Leader length ??
- Thread starter Oblickta
- Start date
leader length
leader length
whenever i fish piers i generally just put heavier line right through as casting distance is generally not as important off piers
leader length
whenever i fish piers i generally just put heavier line right through as casting distance is generally not as important off piers
willywetegg
Administrator
Graham, I always use a leader that is very long mate, it doesn't matter whether I am on the pier or the beach. At low water on Blyth pier my shock leader will be on my reel before it comes out of the water. It can work out a bit expensive if you lose a few but can be worth it if you get a bigger fish on too. I have never measured it but I find about three times across the reel so that all of your light line is covered and then down to your weight will be more than enough.
Jim.
Jim.
phill_itofish
Well-known member
wow thats a long n lol
i always use a leader, length of your drop when casting + the lenthg of your rob and atleast 6 times round the reel..
Oblickta
Well-known member
that's how i'd usually have it but I dont want to lose fish from a pier if I cant get my hands on the leader when/if a decent fish comes to the surface and the sea is too rough for a drop net.
I'm gonna try the extra length then I dont have to mess about changing lines lol
willywetegg
Administrator
I was the same as you Phill, problem is if you are fishing a rough sea on the beach or fishing from the pier and you get a good fish on it can be very difficult to land it with 18lb line on mate, especially if there is a lot of weed about. I have been using a long leader for a few seasons now and know a few others that do too. I wondered if it would cast ok at the beginning but have never had any problems with it.
Jim.
Jim.
mick dunn
Well-known member
shockleaders.
shockleaders.
I bought 5 x 13 metre lengths of shockleader off e-bay for £7. It is bright yellow in colour and goes from 18lb to 70lb.
I use two reels. I have an old abu 7000 loaded with 30lb line.this is the tractor part of my fishing-heavy stuff.
My mag has 15lb main line with the leader attached.
The mag has advantages in less snaggy areas as the line is thinner and bites are easier to detect.
I did use some 30lb line as a leader but the knot hits the thumb on casting and its not nice. Plus when you reel in with your leader you can guage the depth etc with the coloured line.
Ultima power flex leader SOUTH END SEA ANGLING CENTRE.
Mick.
shockleaders.
I bought 5 x 13 metre lengths of shockleader off e-bay for £7. It is bright yellow in colour and goes from 18lb to 70lb.
I use two reels. I have an old abu 7000 loaded with 30lb line.this is the tractor part of my fishing-heavy stuff.
My mag has 15lb main line with the leader attached.
The mag has advantages in less snaggy areas as the line is thinner and bites are easier to detect.
I did use some 30lb line as a leader but the knot hits the thumb on casting and its not nice. Plus when you reel in with your leader you can guage the depth etc with the coloured line.
Ultima power flex leader SOUTH END SEA ANGLING CENTRE.
Mick.
The Great Wallsendo
Well-known member
Here's a poser about leaders...do you reckon a thick diameter line is adversely affected by strong tidal currents on the beach?
willywetegg
Administrator
I don't think so Tony, not as much as you were using thirty pound straight through and it was windy mate. I have fished Blyth beach a lot and never really found it a problem and there is a lot of pull on there with a sea running.
Jim.
Jim.
Oblickta
Well-known member
That's a good point Tony but I haven't fished with light end tackle in a big sea to compare anything and I've never been below 50lb leader for 5 or 6oz leads. There might be a difference but I think it would be minimal
Charlie_Thompson
Well-known member
Excellent cheap shockleader from Andy Rutherford in big spools 60lbs and knots well
seanyrooroo
Well-known member
I lost a bloody good fish a few years ago from hawthorn point, because my leader was about 2 foot short. My mainline snapped when I tried to lift the fish up. I've never used a short leader since. I use my rod to measure the leader... 3 X 13ft = 39ft leader
Sean
Sean
seanyrooroo
Well-known member
A good clean knot and you should have no problems belting baits out with a long leader. You need to make sure you put the leader on the reel with care, I wind mine on the sides of the spool, it casts a lot smoother.
BAZACODBASHA
Well-known member
Tapered leaders are the ones I use, they are very long so you have plenty of leader line to hand-ball a fish up the pier side, but the main advantage is you can tie the neatest knot possible because you can trim the 'fine' end of the leader to the same size as your main line. So instead of a bulky knot from your thin main line to a heavy leader line, you end up with a knot of equal thickness. They aren't cheap though, but I think you get about five on a spool. Fraser's Angling at Whitley Bay stock them, and they will keep you right about how to tie them. Personaly I wouldn't use anything else now, especialy as most of my fishing is done over clean ground and beaches.
I use them on Blyth pier and have never had any problems. It certainly helps when your lifting a fish as you are pulling on heavy diameter line which is not only strong it is much kinder on your hands. Having said that, you aren't guaenteed landing a fish, as I lost a cod about 5lbs on Monday afternoon whilst fishing the pier. The line didn't snap, but it wasn't well hooked and the hook tore out.
Good luck............................BAZACODBASHA
I use them on Blyth pier and have never had any problems. It certainly helps when your lifting a fish as you are pulling on heavy diameter line which is not only strong it is much kinder on your hands. Having said that, you aren't guaenteed landing a fish, as I lost a cod about 5lbs on Monday afternoon whilst fishing the pier. The line didn't snap, but it wasn't well hooked and the hook tore out.
Good luck............................BAZACODBASHA
big_sean
Well-known member
tapered leaders
tapered leaders
one of the angling magazines a few years back did a test on these so called tapered leaders and there results were quite shocking people who were using them thought they were casting on 65lb line but on a long rod with a good drop it was shocking at what strength they were casting i cannot remember exactly what it was but i avoid anyone i see using these
sean
tapered leaders
one of the angling magazines a few years back did a test on these so called tapered leaders and there results were quite shocking people who were using them thought they were casting on 65lb line but on a long rod with a good drop it was shocking at what strength they were casting i cannot remember exactly what it was but i avoid anyone i see using these
sean
I think i discussed this with Jim when i first met him on Blyth Beach,i took his advice/thoughts onboard and it does work and I've used a slightly longer leader since or at least when i start my session,when its cold the length may vary
Never used a Tapered leader,total waste of money imo
Last edited:
willywetegg
Administrator
That would be a while ago now Alan mate 
Jim.
Jim.
