Leadcore to flouro

[PackerBacker]

I have been using the willis knot for leadcore to flouro. It has been OK. The knot seems to have a decent breaking strength. However lately I have been looking into how the saltwater guys do it.

This is a lighter line version of how they do it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF1u8bnwB4Y
With no knots and I would guess better strength.

What do you guys think? I know when reeling in my knots in the willis knot they will sometimes hang up on the guides. This seems like a smoother and stronger connection.

[Burr]

If you're tieing at your bench, it looks fine. I don't know that I would like to try to tie that knot in the boat in 3-5 footers.

I've never had a problem with the willis knot strength, or hanging up in guides, but I'm probably running thinner line than you. You sometimes chase those stripers, which take a bit heavier terminal tackle than the eyes.

IMO, the willis knot is a replacement for what you've posted. I can get by without any of the tools listed to use that knot. If everything goes well, I won't have to retie a leader on lead in the boat. But sometimes it's necessary and the willis is a bit easier to tackle when on the water.

I don't run long leads either, so it's not uncommon for me to never have the knot go through the eyelets. If I had to abandon the willis when on the water, I'd just tie on a swivel and make sure my lead was short enough to stay out of the eyelets. You may run longer leads.

[Rough House]

i use a uni to uni knot. Works great, easy to tie and has never let me down. Plus you can tie it on the boat without having all the necessary tools needed to splice.

[Tim Ellis]

Originally Posted by Rough House

i use a uni to uni knot. Works great, easy to tie and has never let me down. Plus you can tie it on the boat without having all the necessary tools needed to splice.

X2. Works great and easy to tie. I find no reason to change from a uni to uni knot.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Rough House

i use a uni to uni knot. Works great, easy to tie and has never let me down. Plus you can tie it on the boat without having all the necessary tools needed to splice.

Mee too!

[Eric_CO]

I've gone to little "ant" swivels instead of uni to uni.

Catfish, foul hooked fish, sticks, and other stuff causes the line to twist when I winch them in and if I don't have the swivel, I end up with compromised line.

The weak link has then moved to the knot I tie the lure to, which works great in that I only have to tie one knot (lure) instead of two (leader and lure) when I pop one off.

[PackerBacker]

Originally Posted by Burr

If you're tieing at your bench, it looks fine. I don't know that I would like to try to tie that knot in the boat in 3-5 footers.

I've never had a problem with the willis knot strength, or hanging up in guides, but I'm probably running thinner line than you. You sometimes chase those stripers, which take a bit heavier terminal tackle than the eyes.

IMO, the willis knot is a replacement for what you've posted. I can get by without any of the tools listed to use that knot. If everything goes well, I won't have to retie a leader on lead in the boat. But sometimes it's necessary and the willis is a bit easier to tackle when on the water.

I don't run long leads either, so it's not uncommon for me to never have the knot go through the eyelets. If I had to abandon the willis when on the water, I'd just tie on a swivel and make sure my lead was short enough to stay out of the eyelets. You may run longer leads.

LOL. I don't think that I could get the flouro in the sheath in 3 to 5 footers. I bring a couple of extra rigs along instead of tying on the boat.

I run 36 lb lead core for stripers. The knots are larger. They get hung up while reeling in and hung up while trying to let line out. I run 50 foot flouro leader. The uni to uni looks like it would hang up also with 36 lb lead core?

I have tried swivels, but with 36 lb lead core I can't get a swivel that is small enough to not hang up.

[Burr]

Originally Posted by PackerBacker

LOL. I don't think that I could get the flouro in the sheath in 3 to 5 footers. I bring a couple of extra rigs along instead of tying on the boat.

I run 36 lb lead core for stripers. The knots are larger. They get hung up while reeling in and hung up while trying to let line out. I run 50 foot flouro leader. The uni to uni looks like it would hang up also with 36 lb lead core?

I have tried swivels, but with 36 lb lead core I can't get a swivel that is small enough to not hang up.

You run a lot different riggin specs than I do. That helps it make sense why you notice a challenge with getting the know through the eye and I haven't had the same experience.

I was thinking you were probably chasing stripers with the lead. They require quite a bit more strength than the eyes.

Have you tried shorter leads to eliminate the problem? I used to run longer leaders. I switched to shorter leaders, I found benefits and no tradeoffs. The fish might be more line shy where you are at. By shortening my leaders I was also able to swim my lure up and down in the water column better when the depth changed.

One day I'll chase those stripers, but it's not going to be this year.

[K Gonefishin]

I use a willis or double willis for king salmon on 18lb core with 20lb seaguar. I've caught plenty of screamer kings up to 27 pounds on this setup and have yet to have it fail so see no reason to change. I will say it's a PIA to tie at times and usually do it on shore.

[PackerBacker]

Originally Posted by Burr

You run a lot different riggin specs than I do. That helps it make sense why you notice a challenge with getting the know through the eye and I haven't had the same experience.

I was thinking you were probably chasing stripers with the lead. They require quite a bit more strength than the eyes.

Have you tried shorter leads to eliminate the problem? I used to run longer leaders. I switched to shorter leaders, I found benefits and no tradeoffs. The fish might be more line shy where you are at. By shortening my leaders I was also able to swim my lure up and down in the water column better when the depth changed.

One day I'll chase those stripers, but it's not going to be this year.

I will not go with shorter leads. Those big stripers are definitely line shy. The leadcore helps keep the lines away from the boat.

I would not go smaller on the lead core either. My inclination would be to go higher. I have had a couple of monsters on that I could just not turn.