Leader wallets
 

What are you using these days and for what applications. I used to simply put all my leaders in small zip-locs and keep them in my surf bag, but that didn't really work when wetsuiting as I do not always carry a plug bag. I picked up a pair of Hunter leader wallets and have been less than happy with the zip-locs. several of them split almost immediatley upon use as the plastic is just too stiff. The Aquaskinz one looks ok, but I have not had the best of luck with AS products. I am really looking for something that is small enough to slip in the top of my wetsuit or clip to my belt when eeling without being too bulky, will keep the hooks dry to prevent rusting and will last long enough to be worth the investment. I have been thinking of maybe tearing out the zip-locs form my Hunters and having new ones sewn in, but have not located replacements yet.

I've been tempted to order one of these as I've never really been happy with any leader wallet either.

The credit card sized one I've had my hands might be a little small but the passport one could be just right.

Clear Waterproof Card Case w/Lanyard

Waterproof Passport Locker

Pete, I have tried those and kept random goodies in them inside my surf bag. One issue I had with them was the latch would break pretty fast. It may just have been the ones I had were cheap. :confused: They were nice while they lasted, but they all eventually broke at an inopportune time.

I have one the size of credit card that I put my wallet in when I am on the boat.
It's a little small for leaders IMO

This might be intersting, but it goes back to the old way of keeping the small baggies.
Waterproof Pro-Sport Arm Pack

Same idea here, but goes on the belt.
Aquapac Waterproof Belt Case

tlapinski if you ever decide to get rid of the hunter wallet let me know.:)

I use the small bags for my leaders when wetsuiting. I use a soft sided zipper cooler and keep about a dozen separate leaders individually bagged and loose in the front pocket. The zippers work good when its really sloppy out as you only need to barely open them to grab a leader.

The one thing that is key is to make sure those leaders do not get exposed to droplets of saltwater inside the bags! If you use one of those leaders a couple days later you could have swivel failure from corrosion.

They make pockets that you can glue onto a wetsuit/drysuit. Might help if you don't want to use a bag. Or you could make a simple pocket by glueing on some thin neoprene and a little velcro.

I just tie on the fly... seems to be less problems of rusted hooks and swivels, etc...

I don't tie a lot of leaders in advance anymore. I'll tie two or three and have them in a small zip lock between skin and suit. Same thing in the boat, I have them hanging for fast & easy tie.. I'd rather tie every time and keep the minimum and know that they are fresh material and fresh knots...way more confidence.

imo.. keep it simple. By having pouch's and baggies on plug or eel bags is not necessary. Even lead, I keep mine on a clip on my belt. The more crap you carry the more can go wrong and slow you down.

what Nebe said too.

At the end of last season I started using a vacuum sealer to make and seal small bags with leaders when I was swimming. I never had much luck with the regular plastic bags keeping the water out. Only got to try the vacuum sealer bags a few times but they were working out well. I put he bags in a small plug bag on my belt. Always like to have a couple of plugs incase I go through all my eels or start getting lots of blues.
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I used to tie leaders with a fly on a dropper. They had the dropper , a loop at the top and a swivel at the bottom to change plugs. I used these for 20 years as my main thing until I started doing the canal. They went into zip locks. For carrying around on land a CD wallet works nicely but I don't imaging that would work for wetsuiting..

Like others have said , for eels I just tie on a leader. Sometimes I load up on premade 18 inch eel set ups if I see them on sale at a good price and done nicely. Mike T used to sell them. Flr those I just use a ziplock but again , the needs for wetsuiting are different.

I havent tried pre-tied leaders. When i need one i will tie one up, it takes about 30 seconds in the dark. There are a few times when its rough that i wished i had em pre-tied. I will make a few this year for the plug bag. I would think putting them in a zip lock inside my plug bag next to the tubes would work.

Tieing on the go is fine when I am back on land, but trying to do it waist deep in water atop a rock a few hundred feet from shore while fighting waves is an excercie in futility. I like to have at least a half dozen pre-tied when I venture out in the wetsuit for a night of eeling. I've had nights when some blues roll in or the bass are digging in the rocks where even 6 pre-tied leaders will not get me through a session. I am really interested in that waterproof arm band I posted. The more I think about it, the more it seems like it may be an interesting option.

same thing here...works well

after vac sealing them...I put in a waterproff cigarette case......something on the lines of pete's passport case

I felt like i needed a good place to hold jigs and leaders so i bought a small pelican case from the swedge and a skinz hunter elite jig belt bag. i'm going to put my leaders inside small zip locs(aka dime bags lol) that i'll get from m&d's and put those inside the pelican case which should keep them dry. the small pelican case fits in that skinz bag perfectly.

Luds, check CVS/Walgreens etc.. for the baggies. I picked up 100 "pill bags" for like $3. They are nice and heavy duty.

that must be where they get the dime bags

Thanks T. I'll do that.

Last year I picked up a smaller pelican case that I just put in a aquaskinz large pouch on my belt. In the case I can fit a pack of hooks, a few lengths of leader material pre-cut and coiled. 6 leaders pre-tied 1 pack of Marlboros a lighter and at times my car keys. I put a folded napkin in the bottom of the case to absorb whatever moisture I have on my fingers when I open and close the case. I worked out pretty good. This year I picked up a jigging master plier holster and its got a built in pocket for spectra scissors behind the plier holster, Im thinking it may be a good storage area for leaders etc but havent put it into play yet. I think the pelican case was about 20$. The jigging master holster was 9.50$ and looks real solid and well built.

The Surfcaster sells a nylon leader wallet that I have had good luck with over the years, i think its about $12 bucks

Ive just come to the conclusion that ill b buying a new one every year. I buy your basic leader wallet (i forget the brand) and buy the end of season its falling apart. But it does the job.

Toby, if you want,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

the next time i see Kay(prolly next week) i'll pick up
one of the ones she sells and send it yer way. NOT indestructable,
but worked well last year, kept everything dry, and i definitely prefer pre-tied leaders.

i don't swim with mine like you, but this one has a cover for it and i slide zyrtec inserts inside
all of the zip-loc baggies. seems to cut down on the rust?? lemee know, bro!

Toby,
I was talking to a guy at Surf day in OS that said he went to like staples and found a neoprene calculator pouch that he uses for leaders and eels hooks; said it was cheap (like $2) and he loves it. I am not sure if he suits, yaks or stays on shore, but might be something to look into.

BD, thanks for the offer. As this thread was going on, I found out that a guy in my club (CT Surfcasters) that started making surf bags this winter is going to make up some leader wallets now. Going to give his a shot, but I appreciate the offer!

Hooks Rust (.)

I don't worry about it so much anymore. When I decide they're junk, they get tossed. Small zip/lock tucked in my neck area with the car key off the ring...and the rest is history, or on it's way there anyway...

I saw the surf bag he made last night... unparalleled craftsmanship, extremely well thought out... best bag I have ever seen...

Incredibly well built surf bag....i am blown away by the craftsmanship.

better than hunter in my opinion

you're welcome tlap,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
if those wallets kick-arse~~~

i may be interested in one for next yr,
lemee know how it works out :uhuh: :uhuh: