Wind-on leader help

[JTB]

I'm very new at the offshore game(1st season), but I have had some success this year w/ yft up to 50 # and a wahoo which has been very exciting. After dealing with these fish beside the boat and having one instance that could have easily been tragic I want to investigate wind on leaders for ease and safety.

I read in a book I just purchased Offshore Pursuit by John Unkart that he uses Spro wind on swivels. He does not go into how he attaches it to his main line or leader. I use 80# Ande on a 50 TLD and I feel the knot would be so big it might not go through the guides. Do I crimp it all to the swivel? This would be a pain when changing baits having to crimp each time. I need to order 4 new rods and I'm looking at the Shimano Tallis or the Penn International V. For wind on leader swivels do you want roller guides or regular gudes? Thanks for the .

Jason

[Persistence2]

Rollers vs. ring guides you'll get all different opinions. I have no issues with wind-on's via a SPRO as long as the roller guides are all over-sized a bit. Ring guides they go through no problem as well (obviously).

I crimp the spro to my main line. I also will tie a knot at times but mainly I use a crimp, especially with 80 pound main line. The re-crimping part for putting on a new lure is really not that bad. Just have your crimpers readily available as well as your assortment of crimps (labled) so you can pick what you need and quickly move on. Make your leaders 30ft or so...that way, once you get the SPRO onto the reel you can get a few cranks of the heavier leader onto the reel and go tighter on the drag if you choose while the fish is boatside. Obviously, you'll need an angler on the rod who would know when to back off and let the fish pull line rather than pop it off...if the fish wants to pull the spro back out of the rod, lower the tip so it goes out easy. I do the same when I wind it onto the rod...

Good luck.

Glenn

[27 sailfish]

You can also use a loop to loop connection for the leader.Put a Sampo ball bearing snap swivel on the end.Use a 4-6' "leader" for the lure.This way you can wind on the long leader and with only 4-6' of line out-the angler can lead the fish to the gaff man.I use 20' of 600lb. wind on mono leaders for Mako fishing with about 5' of #19 wire.Works well plus no need for a wire man.I fish alone sometimes and this is the only way to go.For trolling try 15-20' of 100-130lb. mono with the lure leader 80-100 lb. flouro. Skip

[FSHNT]

As I learned from mating for a captain on this board, NEVER CRIMP 80lb mono. Nail knot to a spro swivel only!! I still use it to this day and have held some very large fish on 80: 250lb blue ones, bye eyes, big bluefins. Everyone is different, but a nail knot is the strongest connection and can be tied on 10 seconds.

Just my 2 cents.

Daniel

[Mike Avery]

I've been using the wind-on from Basil using the loop to loop connections. I like the loop to loop connection because there are no metal objects that have to pass through your rollers. My fear is any nick or cut on a roller can lead to abrasions on my main line and possibly fail during a fight. I know guys use small SPRO swivels with no issues and have the angler point the rod tip towards the line as it passes but I will sometime fish with newbies who might not always remember to do this. I'm just paranoid I guess. I have never had the loop to loop connection fail by following the directions on the package (below).

[Russ D]

You can also use a loop to loop connection for the leader.Put a Sampo ball bearing snap swivel on the end.Use a 4-6' "leader" for the lure.This way you can wind on the long leader and with only 4-6' of line out-the angler can lead the fish to the gaff man.I use 20' of 600lb. wind on mono leaders for Mako fishing with about 5' of #19 wire.Works well plus no need for a wire man.I fish alone sometimes and this is the only way to go.For trolling try 15-20' of 100-130lb. mono with the lure leader 80-100 lb. flouro. Skip

Mako fishing alone! Man I thought I had it bad. This is how I tie my shark rigs except I like 400# right to the wire. No cable for me either.

[Skipjack/VA]

Palomar to palomar, and the Shimano Tallus is a nice rod for the $, with Fuji guides.

[greg 1]

spend the money and get PENN take it from a guy who has tried to save a buck multiple years! You can save money know and pay in the future!! I am having a similar problem this year i went to hi-vis on my internationals want a wind on/top shot to keep only fluro in the water. Most guy's are going with spro these days. My plan is to put 100 feet of 80 lb fluro topshot held with a SPRO. I will use a loop to loop connection to attech leaders. No hardware in the water good setup for chunking and should hold up. I plan to change the SPRO every couple of trips. I will let you know!!

[JTB]

I'm struggling. I don't know what top shot means, even w/ the pics I don't quite get the loop to loop or a bimini twist knot. Any chance of a gathering soon so I can get 1st hand help? I live in Mechanicsville, VA and I'll drive where ever it takes to get some help. I'll do whatever it takes. Thanks again for all the replies and input. You guys are great.

[Carson MAC]

I live in VB and I would be happy to show you how we do it. Spro swivels. and you might want to consider momoi diamond for main line. 50# test diameter with extra breaking strength. We have 100-130# leader and the leader to spro crimp passes through the ring guides just fine. Caught BET, BFT, wahoos, mahi, sails,YFT, etc on this set up. You don't have to make every rod on your boat wind ons either. call me if you want and I can give my .02. Also if you want to come to the beach I will show you what I do. I'm not as experienced as some guys on this board but I have learned from some really good NC mates.

Carson
757-375-0155