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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: David Reverdito on December 19, 2010, 12:20:41 AM

Title: Leader setup?
Post by: David Reverdito on December 19, 2010, 12:20:41 AM
Hi All

I've been lurking on here for a while, but finally decided to take the step and have now got myself a GT outfit - Stella 20K w/ 16K spool, PE8 GT Avani and a Komodo Dragon. I have been playing around with knots and thanks to Crusty I think I have the PR knot sussed. But the question I have is what is the best option from the PE8 to the lure? Twisted or not? Bite leader yes or no? Connections in between and to the lure?

Any advice is good advice as this is all new to me.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Brandon Khoo on December 19, 2010, 09:25:30 AM
There is no best method, David. All you will get with this question are what individual member's personal likes and dislikes are. For me in general, I don't use a bite leader or twisted back leader with a stickbait. I tie it straight on. I use the twisted back normally with poppers and if I am hoping for something really big, I might use a short segment of bite leader. That said, I just do whatever sometimes!  ;D
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Mark Harris on December 19, 2010, 06:07:11 PM
As Brandon says David, there is no best way, only opinions.

This subject has also be discussed to death here, so a search for old threads would help you I think.

The simplest and commonest popping set is braided line -> friction knot (FG, PR or Mid - I would learn to tie an FG if I were you as it requires no bobbin gizmos like a PR) -> mono shock leader -> swivel -> split ring -> lure.

If you are using PE8 braid I would suggest a shock leader 180lb to 200 lbs.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Jon Li on December 19, 2010, 06:30:26 PM
Having bite leader will allow one to use lighter main leader , with my PE6 main line I use 120 lbs. main leader + 250 lbs. short PVdF bite leader , my PE8 main line I will use 150 lbs. main leader n the same 250 lbs. PVdF bite leader .

Jon .

Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: David Reverdito on December 19, 2010, 07:25:01 PM

The simplest and commonest popping set is braided line -> friction knot (FG, PR or Mid - I would learn to tie an FG if I were you as it requires no bobbin gizmos like a PR) -> mono shock leader -> swivel -> split ring -> lure.

If you are using PE8 braid I would suggest a shock leader 180lb to 200 lbs.

That sounds easy. I did however get confused I have learned the FG knot, not the PR. Surprised Crusty didn't jump in and give me a serve, he must be busy doing something...

Is a uni knot the go for mono to swivel? I have a bunch of 300lb barrel swivels, and owner #10 split rings - will the do the trick?
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Aaron Concord on December 19, 2010, 07:48:34 PM
David,

The 300lb barrel swivels and #10 split rings will get you started, no problems.

Again, like the connection question, you will get various opinions on whether barrel or ball bearing swivels will do...... I like Yozuri and Sampo 300lb 2 ring- ball bearing swivels while NT barrel swivels are excellent too (ask Crusty about these, or search the forum about NT's).

Unless you are trying to dong a monster, #10 split rings will do.......I keep #10H and #11's for some of the Brisbane spots since the GT's can be very large!

Cheers

Aaron.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: David Reverdito on December 19, 2010, 08:04:58 PM
David,

The 300lb barrel swivels and #10 split rings will get you started, no problems.

Again, like the connection question, you will get various opinions on whether barrel or ball bearing swivels will do...... I like Yozuri and Sampo 300lb 2 ring- ball bearing swivels while NT barrel swivels are excellent too (ask Crusty about these, or search the forum about NT's).

Unless you are trying to dong a monster, #10 split rings will do.......I keep #10H and #11's for some of the Brisbane spots since the GT's can be very large!

Cheers

Aaron.

Cheers Aaron

It's about time we went for a fish isn't it - local GTs sounds just right to me. I'll be in touch.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Aaron Concord on December 19, 2010, 10:38:43 PM
Ducky,

The local fish may be large, though they can be a fish of a thousand casts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aaron.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Greg Burt on December 19, 2010, 10:48:36 PM
A thousand casts just to warm up ::)
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Mark Harris on December 19, 2010, 11:06:27 PM
You are lucky. The big ones in Bali are in the 10,000 casts category :).

Like Aaron said the NT 2/0 or 3/0 will do you nicely for swivels. Never had one of these fail.

A four turn uni knot for the 180 or 200 lb shock leader to swivel will serve you well. Should have no problems at all forming a uni with a supple 200 lb shock leader. If you are using a stiffer leader and have trouble tightening the knot, try using pliers. And always remember to lubricate well with saliva.

Good luck :)
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Marc Vandaele on December 25, 2010, 02:32:25 AM
Jon,what kind of bite leader is this pvdf?
is that a very abrasive nylon line or what kind?
what's a short line?do you mean about 50cm.
sorry for these questions but i gone make my 1st trip over 2 months and this is all new to me
thanks
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Jon Li on December 25, 2010, 05:32:16 AM
Jon,what kind of bite leader is this pvdf?
is that a very abrasive nylon line or what kind?
what's a short line?do you mean about 50cm.
sorry for these questions but i gone make my 1st trip over 2 months and this is all new to me
thanks

Hi Marc ,

PVdF is the abreviation of poly-vinyledene fluoride which is the chemical name for generic name of fluorocarbon , in this case the leader I use as bite leader and 50 cm is sufficient as it is meant to stay outside the tip top guide when casting . It has better abrasive resitant than nylon and supposedly more invisible due to it's refractive index is closer to that of water than nylon , it's a heavier line too .

Jon . 
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Marc Vandaele on December 27, 2010, 06:42:35 AM
thanks Jon,and all the others
i am from Europe and it's a great site where you can find a lot of information
i have the idea that there are a lot of European anglers found  this very usefull site :)
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Doug Terry on February 26, 2011, 08:33:56 PM
as someone who has just joined this site and is a pom (not many GT's in the english channel).
I have two questions.
1) why use a fluorocarbon leader of 100lb and not wire.
2) for Trevally other than GT's what b/s leader would you use..
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Jon Li on February 26, 2011, 09:23:06 PM
Using wire leader won't get you much strike as GT has very keen eyes , the size of leader is dictated by the main line used , 1.5 times the max breaking strain of the main line is what I usually use , a short thick fluorocarbon bite leader often used if I am not comfortable with the thickness of the leader  , in the case of using sub 100 lbs leader .

Jon .
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Lenny Lim on February 28, 2011, 01:06:33 PM
Hi, everyone,

Can someone show a picture of main leader to bite leader to swivel > o ring & popper  ?

Where should we put the sleeves ?

A closeup would be greatly appreciated.  :-[

Thanks.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Ben Furness on February 28, 2011, 01:48:52 PM
Hi, everyone,

Can someone show a picture of main leader to bite leader to swivel > o ring & popper  ?

Where should we put the sleeves ?

A closeup would be greatly appreciated.  :-[

Thanks.

I would love to see these connections as the GT rigs are much different to what I am used to!
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Mark Harris on February 28, 2011, 02:05:47 PM
What are you intending to use as a bite leader? Single strand  fluorocarbon? Twisted mono?  Twisted fluoro?  I am sure if you are more specific, someone will help.

Personally I do not use bite leaders at all for GT fishing and my normal rig goes: braided line ->friction knot to single strand mono shock leader ->uni knot to swivel ->split ring -> lure.

There is no right or wrong way to set up your leader and terminals.  I know some very good GT fisherman who use no hardware at all for example - just tie the leader to the lure.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Lenny Lim on February 28, 2011, 04:42:10 PM
Thanks, Mark ! In most cases, we would follow your set-up. It's simple. I reckon it should be a 170lb fluro leader (for Indonesian waters) ?

I was thinking of,

1) Main line > Fluro Leader > Twisted Leader > Swivel > O ring > Lure

The twisted leader seems confusing.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Mark Harris on February 28, 2011, 06:10:44 PM
Lenny, so this for your upcoming Sumba trip?

The last few times I have been in that part of the world (Sumba, Komodo, Lombok, Alor), I had no issue at all with the simple set up I explained earlier. My setup was PE8 and PE10 braid, 200 lb mono shock leader, NT size 2/0 or 3/0 swivels and 170lb to 250lb split rings.

I would not especially recommend a fluoro only leader for popping as it does not stretch much and therefore the shock absorbing qualities are not as good as more supple mono. Also I have always been nervous about friction knots onto fluoro as it is such a hard material.  Others may feel differently about that.

On twisted leaders, I suggest you do a forum search as there are loads of threads about these - how to make them, how to attach etc.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Greg Burt on February 28, 2011, 07:21:39 PM
I think Lenny means a Twisted Bite leader at the end of the FC leader.

Lenny here is a pic of of a Twisted Bite leader and a knot to the swivel using a twisted leader, the same can be performed with a mono leader.
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Greg Burt on February 28, 2011, 09:06:30 PM
Lenny, a few pics of what you're after, I think  :-\ ;)

1/ Twisted leader to Mono/FC bite leader
2/ Mono knotted leader to swivel
3/ Mono with a twisted bite leader
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Lenny Lim on March 01, 2011, 07:18:13 PM
Dear Grey & Mark,

Thanks again for your patience and great advice.  :D

This trip is driving me nuts with all the preparation. Now, I gotta figure the hook types for the different types of poppers and stickbaits that I bought for the trip.  :-[

Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Mark Harris on March 01, 2011, 07:26:49 PM
Looks like you raided 7seas :).
Title: Re: Leader setup?
Post by: Lenny Lim on March 02, 2011, 09:14:19 PM
Hehehe  ;)

Mark, I also raided the whole lot of Williamson poppers... 8)

Don't know how good they are  :-\

Have some hammerhead and yozuri aside just in case they don't work well.