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Posts: 925
| I have been using Stealth Tackle leaders for several years and love them. I feel "safer" using them because they are tied/knotted, crimped and glued.
My buddy has been using Musky Innovations for a few years with no problems but they are "only" crimped.
I think Thorne Bros makes their own that are also just crimped.
I'm not knocking those that are just crimped. I am curious as to how many of you guys use the Musky Innovations or Thorne Bros versions and how you like them?
I'm assuming the crimps never fail or else neither of those two reputable companies wouldn't sell them?
Thanks - Midge
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Posts: 283
| I watched a crimp fail for the first time a few days ago. It was big fish and a heartbreaker for my partner, but at least the bait popped out it's mouth and floated to the surface. |
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Posts: 307
| I've been using double barrel crimps and flouro, that I make myself about 15 years now. I have never had the actual crimp or a sampo ball bearing fail. Every other piece in the chain has. From snaps to line, reel, and rod, but never one of the crimps. Done right with a proper crimper I trust them 100%. |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | It's personal preference more than anything. I have crimps, the right crimping tool also and still I prefer the knot I tie when making leaders. I use the same knot and same method from 30lb fluoro to 200lb fluoro, never had one fail on me. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I've been using crimps now for the past 10 years, and no failures at all. As mentioned above, crimped properly with double barrel crimps, and you'll be fine. I trust them 100%.
The only time I've had a crimp failure was about 12-13 years ago on a "factory" made quick set leader (7 strand). It took a few years for me to trust them again, but doing them myself, I have no worries. |
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Posts: 2087
| My buddies in Cabo crimp for 700Lb+ marlin...do it right you are fine! |
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| A friend of mine ran some leader tests a few years back. The point of the test was to break the leader. I bought some store brand leaders to try and he made some leaders to try.
Every crimped flouro leader eventually broke at the crimp. Some did immediately. He also tried tying a flouro leader leaving a loop around the snap like most our tied. Those leaders eventually wore through at the loop. Lastly he tried tying the flouro cinched to the sure lock and cinched to the swivel. That leader he gave up on as it out lasted all others in his test.
Properly crimped leaders are okay. Tied leaders will outlast all others. In the test however if fishing line had been used it would have probably broke first on most flouro leaders tested, but not all. The test was to break the leader.
I only used cinched tight tied flouros as a result of the tests. I do not ever want a failure. There are some very well made crimped leaders though and I have friends who boat a lot of fish on that style with no problems. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Just curious as to what # test the leaders broke at for each category, or wasn't it tested that way? Interesting that the cinched down knots held up the best, as I've had those break on me, granted it was 80# floro, so that could have been the issue, but they all broke at the knot (nail knot tool tied). |
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| the test was to break the leaders. So pound test was not taken in to account. The cinched flouro leader was 150 or 180Lbs maybe? The weakest point in any leader is the crimp, knot, or loop where it can wear on the snaps.
I have had friends lose fish because they have bad or worn leaders. Seems so odd to me that a person will have a 400.00 reel, a 300.00 rod, a 30.00 lure and then skimp on line and leaders. Change leaders and re-tie often. |
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Location: North Metro, MN | Also look at the crimps on the fluoro... it should b one solid crimp in the center so the ends (of crimp) are further out than center. If the entire crimp was pinched including the ends it creates more friction on the end of crimp when pressure is applied and fish are thrashing all over. It seems that pinches the fluoro more and makes it weaker. Hope that makes sense. I have been making fluoro, titanium and wire leaders and quick strike rigs for muskies and ice-fishing for quite awhile and thats just something i have noticed... maybe i'm just crazy? Well time to cast soon, and i'll be testing plenty of rigs and leaders as the time goes on and keep learning |
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Posts: 66
| What size fluro do you guys use for making your own leaders and what type of knot do you use? looking at making some of my own? Thanks |
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Location: Contrarian Island | i make my own 180 lb leaders double barrel crimps..remember...for the guys that test leaders to see where they fail..you might want to test what LB test they do fail at...as most guys are using 80 or 100 lb line correct? I'm quite certain my 180 leaders are going to hold up more than the 80 lb line...think about it..the weakest link is the weakest link...zero failures on my leaders for me or the guys that use them....over 1000 fish to date.... use the right crimp and crimping tool and you aren't going to have a problem w them failing...my 2 cents. |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | I tie my own leaders and use a knot but only because I hate crimping. I have never had my knot fail on a fish using 130lb Seaguat but i also agree completely with Tuffy and BNelson. When a leader is crimped correctly it will never fail on a fish. This being said.....using common sense on how long you use a leaders also has to apply. As IAJustin said....crimping is the gold standard in saltwater. They catch bigger, stronger, faster, more explosive fish that battle for much longer than muskies. |
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Posts: 81
Location: Toronto, Ontario | I use 150# Seaguar premier fluoro and I've always tied a perfection loop knot....if you lube the fluoro, draw it tight slowly and with good pressure, it will never fail. I have made 60+ leaders, trolling and casting, for my buddies and not one has failed yet. Johnny Dadson caught his first 50lber on one last year so I guess that fluoro and that knot are "50lb proven"...LOL. I've had a couple of crimped fluoro leaders (not crimped by me) slip such that the loop was completely closed...not a failure but I prefer a good knot. |
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