Tying Wire Leader to Braid/Lures

[Further North]

12 hours ago, hawgwash said:

You guys have certainly given me enough great advice so now I just have to decide what I'm going to get (thanks!). Also read some articles pertaining to stainless steel (AFW) versus titanium (Terminator). Guess the only way to know is to get some and try the stuff out. Got a day off tomorrow so I'm going to head out and see what I can find.

That's what I'd do: get out there and see what you like.  So far, you've collected a bunch of opinions, and like belly buttons, everyone's got one.

 

I'll encourage you to try TyGer Leader once more, because it doesn't seem to be on your list.

 

http://www.tygerleader.com/

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/tyger.html

 

 

 

11 hours ago, J Francho said:

Titanium weakens with no sign of fatigue, then snaps.  Steel, it's easy to see when it's close to failure.

Interesting...I'd never experienced that...but Saturday, doing my pre-season check, I grabbed the rod I've got set up for a #5 Mepps...it had a 12" or so hunk of Knot-2-Kinky on it...and I gave it a hard tug...and POP!...it broke about an inch above the terminal knot.

 

That leader was on there since last June, on Lake of the Woods, and it had accounted for several muskies and bunches of pike...and more than a few smallies...

 

I'll be checking it more often now.

[Jaybert]

On 4/27/2018 at 3:27 PM, A-Jay said:

 Bass fishing up this way, there's plenty of toothy fish; So I use this product quite a bit - 

I tie directly to the mainline (both fluorocarbon & Braid) - double uni-knot.  No Swivel or ring.

Occasionally I'll add a small clip to the leader end to facilitate quick bait changes but most of the time I tie direct to the bait.

A-Jay

So this is an old topic I know but I’m looking to try the AFW Surflon leader this season. Most of my smallmouth bass waters here in Canada hold pike & Muskie.  Seeing a whopper plopper disappear to a 2 pound pike can’t happen any more.  I usually run 30lb braid on my casting set ups to whatever fluoro or mono leader is appropriate, probably a 3-6’ leader.   If running braid do you go braid right to like 6-8” of wire ?  Or do you go braid to fluoro to basically a short tippet of the wire?  Maybe I’m over thinking it but always thought the longer fluoro leader was necessary for low visibility.  Our water is often  clear to tea stained. But wondering what works for others? Also any tips to tie it?  I tried some from a friend a couple years ago and did ok but with a clinch knot I still got a bit of a pig tail effect.  My double uni was not as bad but not up to my normal fussy standards 

[Further North]

On 4/22/2020 at 10:42 AM, Jaybert said:

So this is an old topic I know but I’m looking to try the AFW Surflon leader this season. Most of my smallmouth bass waters here in Canada hold pike & Muskie.  Seeing a whopper plopper disappear to a 2 pound pike can’t happen any more.  I usually run 30lb braid on my casting set ups to whatever fluoro or mono leader is appropriate, probably a 3-6’ leader.   If running braid do you go braid right to like 6-8” of wire ?  Or do you go braid to fluoro to basically a short tippet of the wire?  Maybe I’m over thinking it but always thought the longer fluoro leader was necessary for low visibility.  Our water is often  clear to tea stained. But wondering what works for others? Also any tips to tie it?  I tried some from a friend a couple years ago and did ok but with a clinch knot I still got a bit of a pig tail effect.  My double uni was not as bad but not up to my normal fussy standards 

I tie braid right to wire, but I go about a foot rather than 6" - 8".

 

FG knot if coated strands, Alberto with single strand.

 

As a side note, it appears TyGer Leader has bitten the dust.  Weird, because it was a great product, reasonably priced.

[A-Jay]

On 4/22/2020 at 11:42 AM, Jaybert said:

So this is an old topic I know but I’m looking to try the AFW Surflon leader this season. Most of my smallmouth bass waters here in Canada hold pike & Muskie.  Seeing a whopper plopper disappear to a 2 pound pike can’t happen any more.  I usually run 30lb braid on my casting set ups to whatever fluoro or mono leader is appropriate, probably a 3-6’ leader.   If running braid do you go braid right to like 6-8” of wire ?  Or do you go braid to fluoro to basically a short tippet of the wire?  Maybe I’m over thinking it but always thought the longer fluoro leader was necessary for low visibility.  Our water is often  clear to tea stained. But wondering what works for others? Also any tips to tie it?  I tried some from a friend a couple years ago and did ok but with a clinch knot I still got a bit of a pig tail effect.  My double uni was not as bad but not up to my normal fussy standards 

I also fish braid & a Mono or FC leader at times, but when I'm using the AFW, I skip the nylon leader and connect the wire straight to the braid.

I use a uni-knot almost exclusively with this material; both for the line to leader knot and also for the leader to bait/hook knot. 

If you cinch up the knots slowly and as close to the bait / line end as you can, you may be able to all but eliminate that 'pigtail' effect.

btw - with the size of some of the toothy U-boats that inhabit many of the waters I fish, 15-18 inches of leader material is necessary. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[Jaybert]

Right on thanks guys I fish the French river area of Ontario at least once a year and it is full of bass but also toothy critters of all sizes.  Anyone ever just crimp a small snap like owner hyper weld to end of the AFW?  Easy bait changes and eliminate the pig tail?  Came across these pre made string ease tippets set up like that. But I think the AFW is still a better choice.  Is 20lbs test AFW a good all round choice for smallies?

[A-Jay]

I will simply tie a clip on the working end to facilitate bait changes without re-tying.

20 lb seems like a good size for me.

A-Jay 

[soflabasser]

When using tieable wire leaders I like to use a uni to uni knot for main line to leader connection and uni knot for leader to lure connection.