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| Just a reminder to those who use Terminator Titanium leaders - check the crimps.
I have a 7 strand and solid titanium leader from Terminator on 2 of my rods, and since the things never bend, and seem to be indestructable, I just took it for granted that they would last forever. The two that I have have probably been through 3 seasons of use, and still look brand new...
Well, I found out that they don't last forever.
Last weekend, I had just missed a fish on a Thunderhead, and when I reeled in to cast back over the spot again, the lure suddenly went the opposite direction I wanted it to. When I looked at the end of my line, all I had was a swivel there. When I retrieved my lure (luckily it floated) with the leader still attached, I noticed that the crimp at the top of the leader had split in half, kind of like a peeled banana, and was just barely hanging on the leader.
I guess I am lucky that fish didn't hit the lure. Now I just need some new crimps for the leader and it will be as good as new....
I am always pretty carefull with my terminal tackle, I re-tie after each fish, change my Stringease Stay-Lok snaps often, etc.. I just never though to look at the crimps on my leaders before....
Thought I would pass the info on...
-John B |
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Posts: 91
Location: Oshawa, Ontario | DITTO!!!!!!!! Caution to all with Terminator leaders, I took one out of my leader box and the same thing - under no pressure. The crimp simply was split in half. Definitely something not right with this picture! |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Ditto on thinking those titanium babies should be indestructable, especially for the price.
Don't troll with them for long!!
We had one wear right thru and drop the lure off while trolling (it was a floater too). Upon inspection the other end was down to one strand which I pulled apart with my hands.
I now troll with home made 80 lb mono leaders and have not had a failure. |
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Posts: 49
| I fish almost exclusively with Terminator leaders. Started with the first ones 3 years ago. Checked them over recently and discovered that I had 5 split - some of which I have never tied on. Sucks. |
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Posts: 7123
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Can't speak for failures for leaders never used, but I only use the solid wire titaniums from Terminator for jerkbaits, and I swear by them. Yes, the snaps they put on are awful small and soft for what we do, but what I do is cut off the original snap after a few days useage, and split ring on a new berkley snap. Problem is (at least with the solid wire ones) the titanium will last so much longer than your usual leader material (steel, mono, floro) that we (at least I) start to take the leader for granted, and dont check the snap often enough.....but thats why I now change the snaps out. BUT I guess I had better start checking the crimps higher up on the leader too, just to be safe that is. |
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Posts: 33
| Same deal .... I spent (wasted) the $$$ on the titanium leaders at the Chicago Musky Show and in the first month of the season the crimp on the solid leader split and 1/2 the strands on the 7 strand (used bucktails only) were broke....
Remove all titanium leaders and let it be a $20 learning lesson, I was just glad I didn't blow a fish on there failure.
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Posts: 743
| you guys having problems w/ Terminator leaders, are you sure they are not (were not) Ray's Titanium Leaders? Ray's Leaders for Less?(samething)
tomcat |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | They are awesome [when they work]. No kinks or rust like steel and strong and thin. Mine were Bass Pro Shops Brand "Titanium"
I will continue to cast with the ones I have. They have only failed from a long day trolling. Must have been the constant hard pressure and wiggle wearing away at it. |
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Posts: 124
Location: Rice Lake,WI | Eliminating the "weak" links, I will not use snaps or crimps as they will
break and fail with fish and time. Split-ring direct and rig up your own leaders by knotting the leader material. When they start to look tweaked,
replace it. Really slick on a quick-strike rig! Use 2 pair of pliers and pull slow and straight as there is a tendency for the cable to twist the hook out to the side when snugging the knot towards eye of hook. Other than
that I rather use straight wire thats wrapped, again eliminating the part that is going to break eventually. The only way to be-Crimp Free!
Fall is almost here!
Jon Torok |
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Posts: 143
Location: Kentucky | Same problem for me. I purchased some from leadersforless last summer. I threw them in my box and went to use one in the fall, much to my surprise one had broke a sleeve. The other was cracked. I contacted Ray and he replaced them for me for free. I have caught six on one of them so far with no more problems. But I definetly check them alot now. This stuff wants to go back to its original shape so bad that it doesn't care what it has to break to get there.
CPR
Chris |
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