Decided to try a shock leader after snapping off a beautiful Tattoo darter heaving it with Penn 525/11' fast Lami/20# Ande BC/3' fluoro leader the other day. Used 30' of 50# BG tied with a blood knot. Second cast I snapped off ANOTHER nice plug when the knot joining line and leader caught on the reel frame.

Can anyone tell me exactly how to rig a shock leader for this setup. (What line, how long, what knot, etc.) Do I just have too much line on the spool? Searched the site and couldn't find an answer. I love heaving big plugs with this combo, but launching them into oblivion is heartbreaking and getting expensive...

Albright or Alberto Knot are your friends.

Hate shock leader knots!
Hate loosing lures and rigs even more.
So sometimes it's a necessary evil.
Patients, I'm working on a knotless wonder that I stole ideas from with my fly fishing gear.
If it works out,,,, I'll gladly "show and tell".

Larry,

I know exactly how you feel. Just this year I have switched from tying line-to-line knots for my leadears - double uni is what I used -- and now tie directly to a swivel that has three or four feet of leader in 40 or 50 pound flouro which is attached to a Breakaway swivel.

I have yet to break off a plug using this set up and it gives me a long enough leader.

I think you want enough line to account for a wrap around a rock, etc., when the fish is hooked on. Although if they take it down to a barnacle encrusted rock, it can slice line pretty easily.

In big mono, or strong braid, I use back to back uni-knots (5-6 turns in the mainline, 3 turns in the #50 shocker). Lube 'em, tighten partway, slide together hard, tighten the rest of the way. When using lines less than #25, I create a double line with a bimini twist first. Makes a trim tapered knot, that is strong enough, and won't catch on your guides going out.

Forget the shocker. Use a spro 80# swivel, and use that as your leader to line link. Mono to mono knots are typically big and bulky, don't go through the guides well, and typically fail. Braid to mono is a little more compact and works well though.Use an albright knot for braid to mono. If you are going to stick with the Ande BC for your running line, abandon the shocker idea. Been there, done that, it doesn't work well.

I agree..
80#swivel with 3-4 ft of 50 # flurocarbon and your in business.....

Mono to mono -- Braid to mono -- Crazy Alberto is the best - takes time to perfect it , but it runs through the guides easily. I have the same reel and found that it isn't plugging friendly. That is if you want to watch the plugs action. It is so fast that it has a tendancy to foul up if the line is not spooled evenly and TIGHT. Sometimes the parting of the line is caused by other things than the knots. Remember - the knot is the weakest point and will fail with a backlash before the line parts.:eek:

Thanks everyone. Spooled off some line then went with an Albright knot with about 20' of 50# mono. Seems to work well.

If I nixed the shock leader and went with a swivel/3' fluoro leader (which I use anyway) wouldn't it leave too much of the load on the mono, and wouldn't the swivel beat up the guides?

Never ceases to amaze me how much I learn from this site.