Wire Bite Leaders

[Luke Wyrsta]

Wire Bite Leaders - Please describe your rigs here.

I have been rather lucky in terms of poppers and the razor gang, but I am going to be fishing a suspect area next week where I will need to have a couple of wire rigs ready in case...your thoughts on wire rigs would be appreciated...

[Colin P]

Hey Luke,

I've tended to go with this sort of thing -



I use around 100 test 7 strand (sometimes use nylon coated but not always), copper double sleeves (size 1.3mm), wire passed twice thru solid ring or swivel in making a Flemish eye. I'm not sure if the swivel (top rig) is really necessary 'cause I've had no trouble attaching a looped leader, via a catspaw, to the Flemish eye (bottom rig).

[Warwick Joyce]

Colin, does the bottom rig when cats pawed cut into the mono??

[Chris Young]

Luke...Donkey uses a short wire bite leader on his rigs.

Check in twisted leader instructions ..post #64

[Colin P]

Colin, does the bottom rig when cats pawed cut into the mono??

I've not had a problem - but I do use at least 100lb test Varivas (usually 200 test) and I've only hooked spaniards on this set up - when they have become a nuisance when I'm using stick baits and poppers to target GT.

Of course, the biggest spaniard I have ever landed (estimated at 38kg) took a Wahoo stickbait when I had no wire in the leader - sod's law or a big slice of luck I guess.

[Luke Wyrsta]

Thanks all.

Does anybody double crimp to the nylon leader...or does it tend slip?

[Greg Burt]

The double crimping works well on 7strand, do it the same as a bite leader. The only time I use wire now days is on bibless trolling lures as not had problem on Minnows and Stickbaits, but definitely having a rethink on Poppers .
I do carry a PVC container of pre made 250mm 170lb mono wire leaders just in case, just in case of what I havn't found out   


Pic care of Wellsys premade leaders

[Luke Wyrsta]

Thanks Greg.

Does wire require different crimps or is it okay if the crimp fits snug with the nylon?

[Greg Burt]

Normal Aluminium sleeves are OK, although ally sleeves do deteriorate over time with metal to metal. I prefer the Brass fig8 instead for everything, plus a much better fit with wire or FC.

[Aaron Concord]

Luke,

As Crusty said, I use single strand wire of 120-170lb.
The great thing about single strand is its ability to make rigs without crimps or crimping tools.
With the wrong crimps and crimping technique it can cause more drama than good.
Properly crimped 7 strand or 49 strand doesn't require double crimps.....just the RIGHT SIZED crimp to start with.

I use a haywire twist/barrel roll connection.

At the lure end, I use a jig ring in that loop.
AT the leader end I use a 300lb ball bearing swivel.

To attach the lure, use a 300-400lb split ring ATTACHED to the jig ring.
I haven't broken this connection.

Single strand is cheap, slim in profile and can be worked with without any major outlay in specialty tools.....

Aaron.

[Andy Rowe]

Greg, just been looking at the wellsys website.

I'm after some pre-made wind on leaders for GT casting

I note the 'wellsys top shot wind on' and 'wellsys wind on' the former using moi moi the later using a longer section of Dacron.

Are you familiar with this gear and would you think either of these leaders suitable for casting 150+ gm plus lures all day. If suitable which leader do you think is the more durable?? as i know uncovered dacron tends to wear away fairly quickly at the leader join after a good number of casts off the spool.

Thanks

PS, sorry to veer off the wire leader topic...

[Greg Burt]

Andy, I only use windon's for Jigging and Trolling but I think Cam has cast with them, the Wellsey Windons use a longer Dacron end as he places the leader nearly all the way up the inner and outer 'legs', he uses Monoflex [Platypus] leader which is a good budget leader that I cannot fault. IMO the Top Shot 'black' Cortland Dacron seems a bit more abrasion resistant / harder.
  Good luck
   Bun
 

[Andy Rowe]

Thanks Bun,

In that case the Cortland Dacron may be worth a try.