Another wind on question - need opinions

[iwannanewboat]

I am new to offshore on my own boat but gonna give it a go this year (finally!!!!). I fished some in NC this past fall and seem to recall a few guys rigging their main line to leader with crimps and spro swivels (see attached).

I rigged a few of my new rod with this and it passes thru the roller guides just fine. My smallest guide is an AFTCO 31 and no problems.

OK< now for my question.........is this a good set up for main line to leader.........while i seem to recall this being the rigging..........I am not a 100% sure and want a few opinions..........is this good???? Seems like it will work fine as along as it passes thru the guides, but i worry about the loops at the swivel..........comments please!

Again, i am a newby and would love the input on this setup.

[Gotta Gaff 'Em]

ok heres the deal. you have your main line whichis what the real is spooled with right, then you have your wind on ( whatever pundage it is with the dacron) now you tie a bimini in the main line off the reel and thendo a loop connection using the loop form the bimini and the loop form the dacron end of the wind on.at the end of the wind on where the mono ends, crimp yourself a good swivel on. that completes the rod setup. the snap swivel at the end is where you will then attach the leaders for the trolling rigs. Usually your wind on is anywhere from 7-10ft long. provided your line on your reel isnt like 80lb then the bimini twist should be small enough to pass through the rollers with no problem. and that includes the loop connection as well. its a fairly simple setupbut it can maek a massive difference when dealing with big fish,especially when it comes to billfish, because once you touch that colored dacron youve got yourselfa release. In addition that dacron si great for seeing where your rigs are in the spread and how far back they are. when cranking on the fish you wind to the snap, then hand line whatever is left of the leader oin the lure to get the fish, its a proven system, you just have to watch when your cranking that you dont bunch up the line in one place on the reel because that is an easy way to slice through that dacron

[PlaynHooky]

We use the wind on leaders on 90% of our set ups.......they are the bomb......make your loops at the spro swivel SMALL......they dont need to be big. If you do this your set up will come on and go through the lines very easily....and come back off just the same.....Feel free to call me if you have any questions...

[iwannanewboat]

Guys...........thanks for the feed back. I just hope some of those NC bluefins move up north soon so we can give em a shot out of OC.

This will be my first year on my own boat and I am SIKED!!

[Magic Moment]

Part of the idea of a "leader" is usually to have a heavier line than your mainline. Exception is if you are chunking for finicky tuna. For every day trolling, if you have 80 lb mainline most would probably match it to 100 to 130lb leader.

[TerpHeels]

Pretty much everyone I know uses that exact setup in your pdf.

[iwannanewboat]

Thanks Jim, Terps and all........I am hoping this year to try as much as I can. My PDF showed 80lb leader but I know to run greater as you say......brain fart on my part.

I have been waiting 15 years to try offshore on my own boat and it's finally here! I hope the season is a good one for all. Thanks again

[FREEGAFFER2009]

If you are speaking of the spro cylinder style swivels I would advise against using these. I would reccomend either a spro power or billfisher standard stlye barrel rated at least 130 lbs for 80 lb mainline or 180 lb swivel for 100 lb mainline. All so it has suited me better to tie a knot in the mainline side of the connection with these swivels.

As for making wind ons with Dacron using a loop to loop connection with a Bimini in the mainline I like for my leader to be 30 feet total from the offshore loop connection. UsuAlly this connection is applied to heavy jigging setups and marlin tackle(Blue ones).

There is no reason to only have a 10 foot crank on leader because that totally defeats the purpose of it being a crank on!

The only time we ever use snaps on our trolling gear is for wire rigs, hookless teasers , or spreader bars. Even so you can have a 300 lb crank on that is thirty feet long and have a snap at the end to a spreader bar . This is helpful when tuna fishing as you can get a little bit of leverage on the fish. Mind you this is not igfa legal and you will have to measure it to make sure you are playing by the rules, if need be. But as for general recreational angling you will find that the longer the crank on, the better. Just don't go tell everyone!

[FREEGAFFER2009]

I see your pic now, that is the right style of swivel.

[iwannanewboat]

I see your pic now, that is the right style of swivel.

Thanks for the feed back / advice!!!! I really appreciate it!