Leader Length

PeterJa

New member
Hi Guys,

 

Please help, I have told to many stories, I use fire line, fluro carbon leader what length is suggested for the leader.

 

Peter
 

Riymos

Banned
Howzit Peter

In competition it's 9m i think but hey the easier way if you just fishing recreationaly the just take  2 turns of leader onto your reel the measure 2 lengths of the rod you use,and hey presto most time that is on the mark,depending on what size rod you use.It's alot easier to do this then take a tape measure and measure each time you have to replace leader, especially when you on the rocks etc...

Cheer's Riymos

 
 

PeterJa

New member
Hi Riymos,

 

Thanks I have 8'6 and a 7ft, does the length of the leader make a difference when the fish are on the bite, would ypou feel the more effectivley with a shorter leader than a longer leader?

Peter
 

Riymos

Banned
Howzit Peter

In my opinion no the it doesnt really matter because the purpose of the leader is not about the bite.It is there to give you that extra protection against the rocks and other debri that lay iunder the water.It also helps when casting a heavy sinker so that you dont end up snapping the line evrytime you put in a hard cast.

The leader is more a protective measure nothing more,but having said this it is also a verry importaant protective measure,you'll never know if and when the big guy's come pay your bait a visit and decide to fight dirty this may be your one savior your leader.

I would say go with the minimum amount requierd as it could also become a mission to have to much thick leader wound up on your spool,it may hamper your casting ability.Also what sort of reel would you be using with those small sticks of your's,it doest make sense to use to much leader on the smaller reels.

Cheers Riymos

 
 

PeterJa

New member
Howdi Riymos,

 

Thanks for this really appreciate the help, and have answered my question.

 

Peter
 

MickJack

Senior Member
Riymos / PeterJa

I'm no dropshot expert, but the flurocarbon leader is for invisibilty of the line to your bait and not for strength in casting as with normal heavy course fishing (shock leader).

It also is necessary as a bite leader if using fireline etc. You don't want to waste the expensive braid!

Cheers

 

 
 

Reefman

Sealiner
The deal with dropshotting is the same with ordinary R&S....

Fireline/mainline tied to normal leader (such as Double X or Ande) with Bimini/Cats Paw, then tied to a swivel. THEN from swivel to Hook/Dropshot jig the snoot should be Fluorocarbon because of it's invisible qualities. Fluorocarbon is triple the price of Normal leader - but MJ it also has the anti-abrasive qualities of any shock leader. There's absolutely no point in using Fluorocarbon for the entire leader 7-9m!!
 

salty

Senior Member
can someone please draw diagrams of different dropshot traces???
i think that will understood much better!

thanks guys
 

Reefman

Sealiner
Hey Salty

Here's a pic I drew - don't LAUGH!!!!:D but I think you can get the general idea?
 

Attachments

  • DROPSHOT TRACE.jpg
    DROPSHOT TRACE.jpg
    31.7 KB · Views: 182

Reefman

Sealiner
Pete, how are you going to wind a swivel onto your reel??:cool: Just kidding...LOL

You need a certain length of leader material for it's abrasive qualities, obviously the longer the better. If fishing a gully the fish is going to go straight for the rocks - then you gonna need a leader. If you're fishing sand, sure then the leader is not absolutely necessary, just the Fluorocarbon. The leader does always help to cast that little bit further... with more confidence...

The whole reason leaders were originally used in fishing was because it was determined that the greatest force ever applied to a mainline would be at the point where the mainline leaves the reel, at the moment of release on a cast. Thats why we use leaders.. to take that impetus off the mainline and absorb it totally in the leader, which would be roughly double the breaking strain and therefore quite capable of handling it. The other reason is of course when that BIG fish strikes - there is the theory behind a "shock leader".

I've yet to see one of the dropshot pro's fish without a leader, whether they're fishing in a bay, in gullies or in the estuaries.

Cheers
 

Reefman

Sealiner
Pete I was reading an article by Dean Pretorius last night on dropshot tackle. He fishes with Fireline with only a 2-4m Fluorocarbon leader - no intermediate leader. In this case, you could certainly go straight from FireL to FC with a swivel.

If I was fishing in rock gullies with this tackle, I'd be nervous though??

2c worth..
 

PeterJa

New member
Hi,

 

I read that as well, I will also be nervous fishing like that, I think fishing in the shorebreak that will work, but rocks I don't think so. I think I will stay with the conventional way
 

Reefman

Sealiner
Pete, As a matter of interest, which knot do you use to join your fireline to the leader? I use the Cats paw double bimini if I'm preparing the line the night before, but if you need to do it on the beach, what do you use?

Some guys say double uni knot (Dean Pretorius), double fig 8... I've tried the Allbright and the Yucatan. Yucatan not good since the braid slices through the nylon too quickly. The Allbright works, but only if you use more than 10 loops around the leader - less than this, the knot slips.

What say you?
 

PeterJa

New member
I use the same if I have time to sit and do properly, what I have been using that I found is working for me when I am rushing is a loop to loop (with small loops) so that go through the guides smoothly. What I am thinking of doing is a small loop to loop from Fire line to 10cm 15 Pound Fluoro carbon then loop that to 2.4m 10pound/15 pound F/C.

This I can just slip off when changing the main leader. I hope I have made sense.
 
Top