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Bighead

I generally tie a long shock leader, basically the length up and down the rod and about 5-7 times around the spool...and I use 10 lbs of test for every oz. of weight I am going to cast.

The knots with 80 lb test mono are freaking HUGE...and while they go out OK, they often get hung up coming back in.

I've tried albright knots, and they are certainly smaller, but I experience the same problem reeling the line back in.

My question is can you use braided line to make your shock leader? Are there any negatives to this? I figure 80 lb braid is about the same size as 20 lb mono, and would tend to make the knots a LOT smaller.

Thanks,
Bighead
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Slow and steady wins the race...unless of course, it's an actual race.

ceejkay · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:14 pm Post subject:

when i used to fish the surf i would put shrink wrap on my knots. that helped with snags. but other than that i really have no advise..

kweber · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:21 pm Post subject:

with an albright knot the large line is doubled and the small line is whipped around it... carefully mositen and tighten so the smaller line wraps stay beside each other... not much bigger than the doubled large shock line.
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the creepy uncle that scares the kids....

kweber · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject:

http://www.stripers247.com/albright-knot.php
more info
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the creepy uncle that scares the kids....

double_a_ron · Pony Mullet Joined: 04 Sep 2010 Posts: 70

I have always used uni to uni and never had a problem, but then again I use 60# mono for a shock leader. My only concerns with braid is its abrasion resistance on the sand bars.

Just my thoughts.

Finsonpins · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject:

I personally wouldn't do it because the mono is what absorbs the shock. I fought the same issue a couple years back, but nick at breakaway sells a tapered leader I use that goes from 15 to 60lb which makes the knot smaller. Might want to take a look.

Texican · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:52 pm Post subject:

Rudy · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject:

No need to use anything larger than 60 lb test for shock leader. Unless you are using a definitive, well practiced powecast you do not need anything else. Learn to tie a good, tight, small knot, wet it, cinch it and trim it tight and you will never have a problem. Different lines require different knots. Make sure there are no kinks or curls in your line after you cinch your knot. I personally prefer an improved albright knot for all surf casting applications.

Heres a link on how to tie it.

http://www.leadertec.com/tipsandtechniques/fishing_knots/knots_imp_albrt.html

obsessed · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1200

rawlbay · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:01 am Post subject:

I'm with Rudy on this one. I am not one of these 800 foot guys or anything, but I can pendulum cast and have broken the 600 foot mark a few times. 60lb has always been enough for me and its soooo much easier to deal with than 80lb. I do tie on a new shock leader every trip though.
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horse51 · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:01 am Post subject:

well. an easy solution and im not being sarcastic. i have the same problem at times and i will usually point my tip out instead of up when i see the knot coming until it clears the tip. it shouldnt snag that way. KISS method
Smile

good luck
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Chris Gonzales

Mad Hatter · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 1:45 pm Post subject:

I have been using an alberto knot on my shock leader. Basically an overhand knot on the shock leader followed by a uni knot on the main line. Similar to the Blob knot but no propane lighter required to melt the end of the shock leader. Been using 60lb mono as my shock leader and 25lb Big Game as my main line.
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Ray · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:58 pm Post subject:

In flyfishing and flytying, I use Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails finger nail polish as a cover for knots. I covers the entire knot, goes into any crevice and hole, around the entire line. When it hardens, it holds solid, protects the knot, and smooths the knot for passing though eyelets when casting.

Other products that may be even harder, still smooth the knots, and are more like a slightly flexible cement are the dental acrylic and similar products that are cured with UV light. Here is a link to one type: http://www.bearsden.com/page102.html This one is the one I use:http://www.bearsden.com/product6535.html.

These are used in flies and knots for both fresh- and saltwater. They normally stand up well in flies and on lines, and they do smooth the way for casting.
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Ray

fnG · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:48 pm Post subject:

dumb question..

is a shock leader always necessary? is it only for casting heavy weights?

i only run one on my 12ft pole with a cabela's SS80. spooled with 25lb mono and 12ft 50lb mono shock leader. before the shock leader i lost a few weights and havent since.

on my 10ft pole with a SS60 i'm just running about 100 yards of 50lb braid for a top shot and 150 yards of 30lb mono on the bottom of the spool and no shock leader. I'm not one of those guys that can cast a million miles and barely cast out all of the braid plus some of the mono when walking back to the truck. honestly i like the way the braid feels.

on all my other rods (all 8ft), i run just 20 lb mono without a shock leader. i've never had an issue with loosing weights as i cannot cast them as hard.

huntnetime · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:21 pm Post subject:

I personally use Uni to Uni with 50lb. mono or floro/50lb. power pro no matter what weight I'm throwing. Only ever had one break off that I can remember while casting. Stick with mono for the shock leader. The braid doesn't have the stretch mono has to provide that cushion while casting.