Leader Length
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Popper and Topwater Fishing
Forum Description: If you're into a bit of action on top, this is the forum for you
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69698
Printed Date: 06 Jun 2026 at 9:15am
Topic: Leader Length
Posted By: fish i
Subject: Leader Length
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2011 at 3:19pm
|
Been using a leader length that Gman recommended, that is; with the lure between 1st and 2nd eye, having a couple of winds of leader around the spool - so enough if you need to retie etc. After looking at that vid that Bunzo posted up I see the cat casting with braid at his trigger finger, so a lot shorter leader. Watched quite a few vids of GT fishos and alot do seem to have shorter leaders. I would have thought fishing over shallow coral heads and tropical reef bombies longer leaders would be advantageous. So, is it anglers find casting better with a shorter leader as the joining knot is already up the guides? Whilst I don't get nearly as much wind knots as when I started out I still occasionally do fall victim to them. Can someone please enlighten me as I think that joining knot could be the culprit. Here's a vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6IYkqxC4K8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6IYkqxC4K8 Nomis posted up. It's about the Terez rods but it's got a slow mo of the line furling through the first guide. I could imagine the knot wanting to keep going. ------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Replies:
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2011 at 6:01pm
|
Go buy the latest NZ fishing News... Ben Pokaia is doing a series of articles on topwater fishing. No BS just good advice... I personally cast with braid on my finger ( short leader ) with a FG knot for braid/leader connection, nice and simple... You have to remember Damon in the Nomad video would be casting 200lb leader, it doesn't sit as nice on the spool so a couple of wraps would be a pain to cast. Try some different length's and see how you go? ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: alan syme
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2011 at 6:47pm
|
currently i have gone for a short leader when fishing for gts etc in the tropics, they are not a long fish, much shorter in length than an equivalent nz kingfish for example. i find having a shorter leader i get much better length and less hassles with my casting. when casting i have braid in my trigger finger. coral is super sharp, while braid is no good at abrasion compared to leader, if you get reefed you are almost certainly busted off regardless of leader length in my opinion. like everything, it is a trade off though, shorter leader means you will have to retie on a new leader more often compared longer leader if you are using knots to connect your popper/stickbait (less so if you use spilt ring/loop protector etc) my 2 cents and current personal opinion, others may have better ideas or views.
|
Posted By: YeeHaa
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2011 at 7:12pm
|
Most people use normal brand mono leaders. They are a lot stiffer and big diameter, which could cause many casting problem. If you use shot leader, PR knot is the best. If you use long leader FG is the best. I use long leaders most the time. You can land your big fish a lot easier as well. I use Varivas casting sock leaders they are super soft and thin, Also fisherman leaders are very fine and nice too.  -------------   WWW.YEEHAA.CO.NZ (09)5705058 30 Jellicoe Road Panmure |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2011 at 7:18pm
|
Thanks crew. Good oil there. Yeah using some of your varivas there Tony, but yes PR on a long leader might be my wrong ingredient to the recipe. Thank you.
------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: PoppinTonga
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 6:32pm
| I use a super short bimini loop and twisted leaders. I cast with the braid on my finger just behind the bimini knot. Having your knots already pointing out the eyes will save a whole lot of grief with wind knots. Leader usually goes through the eyes slower than the braid comes off the spool. Long friction knots tend to have a pretty good memory. Long bimini knots also for that matter. If the knot is on the spool and formed to it, it most likely will not straighten out before going through the eyes. This increases the chances of your braid wrapping on one of the eyes and causing a variety of problems. If the knot is pointing out the weight of the lure will pull most of that arch out of the knot. |
Posted By: Aaron32987
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 7:38pm
The varivas 130lb is excellent for both casting and jigging, and good value for money at $40 or so for 50 m. What length are a short leader / long leader in your opinion, Tony? |
YeeHaa wrote:Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 7:46pm
|
Sweet. That makes sense Poppin Tonga. If you are using PR or FG knot do you run the half hitches off the leader and onto the braid? Looked at about 100 different ways to do the FG knot. What is better, the criss cross weaves done loosely in a series of 3 sets of eight and pulled tight or criss cross weaves done between thumb and finger under tension and no need to pull weaves tight?? ------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 8:18pm
|
I am afraid I am very old fashioned.... I just do about 18inches of double on my braid, then tie that to a swivel, and have that on a 3ft or so trace to my lure. Swivel is about 3 inches from the rod-tip when I cast. I am not happy about doing otherwise, as I have found any knot at all in the line going thru the eyes on a cast causes problems, and as those problems happen when the lure is going maximum speed, any glitches can make a serious mess of things very quickly. As for a fish getting into the coral, I reckon if a fish gets your line to coral, doesn't matter if it is braid or nylon, under those sorts of loads and speeds, it's just gonna pop anyhow. |
Posted By: Nomad
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 8:41pm
|
Hey Guys, in my opinion there is only one knot for connecting braid to leader for casting top water lures, the FG knot, it is very quick to tie on the water, goes through guides very well and uses less main line then other knots. My advise is to keep it simple which the FG is because when your on a hot bite you dont want to be mucking around with hard to tie knots when the boys are hooking up and have bending rods. The braid I use is Jerry Brown hollow core 100lb which is pe 7 and Jigging Master Teminator 150lb/dia 1.05mm and have two wraps on the spool and leave about half a meter for drop back, this is how I set up all my charter boat rods and how the Nomad Australia guys set up as well, it works very well. Check out the article in this months New Zealand Fishing News for a run down on how I tie the FG knot. ------------- Ben Pokaia <a href="http://www.nomadsportfishing.co.nz"> 
|
Posted By: ginga
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 9:29pm
|
That Varivas leader is not just nice and supple which helps it sit on the spool it is also thin for it's breaking strain. Very reliable, rate it highly. ------------- www.extremesportfishing.co.nz. Agent for Carpenter, Orion and ASWB products |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2011 at 6:24pm
same..I use 6m(off the bricks too)Short PR and half hitches off the leader with last two done as tight as possible with no locking knot(just lighter it up)...big eyes and as soon as the lure leaves...get your rod close to horizontal as soon as possible and no issues.
------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: YeeHaa
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2011 at 10:58pm
My 2 cents Shot leader = PR knot sets out side the rod tip then lure hanging a little below the half rod length. Long leader = 3-4 rounds leader on the spool then lure hanging a little below the half rod length. PR knot is stronger than FG, if you use shot leader you have to wear casting/jigging gloves and also a bit hard to land a fish. FG knot doesnt need a tool, soft knot and strong. But FG knot require very soft leader materials. If you dont make the FG knot nicely, the knot can be very weak. At the end of the day, nothing is perfect, that is life  ------------- WWW.YEEHAA.CO.NZ (09)5705058 30 Jellicoe Road Panmure |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2011 at 10:04am
|
So, what is the most effective way to do a FG knot, there seems to be a million different versions? Would want to know that I'm doing a sweet one before I stop using my lil' PR. Went out for a cast last night to test some new baits. Used a short leader with knot just above the first eye from reel. Casted way further than I would normally get. However I found I was really giving it heaps and letting it rip w a heap of force, whereas I tend to hold back a bit with a longer leader w wind knot on the mind. ------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: Aaron32987
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2011 at 10:50am
|
FG knot with 15 cross wraps, followed by 2 x sets of 8 alternate half hitches over both braid and leader, with strong pulling after each set with gloves to 'set' the cross wraps (mono will be shiny and poke through the wraps). Then a further set of 4-8 alternate half hitches just on the braid, flare off the leader tag with lighter and that is it.
Basically what this link describes: http://goodcatchfishing.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=33 - http://goodcatchfishing.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=33
Give it heaps tied on the tow bar of your car or something - no way I can break one of these yet with a whole heap of force over the rod / reel.
|
Posted By: DAVE_
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2011 at 6:33pm
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA5zRWvJ_3s - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA5zRWvJ_3s I do mine like this dude, strong & streamlined with long leader, 65lb sufix braid to 120lb mono, 6 wraps on the spool & lure at about half way down the rod. But agree with CA, if the buggers go to ground ya gonna get busted up anyway. I only fish from the bricks and this works well for me. |
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2011 at 6:40am
This is the one , this dude must be left handed. ------------- Live Bait , the Lance Armstrong of catching KINGFISH |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2011 at 10:26pm
|
Found this quite onto it and simple. Uses the tension of drag to create the weave doing an FG. Goes a bit overboard length and half hitches thou. Excuse the porno elevator jazz ------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: Kenshin
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2011 at 10:29pm
------------- Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger. –Herbert Hoover |