leadcore question

Sorry for another question on leadcore but I am just starting to use leadcore and was wondering what type and size swivel do you use to connect the leadcore to your leader. I know some don’t use them but those that do please any suggestions would help. Thanks

No Swivels!!!

1. Take the end of your lead core, and slide the sheath back about 4″, and cut the lead.

2. Make a half hitch loop in your line. Leavie it loose. Do not tighten! (Make sure the loop is up by where the lead is in the sheath…)

3. Take your Fireline (Or whatever leader you like..Fireline works best for this I have found.) and slide it into the sheath that the lead came out of. Slide it all the way up to where the lead begins.

4. Slide your half hitch not down towards where your sheath and leader meet. Then cinch down the not. That on loop cinch will NEVER fail, and offers you a VERY low profile knot that will never break! And it can be reeled in with ease!

I’ll used that knot on a segmented set up. For a connection to a short leader I’ll use a size 8 swivel.

Buy the way, I find it almost impossible to tie that knot in the boat, Tuck!

-J.

I will second what Tuck said. When I first saw that knot – I think it is a ‘Willis Knot’ – I thought it was a joke. I tried it and could not believe how easy it is and how well it works. It is far harder to explain than to tie.

A trick when using a super-line leader is to spray the end of it with hair spray before doing the knot. It helps to stiffen the braid and makes threading it into the leadcore easier. Kinda like a Viagra for fishing lines……

Tim

I use a size 18 swivel. They are small enough to slide through the guides on your rod. I used to use the knots and have had better luck with the swivel. We troll a lot of tree tops in reservoirs and were losing way too many cranks with knots. Since we’ve switched to swivels we lose half as many cranks.

Ben, Are you referring to how you attach the lead to a leader line? Otherwise, I don’t know how the knot would impact your scenario.

JJ, I have “knot” had that problem!
Yeah, I took my funny pill today.

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Ben, Are you referring to how you attach the lead to a leader line? Otherwise, I don’t know how the knot would impact your scenario.

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Yep, with the knots we were having problems with the fireline breaking at the knot when we would try to yank them out of the trees. Maybe we will try the knots again with a little heavier fireline. We just haven’t found any draw backs to the small swivels for now. Another bonus with the swivels is no line twist if your crank gets fowled and you don’t see it for a while.

Right On Ben

Ben,

I know you guys are in Nebraska and all…but up here we fish in the lakes and Rivers. Tree tops will tangle any line!

What? Are you guys trolling out of crop dusters down there?

I have never had any issues with breakage due to the knot, and many more due to the swivels. So I guess it is a case of “To each their own.” Either way will get you on fish!

I’ve spent hours trying to connect the fireline to the core this way, have yet to accomplish this feat

I use a blood knot

Jami

I use the uni to uni knot. I too can not master the willi’s knot.

I also use nothing but the “willis” knot. I tie the half hitch around my finger so it will not tighten from the weight of the leadline. I also found that cutting your fireline leader off with scissors instead of clippers. Clippers tend to make the end flat, there for harder to get started into the dacron. I prefer to remove about 6″ of lead and slide the leader into the dacron instead of 4″ not sure if it makes a difference or not. Tied properly, this not will not break at the leader but at the snap when snagged.

On a side note, I have never been able to get this to hold with Power Pro, but I prefer Fireline anyway.

Jami or Chappy, stop over some time and I can show you this not. It is very simple.
Jim

Dugarel’s. Monday. Happy hour. Knot tying 101.

I’m going to try going to Dugarel’s Monday night with Tuck. Anyone want to join us?

Does it matter if the lead core is not consistant throughout the line. Mine is broken in multiple spots inside the sheath…….Do I need to get new line?

Only if it is starting to make the line lump up and not be uniform.

I’ve been using real small barrel swivels between the leadcore and leader and haven’t had a problem. Like mentioned above, it helps with reducing line twist if your plug gets fouled.

CR

Thanks Chris.

I just tie the lead directly to a swivel small enough to reel up the mono leader if I’m using long leaders (greater than six feet). If I’m fishing the river and I’m only using a 3-4 foot leader, the size of the swivel isn’t as critical since you more than likely won’t be reeling any of the leader up into the spool anyhow. Just use a swivel small enough that it won’t get caught up in your rod guides. You’ll get some nasty backlashes when you’re letting out line if the swivel gets hung up.

I prefer using a swivel rather than tying directly because of it’s simplicity. Anyone who is in my boat can re-tie quickly and I don’t have to spend time showing them a new knot. This lets me focus on controlling the boat and keeping the remaining lines in the zone. It’s quick and painless. You can peel back the dacron a few inches and then cut off the lead, and simply tie a polymer knot with the sheath to the swivel, or in a pinch you can also just tie three overhand knots with the lead directly to the swivel. You’ll want to employ the former method on long leaders so the knot doesn’t get hung up on the spool guide in your reel. I like to troll in areas where there are a lot of snags, especially on lakes like Devils Lake, so being able to re-tie quickly and efficiently is critical in my boat.