Wind on leaders

[Murph]

I was talking with a guy yesterday who had never used a wind on leader system before and soon I realized the shop I was in there were salesman who didnt even know what they were.

Just wondering how many guys on here use them and how many havent?

[AhiSlayer]

Aloha Murph

I was thinking about the reels in my arsenal today. I fish big stuff out here due to sharks following us around, picking off our catch. I just paid $300 less for a pair of 130 old type, new Tiagras than I paid 4 years ago, Yeh they are on sale at Melton's

The base price on 130s hasn't moved even though they made several upgrades

You know as well as I do,,price is set as high as the consummer is willing to pay. Just look at the price increases of 50 wides over the last 4 years

I think it's safe to say most people are using standup reals with top shots, even if they sit in a chair to fight the fish.

I am absolutely shocked I haven't seen sombody offer a set of needles for less than Top Shot. $80 bucks for a set of needles leaves room for competition in my mind. Stainless apolstery needles are cheap, can't they make us some cheap top shot needles? The ones that used to come with the bulk spools worked fine, what friggen company was that?

Oh yeh, I use top shots on some reels and dacron backing on others.

Trolling reels for ahi & marlin get 3/4 fill with dacron & topped with 130 jenkai, bimini to swivelclip then 15 foot leader. if ahi are leader shy I clip the bimini and straight crimp on the 130. This is dangerous though, my leg really starts shaking when the bugger gets close! I like the comfort of a heavy leader in my hand and the 130 scares me, haven't lost any tuna, but marlin break off
cheers
ahi

[WahooKing]

I like to fish old skool....

Sometimes we use the dacron setup similar how Ahi explained...However, we use heavier leader line....I don't like braided line much...I prefer dacron

Other times, we fish st8 mono to ball bearing swivel.....long leader....This way requires a strong wire man.


.

[Sterling]

I'm moving wind-ons more and more for Tuna, mostly because I often fish with only 1 other person, or don't have an experienced person to leader or gaff and the wind-on makes it a lot easier to deal with. The challenge comes in when trolling since my lures are all pre rigged with leaders that have crimped loops.

Has anyone seen an 80lb + wind on snap swivel? or have another suggestion for being able to wind on your lures without re-tieing the leader each time?

[intruder]

We switched over 10 Penn 50 TW,s this year to wind on leaders with hollow Spectra thanks to Captain Mark Deblasios help. Big difference over fishing mono is the extra line capacity and the durability. The wind ons are great with the custom rods with wind on guides.

[Capt. Brian Daley]

I use them on my 130s and 80s for the giants and other big fish

[deskperado]

I have been using wind-ons for the last 5 years. I have never purchased a pair in my life. I make them all. You do not have to purchase one of those expensive top shot kits. I make all my wind-ons with a piece of monel, sand paper, and waxed thread.

[Sterling]

Murph,
I saw a true wind-on leader setup the other day which is much different than what I was referring to, so it made me want to revive this thread. I was using wind-on swivels from SPRO directly to flouro, a wind on approach but not the same thing. It seems like the true wind on's are gaining popularity, but I have a few questions.

I borrowed this photo from another post you put up so we're all talking about the same general thing.
[IMG]http://***********.com/images/wol.JPG[/IMG]

First, it looks like this puts a lot of highly visible leader in the water, or just above the water when trolling. That big diameter bright yellow/green seems like it would distract fish both trolling and chunking. Any theories to whether it does, or does not?

On the other wind on systems I have seen, the leader connects to mono by sliding a few feet of mono into the center of the dacron. In this picture it looks like you might connect with a loop to loop connection. Correct?

What would you then use to connect the wind on leader to the leader on your hook/lure?
Does a swivel enter into the picture somewhere?

[Sea Draggin]

I was just talking to marty about the guys from tournament cable. The came to the club and did their thing on making wind on leaders. It took them about 10 or 15 minutes to serve one up.

It takes about 15 seconds to crimp on a spro. I'm not saying a spro is better....because I think there are some inherent design issues that can cause the swivel to actually cut the mono, however its a time thing for me.

We recrimp both sides before every trip and I have never had one fail in the last 5 years using them.

So here is the way my 50's are set up for stand up. 130# braid backing connected to a mono topshot via loop to loop connection. Bimini in the braid and a 16" crimped loop in the mono. 80lb mono for general use and 130 for Bluefin.


So 600yds of braid, then fill the rest with mono. Then a crimped spro to 30' of flour if I am tuna fishing. Or a coastlock swivel there if I am dolphin fishing.

I do my 80's the same, but use 250# braid for backing and always go with a 130 top shot.


Hope that helps. And as always...not right....just what I do.

[Murph]

Hey Sterling, the wind on is double backed making the connection stronger. There have been numerous debates one way or another when it comes to the visibility of wind on leaders. I personally prefer to use a more visible material making it easier to plan out your next move, know when you are within 20+- feet, these leaders typically are 20-25 feet in length do it hasnt created any issues in distracting fish.

I can tell you that the gentleman that makes these for us custom makes these as well for numerous tournament teams including BXRL and others. Same setup and design.

As for chunking I can tell you that they have been used but I think that people would have more of a preference to using something less visible.

Well Sterling the last thing I can say is PM me your address and I will send you one. Proof is in the pudding.

Just as Sea Draggin said, just my way of skinning the cat.