Canal Jigging Leader???

[East Tide]

Ok I am anal... I've always used 100 lb barrell swivel, 50 lb flouro and 50 lb duo lock snap. I ordered the wrong sizes and now have 75 lb barrell swivels and 0 lb duo lock snaps. I am jigging 4.5 oz jigs and have never broken off or had a snap open up with my previous set-up. I'm not too worried about the 75 lb snaps but the duo lock makes me nervous. What do you canal guys use/ think. The problem is I am going to hit the ground running when I get home next thurs and don't think I am going to have enough time to breath never mind tye up a bunch more leaders....

[Got Stripers]

If it were me and with a spool full of braid, I'd be more concerned that something on that far end will let go before the braid.

[Harrible]

I'd say you've been pretty heavily rigged E.T.......but to each his own. Flouro being what it is, heavy # test is probably still pretty invisible.

I use the micro 50# swivel by Sampro at the 50# Whiplash/30# Flouro leader junction, and mostly tie direct to the jig. Sometimes I will use a 50# snap if I am going to change lures often. I modify the snap to stay closed throuh bending the clip further. My thinking goes along the lines of using small hardware, if you have to use it.

Now after using your stuff, you may think mine is risky. But in the past three years of fishing the ditch 3-4 times/wk, and taking fish to 30 pounds or so on jigs on the bottom, I have never *broken off* a fish. Lost them by unhooking, etc., yes, but never through a broken line/leader/swivel. I use 30# leader so the leader and not the Whiplash will break when snagging bottom....of course, the weakest point in the whole setup is often the knot....

One man's experience....

[Saltheart]

Just tie the running line to a 50 or 60 Lb leader. Get rid of all the hardware. If you are using a heavier mono running line that is somewhat close to the size of the leader , use a blood knot to tie the leader on. If you don't know that one , use opposing uni knots. If you are using braid , tie an Albright to join the leader. Use 16 to twenty turns.

For my jigging set up , I use 50 Lb Cortland Spectron on a BG7000CL. I Albright the 50 or 60 lb Ande on for a leader and tie to the jig with a uni knot. The thing is set up so the line almost never breaks in the Spectron when I snag the bottom . I want the jig knot to be the weak link. If I use a Polamar at the jig , then my leader knot will let go and I'll be tying leaders on all day.

The grand daddy way of rigging would probably be a bimmini at the leader and a Polamar at the jig. Too much trouble tying on that way for my taste.

[East Tide]

Harrible, I hear where your coming from. I've pulled 30 lb fish off the bottom of the ditch with this hardware and not broken off so I guess I'm just used to what I got going for me and fear being broken off with the lighter stuff.

Saltheart, I like the idea behind using a shock leader and have definately done so but prefer to have some hardware. It's easier to change and twists less.... I use 50 lb spectron as well. Thats why a 40 lb snap makes me a little more nervous....