Leader length
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Work-Up
Forum Description: Game fishing related topics here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=118616
Printed Date: 15 Jun 2026 at 9:31pm
Topic: Leader length
Posted By: Kevin.S
Subject: Leader length
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 3:06pm
| Now that I have switched over to wind on leaders I'm shortening the leaders on my lures. Is 3M plenty to take care of sharp bills? I'm using 200lb wind on leaders, so don't want to risk getting them damaged. |
Replies:
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 4:27pm
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I'm way out of my league here Kevin as I've never used them and I really am a pukka game fisherman but I think you would want longer leaders for wind ons. I'm interested to see what the experts have to say! ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 5:03pm
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Puka.... Larger gurnard... I use a three metre leader on my lures, then onto my mainline for half my rods, and onto a short windon for the balance. ------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Posted By: Sidekick
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 5:21pm
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Hi Guys, What is the difference between a normal leader, and your wind on leader. Many thanks.
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Posted By: MandM
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 5:21pm
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I cut my wind ons to 6 mtrs to the double. Lure leader just under 3 Mtrs to the end of the hook. I think it has to be under 9.14 mtrs, excluding the double. Correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers |
Posted By: Kevin.S
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 5:44pm
A wind on leader is connected to the main line with a knot or loop to loop connection that can fit through the guides on your rod, so it can be wound onto the reel. A standard leader is connected to the main line with a game swivel, so it cannot pass through the guides and be wound onto the reel. Some useful pros and cons in this article on the pakula web site. http://www.pakula.com.au/index.php/2014-09-23-04-02-2/2014-09-23-04-02-1/wind-on-leader-pros-and-cons
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Sidekick wrote:Posted By: bite
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 5:47pm
a windon is a length of say 300lb leader that is usally connected to your main line with a loop to loop connection you can have a snap swivel at the other end , the reason being you can then run shorter leaders on your lures the idea being you can wind most of your leader right on to your reel you must have a rod with guides that will let you do this pluse is you save on damaged leaders and have only to replace the lure section well maybe, and with fish boat side you can wind the exsess leader onto the reel ps i dont use them but they have there place and lots do use them |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 8:50pm
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That is all i use Kevin, 6m windon and 2.5m max (incl lure) bite leader. Leader can stretch so be careful if you fish igfa rule. 30ft max incl lure -------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: shaneg
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 9:13pm
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X 3. Your bite leader connecting to swivel only needs to be short. Pretty much regardless on its trace weight. I run mainly 200 lb windons on 24 kg/50ws and heavier windons on 300 to 400 lb on 37/80 wides. My bite leaders are less than 2 arms spans including rigging... About 2.5 meters would be average. Will run 200, 300, or 400 bite leader depending on lure size. 200lb bite leaders effective on smaller lures but need replacing usually after each fish, had one strike wreck a 300 lb bite leader last year, had to replace after having fish crash lure but not hook up. So beauty is you can do this without changing windon as damage on strike is generally in bottom foot or so of bite leader from bill and especially terminal trace behind lure lhead where hook(s) are attached and jaws crush. |
Posted By: Bigfishbob
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2016 at 9:46pm
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Yep I run 5.5 metre windon, then 3 metre bite leader to the Lure. I think you could easily go down to 2 metres like the others say. I really like the idea of not having loose coils of leader when small boat fishing. That way I know I'm healthily inside the 9.14 maximum leader length. My wind ons are 400 pound, but that was a dumb idea, will change back to 200# over the winter. Bite leaders will still stay 300-400 pound. ------------- www.waikatosportfishing.co.nz |
Posted By: bite
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 8:30am
yes the weigh master just about pinged me on leader an double on the last blue we weighed i must keep a peice of cord to measure with thanks for reminding me i have tried windons in the past but found unless you are up to making your own wind ons ,they can be expensive to buy if you are using a lot of rods
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Posted By: hookerpuka
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 8:55am
I run pretty much the same set up.
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Posted By: Kevin.S
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 9:51am
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Thanks, sounds like I'm on the right track. I'll drop to 2.5m I think, just wanted to make sure there was enough heavy leader to withstand strike damage. He's too modest to say it, but you should have a word with Kaveman about wind ons bite -he's very reasonable. And most of us have more lures than rods so the saving in leader there helps offset the wind on cost. For me a big plus will be easier lure storage with shorter leaders on them. Talking of having more lures than rods I'm off to make some more lures and rig them up ready for next season.
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Posted By: Stonefish
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 10:20am
Yep, I use this set up. Kaveman's wind-ons are great, just get some.
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Posted By: bite
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 12:37pm
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yes but quite a few of the rods on the boat i fish are older and the giudes are narrow , so its a bit of use what i get given to play with i do a fair bit of recrimping at sea so when changing lures i use a fair bit off the same leaders which saves me on leader and i know that leader is good to run
also we have that lure runs there and mostly stays there and there s only 1 or 2 spots i play with, and i have mostly got that down too one today
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Posted By: Xtoad
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 1:16pm
| I keep my lure leaders down to 2 m for two reasons. First is that the angler just keeps winding until the swivel is at the rod tip and the fish is ready to gaff or leader in close. Second is that when using light hooks the less leadering the better. This has worked very well when two up with an inexperienced angler. |
Posted By: coxie
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 1:35pm
I can't remember who sent me through these pics but it was someone from the forum last year when I was going through the introduction to game fishing and learning everything necessary. You may already know all this stuff Kevin but i'll post it up anyways, I found it quite helpful.  |
Posted By: krow
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 4:35pm
| I do quite a bit of Billy no mates so my bite leader at the end of the 7m windon is 2m Else I couldn't get the fish close enough to tag/gaff without putting the rod down. Been there with longer than that and doesn't work for me. Others seem to manage though. Most of my windons are 400lb though and I've had damaged/rashed windons so if just 200lb maybe more risk. |
Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 5:20pm
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I use a 1.7 m bite leader… that's hook tip to end eye… then the wind-on, now using 700 lb braid wind on but getting some hollow 300 lb hollow to make my own . A combination of Showa extra grip gloves ($10) and braid leaders mean a great trip when tracing… hand ✋ over hand ✋. No need to wrap. ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken |
Posted By: Sidekick
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 5:54pm
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Hi Guys, Got It. Thanks for the valuable replies. Most helpful.  Sidekick.
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Posted By: :Hunter:
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 6:01pm
| Peter Pakula reckons the swivel splashing may spook fish, anyone else worry about that? |
Posted By: Peter Pakula
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2016 at 10:44am
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Not sure I ever said swivels hitting the water spook fish (may have years ago) but it is an unnecessary target because of the leader and bubble trail. Video of 50lb fluorocarbon leader at 4 knots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCNsJURCucg" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCNsJURCucg Lots of reports of leaders getting scuffed up by marlin (and tuna) hitting the swivels and leaders at about the distance that the leader hits the water with zero marks on the lures and rigs.
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Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2016 at 12:57pm
That would be Lethal, looks like his pics.
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Posted By: bite
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2016 at 1:47pm
| i know of the old ideas about never having your swivels hitting the water , some people are quite anti it ,today i dont worry about it much at all, and when you think about it shotgun swivels are all ways in the water |