Mono shock leader on braid ?
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- SAI Hammerhead
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Mono shock leader on braid ?
Hi
Is there any precedence for using a mono' leader on Braid ? I was reading something interesting earlier about the differences between Mono' and Braid and one of the suggestions was that with Braid fish can be lost as a result of the fact that Braid having no give can cause the consequent shock of a take/strike to result in the hook being pulled out of the mouth of the fish. If this is the case I was wondering if a mono' leader would soften the shock and aid the setting of the hook ?
Is there any precedence for using a mono' leader on Braid ? I was reading something interesting earlier about the differences between Mono' and Braid and one of the suggestions was that with Braid fish can be lost as a result of the fact that Braid having no give can cause the consequent shock of a take/strike to result in the hook being pulled out of the mouth of the fish. If this is the case I was wondering if a mono' leader would soften the shock and aid the setting of the hook ?
flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
if your lure fishing they say a 2ft length of mono or fluorocarbon helps but you can use swivels, if your beach casting with braid they recommend you use this knot on your shock leader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e9XgPsWZao
seemingly it gives the highest breaking strain out of all the knots tested , bit of a pain to tie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e9XgPsWZao
seemingly it gives the highest breaking strain out of all the knots tested , bit of a pain to tie
[color=#FF0000]'' always think like a fish , no matter how weird it gets ''[/color]
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
Yep would totally agree...but ye need to try different lenghts of mono or fluoro to minimise tangles when casting (tis a pain when goes wrong!)...have settled for bout 600mm meself...otherwise don't bother and use the braid straight to the lure..set the drag just enough then the fish takes there is a little give...works best for me...good luckflynnboy wrote:Hi
Is there any precedence for using a mono' leader on Braid ? I was reading something interesting earlier about the differences between Mono' and Braid and one of the suggestions was that with Braid fish can be lost as a result of the fact that Braid having no give can cause the consequent shock of a take/strike to result in the hook being pulled out of the mouth of the fish. If this is the case I was wondering if a mono' leader would soften the shock and aid the setting of the hook ?
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
I've recently been using about 18" of mono and it works a treat. In fact the best effect is that the mono completely stops the line wrapping itself around the hooks during a cast, which happens often with braid direct to the lure.gerryl wrote:Yep would totally agree...but ye need to try different lenghts of mono or fluoro to minimise tangles when casting (tis a pain when goes wrong!)...have settled for bout 600mm meself...otherwise don't bother and use the braid straight to the lure..set the drag just enough then the fish takes there is a little give...works best for me...good luckflynnboy wrote:Hi
Is there any precedence for using a mono' leader on Braid ? I was reading something interesting earlier about the differences between Mono' and Braid and one of the suggestions was that with Braid fish can be lost as a result of the fact that Braid having no give can cause the consequent shock of a take/strike to result in the hook being pulled out of the mouth of the fish. If this is the case I was wondering if a mono' leader would soften the shock and aid the setting of the hook ?
flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
how do you attach the mono to the braid in this case..? does the knot ever catch on the eyes of the rod?flynnboy wrote:I've recently been using about 18" of mono and it works a treat. In fact the best effect is that the mono completely stops the line wrapping itself around the hooks during a cast, which happens often with braid direct to the lure.
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
chuckaroo wrote:how do you attach the mono to the braid in this case..? does the knot ever catch on the eyes of the rod?flynnboy wrote:I've recently been using about 18" of mono and it works a treat. In fact the best effect is that the mono completely stops the line wrapping itself around the hooks during a cast, which happens often with braid direct to the lure.
Well my mono leader is only about 18" and so the line never comes up close to my rings. But even if it did the knot is so small I doubt it will do any damage. I use an albright knot. It's really neat and small and strong. You can also make a loop in the mono with a surgeons knot and tie the braid to that with an albright. A double uni knot can also be used.
flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
ah yes, i know the albright knot and use it.flynnboy wrote:chuckaroo wrote:how do you attach the mono to the braid in this case..? does the knot ever catch on the eyes of the rod?flynnboy wrote:I've recently been using about 18" of mono and it works a treat. In fact the best effect is that the mono completely stops the line wrapping itself around the hooks during a cast, which happens often with braid direct to the lure.
Well my mono leader is only about 18" and so the line never comes up close to my rings. But even if it did the knot is so small I doubt it will do any damage. I use an albright knot. It's really neat and small and strong. You can also make a loop in the mono with a surgeons knot and tie the braid to that with an albright. A double uni knot can also be used.
but oops..., i read that as 18feet instead of 18inches...


thanks for the reply mate! i'll be doing that.
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
18' ! No wonder you wondered about the ringschuckaroo wrote:ah yes, i know the albright knot and use it.flynnboy wrote:chuckaroo wrote:how do you attach the mono to the braid in this case..? does the knot ever catch on the eyes of the rod?flynnboy wrote:I've recently been using about 18" of mono and it works a treat. In fact the best effect is that the mono completely stops the line wrapping itself around the hooks during a cast, which happens often with braid direct to the lure.
Well my mono leader is only about 18" and so the line never comes up close to my rings. But even if it did the knot is so small I doubt it will do any damage. I use an albright knot. It's really neat and small and strong. You can also make a loop in the mono with a surgeons knot and tie the braid to that with an albright. A double uni knot can also be used.
but oops..., i read that as 18feet instead of 18inches...![]()
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thanks for the reply mate! i'll be doing that.

Just got back from another trip using this leader and caught 2 nice Pollack. Got 3 yesterday. Since I started using the mono leader I haven't once had the line wrap itself around the lure after a cast, before this it would normally happen at least a few times each trip

flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
im just back form an evening spinning for sea trout. just in case anyone is wondering i didnt catch any sea trout (despite a good few showing - they were just out of reach
) but i did catch around 20 pollack averaging a pound...
however, i was fishing some new 20lb braid - with a 24" leader tied with a albright know..
- BUT i got no less than FOUR birds-nests up the line during my casting!!!
it was driving me crazy!! why is this happening???
any help/advice received gratefully!

however, i was fishing some new 20lb braid - with a 24" leader tied with a albright know..








it was driving me crazy!! why is this happening???
any help/advice received gratefully!
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
chuckaroo wrote:im just back form an evening spinning for sea trout. just in case anyone is wondering i didnt catch any sea trout (despite a good few showing - they were just out of reach) but i did catch around 20 pollack averaging a pound...
however, i was fishing some new 20lb braid - with a 24" leader tied with a albright know..- BUT i got no less than FOUR birds-nests up the line during my casting!!!
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it was driving me crazy!! why is this happening???
any help/advice received gratefully!
Hi Chuckaroo. Nice amount of fish there, shame about the SeaTrout.
As for the wind knots (as in winding) there are a couple of things you can do to help prevent this. Do not use a cheap braid. Never load the line right up to the lip, leave at least 1/8th empty down from the lip of the spool. After every cast check you do not have a loop over the spool end. Take a look at youtube - Mike's tips on Braid - and make sure the braid is not spooled on too lightly.
Hope this helps
flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
Hi again chuckaroo,
Have a look here - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/s ... nots+braid
Don't worry, you are not alone in this, it happens to us all. You just have to take certain steps as mentioned and I promise your wind knots will reduce, mine have considerably. Everything I could tell you is contained in the post in the link above. Watch Mike's video. The other important thing you will find a help is to always close the Bale arm manually. I always do this just before splash-down so that there is still tension on the braid, and then I make the first few winds with the braid between my thumb and finger to make sure there is tension still on the line until the tension from the lure kicks in.
Where were you fishing by the way ?
Have a look here - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/s ... nots+braid
Don't worry, you are not alone in this, it happens to us all. You just have to take certain steps as mentioned and I promise your wind knots will reduce, mine have considerably. Everything I could tell you is contained in the post in the link above. Watch Mike's video. The other important thing you will find a help is to always close the Bale arm manually. I always do this just before splash-down so that there is still tension on the braid, and then I make the first few winds with the braid between my thumb and finger to make sure there is tension still on the line until the tension from the lure kicks in.
Where were you fishing by the way ?
flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
fill your spool just over half way, close the bale arm manually, after that, draw about a foot of braid off your reel before retrieving, this ensures the braid is not going to go back on loose as you draw your lure in. Worked a treat for me
no more wind knots 


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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
flynnboy wrote:Hi Chuckaroo. Nice amount of fish there, shame about the SeaTrout.
As for the wind knots (as in winding) there are a couple of things you can do to help prevent this. Do not use a cheap braid. Never load the line right up to the lip, leave at least 1/8th empty down from the lip of the spool. After every cast check you do not have a loop over the spool end. Take a look at youtube - Mike's tips on Braid - and make sure the braid is not spooled on too lightly.
Hope this helps
great stuff flynnboyflynnboy wrote:Hi again chuckaroo,
Have a look here - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/s ... nots+braid
Don't worry, you are not alone in this, it happens to us all. You just have to take certain steps as mentioned and I promise your wind knots will reduce, mine have considerably. Everything I could tell you is contained in the post in the link above. Watch Mike's video. The other important thing you will find a help is to always close the Bale arm manually. I always do this just before splash-down so that there is still tension on the braid, and then I make the first few winds with the braid between my thumb and finger to make sure there is tension still on the line until the tension from the lure kicks in.
Where were you fishing by the way ?
i reckon that the braid is of decent quality.. its that spiderwire stuff.. but then again its the new 'invisible' white coloured braid and it doesnt actually seem to have the same 'plastic' finish that a lot of other braids have.. so dont know if this would be a factor. dont really think so
so anyway, i just wasnt aware that the line had to go back onto the reel under tension! the birds nests were happening on my cast and probably a result of loose loops on the reel (which i did notice on occasion), all advice there duelly noted.
great advice and help there mate!
learning all the time.
thanks again
Charlie
btw, i was fishing east coast co.antrim.
thanks Kgarr, yes indeed, i had the braid loaded right to the lipKgarr wrote:fill your spool just over half way, close the bale arm manually, after that, draw about a foot of braid off your reel before retrieving, this ensures the braid is not going to go back on loose as you draw your lure in. Worked a treat for meno more wind knots



again, all other points noted! and appreciated!
cheers
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
Your very welcome chuckaroo. I was having the same infernal problems myself until fairly recently. We're learning from each all of the time, it's great
Might go out in a bit. It's tipping down here but I might go anyway.

Might go out in a bit. It's tipping down here but I might go anyway.
flynnboy
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Re: Mono shock leader on braid ?
good luck!flynnboy wrote:Your very welcome chuckaroo. I was having the same infernal problems myself until fairly recently. We're learning from each all of the time, it's great![]()
Might go out in a bit. It's tipping down here but I might go anyway.
yeah, im going to travel the length of the country to fish for bass in cork! - try and catch my first one.
i need to get this issue sorted quick-smart! your help will go a long way i hope...

cheers
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod