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Posts: 8837
| Just curious as to what everyone is using these days for your day to day fishing...
I've been using Stealth leaders for quite some time, and I am considering foregoing the stay-lok snaps in favor of a solid ring/split ring combination.
I haven't had any failures, and I change out my snaps when they start showing signs of wear.
But I'm thinking of making a bunch of my own leaders, and just going with a split ring attached to a solid ring attached to the flouro.
That got me to thinking about the need for a swivel. I've always used one but is it necessary?
Wanting to simplify a bit. A lot of guys are tying flouro directly to their line, attaching a solid ring to the other end, putting a split ring on all their lures, and foregoing snaps and swivels all together.
Thoughts? |
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Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | It really depends on the baits and waters I'm fishing. There is no best for "all situations" leader in my opinion. I'll use 175# solid wire leaders for some jerk baits and all gliders, a flouro leader 150#-180# for rubber and some bucktails (10's), and I'll also use a seven strand for some bucktails and topwaters. That being said, I can think of a number of occurrences where I happened to look at my snap as I was going to cast and noticed that it has opened. So, I've been considering going to a split ring and forgoing the snap myself. Kinda scarey when you think of what would've happened if a fish hit on the cast with the open snap. Although it hasn't happened, if it can happen... eventually it will. |
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Posts: 166
Location: Merrill, Wisconsin | Flurocarbon isn't metal. It does knick and I dont feel like checking it every single cast to make sure itll hold up to a fish.. solid 174# wire, a decent bb swivel, and a size 5 stay lok snap or direct bucher split ring |
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Posts: 401
| I my choice of leaders has gotten very situational. I use mostly fluorocarbon but use solid wire leaders for jerk baits and seven strand wire for small lures. I have switched to just using a split ring instead of a snap. It isn't that inconvenient as I tend to have 3 poles rigged at the same time and stay with the same lures on those poles for long periods of time. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I came across a bunch (3 big rolls) of 80 lb Fluoro last fall so I've been making my own to augment what I buy. I have made up a bunch with every combination of split rings, swivels and snaps. Can't wait to start using them this year.
Beyond that I usually use 130# fluoro with swivels and snaps. Single strand wire for jerkbaits. I haven't used conventional wire in a long time, and when I did I preferred titanium. I don't care for 7 strand steel, too much kinking. |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI |
Leader of choice is either 130 or 150# flouro with swivels and snaps. I check the flouro fairly regularly for nicks/abrasions and change out the snaps as needed as well. |
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Posts: 1753
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | 180 lb fluoro, ball bearing swivel, and size 5 sta-lok snap. Been using them for 5 years and have never broken a leader. Big thanks to Brad Nelson. |
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Posts: 140
Location: Scandia MN | I got weary of paying big $$ for leaders so now I make my own. 80# Berkley flouro with swivels snaps and sleeves. I know what some will say about the sleeves but I hand test everyone to include the number that landed a 54 on LOTW awhile back. You can see that fish at Fittante's booth at the Expo this weekend. Had exactly one fail in 4 years and did not lose the fish as the long end of the line slipped through the sleeve but the tag end held. I became even more careful with the sleeves after that. I re-use the snaps and swivels many times and use the money I save to buy lures I never use - - - - |
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Posts: 1100
| Mainly 200lb sufix mono leader, tied directly to braid with a sebile knot, and a size 5 staylock
But on my light jig/smallbucktail rod i use 70lb titanium and a size 4 staylock.
I tie i 2-3 inch of 130lb mono directly to the line(sebile knot), and crimp a loop, in the end, then i make a perfection loop in the titanium, and loop to loop them together the staylock is tied on using a clinch knot.
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