Plugging leaders

[basswipe]

Got another question.Do you guys use leaders on your plugging setups?
I fish pretty light and have always tied my main line to a crosslock Sampo snapswivel or directly to the plug.Never really used leaders plugging.Maybe I should,might save me from that occasional frustrating breakoff and save some money also.
What's the best way to join the line to the leader?What leader material should I use, flourocarbon or larger lb. test mono than what's on my reel?

[Bill L]

Basswipe, I like to use leaders about twice the running line test. The typcial leader for me for a 10# test schoolie setup is 24" to 30" of 20# mono, with a small spro swivel to running line and a Berley cross-lok snap to the plug (no snap with swivel). The leader gives you something to grab when fishing lighter lines, and helps with breakoffs from fish rolling on it or rubbing it on something. I'll cut the snap off the end and tie direct for jigs and some plugs if presentation is an issue, or lose the leader altogeter and risk it. For the heavier set-ups, I use the same double test, 15# running/30# leader, 20#/40# or 50#. This is just rule of thumb, and will depend on the size of fish targeted or presence of rocks etc. As for fluoro, I have used it but had some troubles with breakage that I'm not sure if was my fault or crappy mat'l

[spence]

I always use about 3' of 40# mono for a leader. Use palomar knots on both sides of a small swivel and tie direct to the plug, sometimes use a small snap.

While Flouro has its fans, I think conventional wisdom indicates it's a waste of money for plugging leaders.

-spence

[Fungus]

In general I use 50lb braid for my running line and like to use a 40lb leader. I will tie the braid to a swivel with a Palomar knot and then tie 3-4 ft of leader to the swivel again with a Palomar knot. I will then attach a snap to the end of the leader again with a Palomar knot. I like this set-up and it has worked well for me. I will also carry several pre-tied leaders having the snap and swivel attached so it is easy to change when needed. I have it to the point that I can tie a Palomar knot very quickly and it is a very strong connection that I have a lot of faith in.
Some may think that the 50lb braid and 40lb leader may be overkill but I usually fish around a lot of structure, hang-ups and a need to muscle fish are part of my fishing experience. Plus I do not like to play a fish to exhaustion

If I am jigging around jetties or rocks with a good current I usually move to 65lb running line and a 50lb leader using the same setup.

With regard to fluorocarbon, the majority of my fishing is in the dark. I have used both and have not noticed a significant difference in hook-ups using fluoro or regular clear mono.

[Tagger]

Sand ,,Rocks .. what Toonoc said .. What you do in the rocks is totaly unnecessary in the sand (overkill)..What you do in the sand ain't going to cut it in the rocks ..Another consideration spinning or conventional .. My conventional in the rocks 30# tied to snap ..no need for swivel ... last year I tried these quick change breakaway snaps.. They come in 2 sizes I know of..I like the larger but when I couldn't find them the smaller size worked out fine..Makes Quick changing plugs a breeze and if you want to make it a snap swivel you can slide your favirote size barrel swivel right on there .. I should sell these things ..

[beachwalker]

I use 15 and 25 lb. Seagar until fall. Use the 15 with a double uni to 8lb for my 7' and use the 25 with 12 or 15 on my 8'6".

Come fall it is 17-20 with 40-50 with swivel. Palomars both ends.

I can't tie a clean double uni with 30 lb.

Looking forward to rigging that up again soon.....

[tlapinski]

main line (65# braid or 30# mono) tied to a spro swivel tied to a 4' - 5' leader (50# fluoro or 60# Jinkai mono) to a 150# coastlock snap. no messing with small stuff for me! that next cast may be the 70#-er.........

[leptar]

I like using #4 spro swivels and 100# Crosslock Snaps

I've never had a swivel break on me... I've landed fish to 40#'s using the #8 spro swivels but my big problem is that the swivel is so small running 40 or 50# mono can be a problem.


During the day i'll use SeaGuar 40 or 50lb test about a 32" section.. at night i'll use Ande Leader Material 50 or 60lb test..

Depending on the lighting conditions like if you can see the bottom clearly is pretty much the only time i'll use flurocarbon...

Tagger... What kind of quick snaps are those? I used to use them in FreshWater years ago.. then i tried the larger sizes in salt.. it worked fine in the begining but once i started to target larger fish i've had many of them straighten or just snap... My drag on my reel is usually set to 5lbs under the line rating as i don't really like to play with supper

[Tagger]

Yea I know,,, scary looking huh ?,, Breakaway makes them .. I've opened belly hooks on lures on fish and no failure on snap.. I've always been a coastlock guy...pain in arse always changing ..

[basswipe]

Thanks guys.I've always used crosslok snaps on the plug end,as
Tagger said "pain in the arse always changing".My main concern was joining the line to the leader and the concensus here is that a spro or sampo swivel is the way to do it
I already have all the necessary equipment to start making leaders right now.Thanks again guys.

[Tagger]

line to leader using a swivel always use black...you don't want to use something (nickel) that will create a flash... sucs when u have a nice fish on and a blue hits your swivel ..

[basswipe]

Originally posted by Tagger
line to leader using a swivel always use black...you don't want to use something (nickel) that will create a flash... sucs when u have a nice fish on and a blue hits your swivel ..

I learned that lesson many moons ago.Hooked into a good sized bass while chunking with pogies and had a blue hit the swivel about 10ft from shore.Trust me,that'll never happen again!

[beachwalker]

for the record

I fish on beach 95% of the time. Thus I get away with the light gear

We have some rock structure but not much

[RIROCKHOUND]

Use 50lb ande clear rocks and beach... drop to 30 on sand if it's real clear/low surf and moon up...
boat ranges from 30 (shallow, cal water) to 60lb (rocky.. like near the 'tail)

[Goose]

Most of the time.
Spro swivels #80 plugs, #130 everything else
2'-4' Triplefish #40 plugs, Jinkai #60 everything else
Ande 40# shock leader