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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Brandon Khoo on May 07, 2009, 09:49:57 PM

Title: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on May 07, 2009, 09:49:57 PM
Just wondering what brand of leader people prefer and why.

I like YGK Gailis 170lb myself for my single strand leaders as I find it is still fine enough to cast well, is reasonably resistant abrasion and is still soft enough to take friction knots well.

For twisted leaders when I do make them, I like Penn 10X because it is so abrasion resistant.  Cheap too!
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on May 07, 2009, 10:03:24 PM
For twisted leaders I use Black Magic 130lb tough trace because it's really abrasion resistant and cheap (handy because you use heaps when making twisted leaders). For PR knots I've been using 170lb & 200lb Fisherman super stealth. Not sure if I like it yet, it's extremely supple, probably a bit too much for my liking. Not sure how abrasion resistant it is... might start looking for an alternative that's a bit tougher but still soft enough for a PR knot to bight in.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on May 07, 2009, 10:20:21 PM
Jay, I find the Fisherman leader stretches too much for my liking.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Travis Heaps on May 08, 2009, 06:55:10 AM
We use Galis 130lb for twisted leaders.  I've never used a single strand but Warwick has been crimping on a length of 200lb single on occasions lately.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: John Campbell on May 08, 2009, 08:02:28 AM

  hi guys,  i have been using 170lb galis now for about 6 months and have had no problems as yet

            easy to tie knots with and usually get a full days popping without needing to change



    cheers
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mick Cunningham on May 08, 2009, 08:48:18 PM
hi every one .

i have been using 3 different brand,s
the YGK Gailis 100lb florocarbon twisted leader ( the best i have used so far )
and varivas florocarbon 100lb leader ( haven,t test them yet )
and Yozuri fluorocarbon pink leader 130 lb twisted leader


some time i add 250lb single leader to the twisted leader .

for pe4-6 class i use single leader yamatoyo florocarbon 70lb leader

i haven,t tryed the single leader on 170lb or more
cos i need the PD knot tool to do the job .
maybe in the future i migth buy one .

Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on May 08, 2009, 08:58:43 PM
Mick, why do you use fluorocarbon?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Stephen Polzin on May 09, 2009, 10:20:44 AM
For single I use 130lb Black magic.  Nice and supple, easy to tie.  For twisted I just use 80lb berkley that I bought in a bulk spool.  Haven't found the need for anything heavier around Cairns. 
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on May 10, 2009, 05:18:39 PM
Fisherman Super Stealth for single strand leaders - really like the supple nature of this line, ties knots well too.
Shogun for twisted leaders
Varivas shockleader up to 400lb for bite leaders/tippets.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Nathan Cefai on May 11, 2009, 09:03:20 AM
Shogun for single strand leader and it ties knots extremely well in 300lb..
System shock leader in 150lb for twisted leaders..
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Sam Colvin on May 11, 2009, 11:47:28 PM
May i ask what knot you boys use from your bimini to your single strand leaders?

And to your twisty's?

Been using a cat's paw and it seems to be good so far!
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on May 12, 2009, 06:57:33 AM
Sam, I don't use a bimimi to a single strand leader. It's single strand to single strand using a friction knot like a PR or FG knot. I don't like the midknot myself.

For bimimi to twisty, its a catspaw.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Les Maunder on May 12, 2009, 09:58:49 AM
Can someone help with some information on the Shogun leader as I cannot seem to locate any details about the product.


Many thanks


Les
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Nathan Cefai on May 12, 2009, 02:50:53 PM
There is a little detail about Shougun line from this distributor,i stock this in my shop and alot of people purchace it,strength is very high and i use 300lb for GT popping and is very easy to tie knots with..
 
http://www.river2sea.com.au/categories.asp?cID=353 (http://www.river2sea.com.au/categories.asp?cID=353)
http://www.river2sea.com.au/categories.asp?cID=50 (http://www.river2sea.com.au/categories.asp?cID=50)

Not sure if there is a shogun website,been trying but cant find anything!!

Hope this gives a little help!!
Nath
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Warwick Joyce on May 13, 2009, 08:35:06 AM
May i ask what knot you boys use from your bimini to your single strand leaders?

And to your twisty's?

Been using a cat's paw and it seems to be good so far!

Sam, I use a cairns quickie for bimini to single but only with nice soft leader! I find that Fluro C doesnt like that knot. For lighter applications I use a simple double uni.

Twisty to bimini I use the cats paw or the improved cats paw, not sure why its called the improved cats paw the first one doesnt give any trouble to start with!! But I do find the improved paw easier to tie.

Oh I use Galis leader, its just so nice to work with!!
130 or 80 for twisties and 200 single crimped to twisty if the fish are shy.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Sachin Chaudhry on May 14, 2009, 06:12:51 PM
150lb Maxima Ultragreen. Cheap and tough connected via PR knot. No hassles and no problems.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on June 04, 2009, 11:13:33 PM
What do people think of the Varivas shock leader?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on June 05, 2009, 07:05:49 AM
it's good
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Laurent Thiriet on June 05, 2009, 06:27:05 PM
i use 200 lbs varivas shock leader : good

Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Robert Palcak on June 14, 2009, 12:34:23 PM
Here's an idea for a bite leader...
Just slip about 10" of clear plastic tubing over your leader before you tie/crimp your swivel on.
Something like this stuff...
(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2650/lineguard1.gif) (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/lineguard1.gif/)
Just make sure the size is a snug fit and glue in place at swivel end with something like Dac Tac.
I havn't tried it yet and obviously it wouldn't improve strength, but I'd imagine it would help out a bit with bite/abrassion resistance, plus it's a neat finish and cheap to buy.
I dont see why it wouldn't work for both singles and twisty's.

Cheers Rob
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on July 05, 2009, 03:38:53 PM
Anyone know who makes leader over 200lb, besides fisherman?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on July 05, 2009, 04:04:07 PM
Jay, a heap of manufacturers make leaders heavier than 200lb. I'd probably go so far as to say that I think most manufacturers that make leaders would have offerings over 200lb.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on July 05, 2009, 04:21:51 PM
Jay, a heap of manufacturers make leaders heavier than 200lb. I'd probably go so far as to say that I think most manufacturers that make leaders would have offerings over 200lb.

hmm... just been looking at the most common ones used for GT popping and haven't really been able to find much.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on July 05, 2009, 04:25:11 PM
Jay, a heap of manufacturers make leaders heavier than 200lb. I'd probably go so far as to say that I think most manufacturers that make leaders would have offerings over 200lb.

hmm... just been looking at the most common ones used for GT popping and haven't really been able to find much.

Most leader above 200lb will be used as a shock leader/tippet.

My recommendations would be Varivas and Shogun.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on July 05, 2009, 06:07:50 PM
What did you want this for, Jay? I wouldn't be looking for a leader that heavy. ABout the only thing I would use it for would be a bite leader. For a bite leader, you'd want something as abrasion resistant as you could get.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on July 05, 2009, 07:05:11 PM
What did you want this for, Jay? I wouldn't be looking for a leader that heavy. ABout the only thing I would use it for would be a bite leader. For a bite leader, you'd want something as abrasion resistant as you could get.

Want to use it as a GT leader but might just stick with 200lb.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on July 05, 2009, 09:34:36 PM
You only need something 250lb+ for all but the biggest GTs.

And yes it is required should you be encountering these size of GTs commonly.

I meant to say 'bite' in my other post. I only use a max of 1 metre of this material.

Definitely have some rigs with this material if you end up going to NC Jay.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on July 05, 2009, 09:45:48 PM
bloody hell, I think I will pinch the 400lb off the boys if I need it when I'm there!
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on July 05, 2009, 10:07:39 PM
You only need something 250lb+ for all but the biggest GTs.

And yes it is required should you be encountering these size of GTs commonly.

I meant to say 'bite' in my other post. I only use a max of 1 metre of this material.

Definitely have some rigs with this material if you end up going to NC Jay.

Yep will do  ;D
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on July 05, 2009, 10:13:58 PM
bloody hell, I think I will pinch the 400lb off the boys if I need it when I'm there!

Take some big crimps  ;)
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Khaled Altaher on July 19, 2009, 06:27:19 AM
Did any 1 tried using 250 lbs PE line as leader?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on July 19, 2009, 10:47:03 AM
Did any 1 tried using 250 lbs PE line as leader?

Not really. As Brandon mentioned in another topic you posted - it really doesn't have the abrasion or shock properties required for GT fishing.

I have made my own hybrid 500lb Kevlar cord/nylon shock leader system but don't use it often as I think there are better leader systems out there.

Luke
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Patrick Naslund on November 25, 2010, 03:01:04 AM
Picking up this thread since I have a few questions regarding things mentioned  here.

1. what is your preferred bite leader brand ? ( GT popping )
2 Mono or nylon ?.

3 any thoughts on YKG Nylon shock leader ( as leader.. not bite leader)  ... ( I can get  50m 130lb and 170 lb spools cheep here in Sweden )

Patrick
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mark Harris on November 25, 2010, 10:52:05 AM
Mono or nylon usually refers to the same thing Patrick, at least in my part of the world.

If you mean YGK Galis shock leader, it is a good product I think and widely used. I use the 200 lb sometimes. My preferred brand though is Sunline Big Game Shock Leader - quite hard to get outside Japan and expensive. It is though the most memory-free shock leader I have come across.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on November 25, 2010, 02:01:58 PM
For the bite leader (when I do use one) I like to go for something very hard and abrasion resistant. It's only a short segment at the end of a shock leader
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Patrick Naslund on November 25, 2010, 04:23:38 PM
Mark.

I don't know where my head was when I wrote that :P
I meant fluoro or mono (for the bite leader part)

Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Duncan O'Connell on November 25, 2010, 04:33:50 PM
Sunline Big Game 210lb is usually what we use for the shock leader.
For a bite tippet either of 330lb Sunline Big Game or 300lb Moi Moi Ultra Hard both work well. Although we have used up to 400lb Moi Moi in some cases.

Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Patrick Naslund on November 25, 2010, 04:58:58 PM
Fish Head.

Thanks.. bite tippet might be a better word to use  :)

I'm thinking of making some bite tippets ( crimping ) aprox 50 cm ? for times I might need one.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mark Harris on November 25, 2010, 07:25:43 PM
Mark.

I don't know where my head was when I wrote that :P
I meant fluoro or mono (for the bite leader part)

 ;)

On the odd occasion when I use a bite leader for popping, I use a short fluoro section
150lb to 200lb, maybe 30 cm. Even lightish fluoro is going to be better at abrasion resistance than any mono.
 
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Brandon Khoo on November 25, 2010, 09:35:24 PM
Does anyone have any idea on just how much more abrasion resistant fluorocarbon is than mono?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Greg Burt on November 25, 2010, 09:47:09 PM
Nothing scientific but I work on leader 40lb FC=60lb Mono / 1001b FC=150 Mono and bite leader 200lb FC or 300lb Mono
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Karl Nelson on November 25, 2010, 09:56:23 PM
I use Jinkai Plus 120lb sometimes 150lb twisties, have not had any problems. i see nobody else seems to use this, any reason?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Greg Burt on November 25, 2010, 10:09:59 PM
I use Jinkai Plus a fair bit in casting and trolling without any complaints, and use the 300lb as a Mono bite leader on Twisties
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mark Harris on November 26, 2010, 12:37:06 AM
Jinkai is a nice leader, supple and easy to tie even in heavy gauge.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Patrick Naslund on November 26, 2010, 01:32:54 AM
Thanks guys.

Jinkai is quite cheap and easy to get hold of   and have tools and crimps  suited for the lines. ( for better breaking strength).. might go with that then...
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mark Gwynne on November 26, 2010, 06:29:30 AM
If you go back and read the thread again some interesting comments are coming through but more interesting is Alan's replies.
While he said some positive things about the new Saltiga msot people focused on the negative (as you do) but in his replies he really goes into bat for the Saltiga. He's sayiing similar things to the original post but when read on their own you can see his point a lot more.

It's the smoothest reel going around, smoother than the stella which is a pretty big statement and so on. The drag is clearly outstanding.

I do agree with his harsh approach though as for some of the faults it is almost unforgiveable in a flagship reel. Almost surprising these faults made it to production.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Tony Fowler on December 06, 2010, 03:57:04 PM
Hi all

I'm using 170lb YGK galis for single strand leaders with an FG knot.

But was think of trying some 130lb YGK galis flourocarbon.

What are people thoughts.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mark Harris on December 06, 2010, 04:01:13 PM
Tony, I have always been very wary of tying any friction knot to fluorocarbon. I know that some others feel comfortable with it though.  Fluoro is just so hard and smooth I struggle to rationalise how a friction knot works with such a material!

Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Alex Jordan on December 07, 2010, 01:45:02 AM
Either Fisherman Stealth is various BS for twisties and something I have experimented with this year;

200lb single strand glueless served wind-ons with JB HC ... no knot system ...

worked a treat and although cannot comment on long term use it did the business - only downside is each leader is around $20 ...

http://streamlineleaders.com (http://streamlineleaders.com) - they made some 200lb up for me on request ...
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on December 07, 2010, 09:41:37 PM
I've used glueless wind-ons quite a few years ago. They work really good but I have laregly moved away from hollowcore braided lines.

I change my temperament all the time
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Greg Burt on December 07, 2010, 10:44:16 PM
We know Luke!! ::) ;D
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Luke Wyrsta on December 07, 2010, 10:49:17 PM
We know Luke!! ::) ;D

Thought you may have forgotten Greg, in your advanced years that is  ;)
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Alex Jordan on December 10, 2010, 07:26:48 AM
Any preference Luke?
Twisties are a lot cheaper and you can bang em out at home prior to a trip ... the streamlines I got made up were costly but worked well enough ...
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Aaron Concord on December 10, 2010, 08:11:24 PM
If you use wind-on's, use hollow spectra over dacron.

The waxy dacron can tack itself to your braid mainline and cause a loop to fly off the spool.

The typical ending is a bent stripper guide and gelcoat smacked off the side of the boat when the popper comes swinging back.

For twisties: 100-150 Shogun.

For single leader:  Sunline Shock or Varivas up to 200.

Aaron.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Peter Morris on December 11, 2010, 10:39:54 AM
We know Luke!! ::) ;D

Thought you may have forgotten Greg, in your advanced years that is  ;)

Yeah Greg.....I dont owe you any money.....really I dont... ;D ;D

Pete
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Greg Burt on December 11, 2010, 02:33:35 PM
Ha ha, very funny youngies  :P, 'All things must pass', aaaahhh! what were we talking about  ???
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Darren Cook on December 12, 2010, 07:35:29 PM


For single leader:  Sunline Shock or Varivas up to 200.

Aaron.
[/quote]

Does 200 Varivas cast ok with a PR knot?
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Jay Burgess on December 12, 2010, 08:36:45 PM


For single leader:  Sunline Shock or Varivas up to 200.

Aaron.

Does 200 Varivas cast ok with a PR knot?
[/quote]

I use 200lb Varivas and it goes pretty well with a PR through the guides... just make it as small as possible.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Gavin Ng on December 16, 2010, 12:20:29 AM
Does anyone run a hybrid system with a twisted connected to some single strand 150lb flouro? that way you get the benifit of the shock leader, the slim casting casts paw, and the invisibility of the single strand flouro? if so whats the best connection method? twisted leader uni'ed to cran swivel crimped one one end and criped to a split right on the other end?

cheers
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Chris Leong on December 16, 2010, 12:34:51 AM
Gavin,

There is a video on Nomad page, it shows the connection they use. Twisted to a single strand. Which is also what im using at the moment.
Title: Re: Preferred leader material
Post by: Mark Harris on December 16, 2010, 12:38:07 AM
Gavin, you might find this recent thread interesting:
http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php?topic=3119.0 (http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php?topic=3119.0)