Light Tackle Wind-On Leaders

Nick Drakes, is a Trolling Lure manufacturer and owner of Sekard Technology.

In an earlier article I discussed the pros and cons of wind-on leaders and described the methods that I use to make them. This article was aimed primarily at the medium to heavy tackle big game angler and the methods were applicable to quite heavy monofilament leaders, typically in excess of 200lb test.

Since that article was published by Mike Thrussell on his excellent World Sea Fishing website I have received a number of enquiries from anglers who like the theory of the wind-on leader but who require something less heavy duty for light tackle applications.

The problem with heavy leaders is that it is difficult to create a slim streamlined leader connection that allows it to be reeled in through the rod guides. If such a heavy leader could be knotted, and in many cases they cannot, then the knot would be so bulky as to jam in the rod guides. The large crimps usually required to form connections in heavy leaders are also too bulky and inflexible to pass easily and reliably through rod guides. Hence, we need to employ the quite complex process of making the braided loop connection that was described in the earlier article.

In the case of light tackle leaders, which may be constructed using monofilament in the 60lb to 100lb test bracket, we have other simpler options available to us. This thinner monofilament can be knotted successfully and the knots used can be sufficiently slim to pass easily through the rod guides. I should mention that the braided loop method can still be used very successfully for lighter leaders if the components are scaled down accordingly. However, with light leaders it is not necessary to do this and the techniques using knots are quicker and simpler to make.

There are various effective methods to make knotted light tackle wind-on leaders. One uses an Albright knot and this technique is already familiar and accepted internationally. The method that I prefer is more specifically a UK technique and is derived from the method commonly used by UK surfcasters to join heavy shock leaders onto light reel lines and there is already an article by Mike Thrussell on the website describing this. An adaptation of this method works great for light tackle big game fishing and this is described below.

Please note that for reasons of visibility I have used a thicker than normal 80lb BS mainline and a 200lb BS leader in the illustrations, this is why the knot looks a little bulky.

Step 1
First create a double thickness section at the end of the main reel line using a Bimini Twist (see my Bimini Twist article on the World Sea Fishing website).

Step 2
Take the monofilament leader and tie a simple overhand knot near the end, but do not pull it fully tight.

Step 3
Thread the double section at the end of the reel line through the open loop of the overhand knot in the leader. Make sure the two legs of the double line are equal; you do not want one tight leg and one slack leg.

Step 4
Pull the overhand knot in the leader as tight as possible; this may be easier if you grip the tag end with pliers.

Step 5
Tie a Uni-Knot with the doubled section of main reel line around the main body of the leader. Do this as described below or, alternatively, check out Mike Thrussell's article on tying the Uni-Knot

a)Pull through plenty of the double line, at least a foot.

b)Lay the double line along the leader then form a hanging loop by taking the double line down the back side of the leader and back up the front side.

c)Take the tag end and make at least five turns around the body of the leader and the double line inside the loop.

d)Moisten the knot and pull gently on the tag end to pull the main body of the knot tight.

e)Slide the knot down until it sits against the overhand knot in the leader. Give a final pull on the tag end and then pull the double line and leader to snug everything down tightly.

f)Trim the excess tag ends and the knot is finished. You can add a tiny dab of "superglue" for added security if you wish, but this should not be necessary if tied correctly.

This is an easy and reliable method for connecting light monofilament leaders directly onto the main reel line and has a multitude of uses ranging from light tackle big game trolling to simple bottom fishing.