 30ft leader, because I wanted the knot on my reel when I got the fish close to the boat (mainly for big fish). I had very good success, but recently I changed to 8ft leaders. The reason is, if you have 30ft leaders and you contour troll... the crankbait will not follow the contour and will jump over the point as you crank the other side of the point. Now, I use an 8ft leader and when I crank a point with lead, I get a more true contour.

I am not saying this is how you should do it... it is just another method.

God Bless,
Crank-A-Holic (in S.D.)

[jobobranger]

Thanks for the tips. I rigged the rods with a 20ft fireline leader and I will start from there. I have been using a swivel set-up, but it made long leaders a pain. I tied them with a uni-kot and let's see what happens. I have had success with lead, but others seem to do better. I am just trying to make sure I am doing all the right things. Thanks again, and I will report back. Jim

[Albe]

Go to this site and go down about 1/3 of the way on the post until you see Willis Knot and it shows how to tie it. I have never had any breakage or slipping of the leader with this knot. May seem hard to tie, but once you do it a couple of times it will be real easy.

http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451

Albe

[threewayguy]

I use small swivels and 15/4 stealth. I pre-tie my leaders about 6 feet long and keep them on an old spool. First tie a snap on one end of line then a loop knot about 6 feet down, clip your line and start the procedure over again connecting the new snap to the loop of the first leader and so forth. Works great. If and when you snag or break off clean out the leader end of the swivel and attah a new one.

[jobobranger]

Was out today and got some fish. Started with 20 ft lead and trimmed back to about 13. Better action and less line out. I got one major snag and the uni-knot held perfectly. I feel I get more action with the line to line set-up as opposed to the swivel. Thanks again for the feedback. I will keep experimenting. JJB

[rspahr]

I use the uni-knot and attach 50 feet of Yozuri Pink Florocarbon. I think that the florocarbon makes a difference on the bigger fish.

[Ristorapper]

very similar to what I'm tying. I call it the Chinese finger pull knot. Remove 6" of lead from the end of your leadcore. I tie a single overhand knot at the end of the fireline before I insert it into the dacron. One single overhand knot in the dacron with the fireline inserted and another for good measure. Good to go.

[T Mac]

I use mono.
If pulling something twisty I'll use a small barrel swivel...but for pulling cranks I remove about a foot of the lead and then tie the dacron sheath directly to the mono with a blood knot.
But, you can use a nail knot, Albright knot, or a surgeon's join too.

[FISH STICK]

I use Fireline Crystal leaders about 12 ft. length joined with a uni knot. As far as line diameter I am only running 12 lb right now, but the stretch of river I'm fishing has a pretty mild bottom.

[unlogged JMW]

I use a size 18 swivel. Pull the outer sleeve back and cut off about eight inches of the lead before tying to the swivel. It is a little bit hard to thread through the swivel. It will reel up easily and you can easily change leaders. Keith Kavajecz recommended this method at a seminar on using leadcore.

[manitobawalleye]

i use a #18 swivel also
with a 6'-7' 14lb mono leader
i like my lure as close to the lead as possible
easier to track as the other post said when contour trolling

manitoba .... a 100,000 lakes
how many walleyes ????
i will never have enough time....