Leader Material

[Crawfish]

What leader material is everyone using?


I use Jinkai.
I also use Seguar.

[Salty]

I went from Jinkai to Maxima to Yozuri to Izor to Pline. Really happy with pline.

[JKD]

I like to experiment with different brands - right now I'm running Jinkai for main section of leader (line snap to spoon or flasher); Maxxima Ultragreen or PN&T Superstar for tail leader (between flasher and hook).

[Robot]

Jinkai because its what I first bought and haven't tried anything else out....

[Crawfish]

Salty are you using their mono or flouro?

Has anyone tried Sunline?

[Salty]

Greenish brown pline.

[GaribaldiFisher]

what pound test are you guys using for kings? My first season and I have a coil of Jinkai 80lb, 100lb and 150lb not sure which is best? I'll be trolling hoochies mostly. Thanks.

[JKD]

GaribaldiFisher - I don't know which area you are planning to fish, but given the smaller size of the Kings we have been targeting here in SE, I'm using smaller mono now than was the case back in the 90s. Once in awhile we see 30+ Kings but the majority of the Kings I have been collecting are between 10 & 15 pounds. I suggest using 60 lb to 80 lb for your hoochie tail-leaders with the caveat that you remember to change your leaders often because of the danger that "normal" wear and tear will weaken lighter material more quickly. Also, I know some individuals that are using smaller (less visible) mono than 60 lb for hoochies to counteract gear-shy Kings, so there are a range of reasons for other pound test choices.

Since I wrote my response above, I read one of your posts under another topic where you state you plan to use rods and downriggers on your vessel - fishing down South. My suggestions above were written with the belief that you were running "regular" power or hand-operated commercial gurdies and matching wire.

[GaribaldiFisher]

GaribaldiFisher - I don't know which area you are planning to fish, but given the smaller size of the Kings we have been targeting here in SE, I'm using smaller mono now than was the case back in the 90s. Once in awhile we see 30+ Kings but the majority of the Kings I have been collecting are between 10 & 15 pounds. I suggest using 60 lb to 80 lb for your hoochie tail-leaders with the caveat that you remember to change your leaders often because of the danger that "normal" wear and tear will weaken lighter material more quickly. Also, I know some individuals that are using smaller (less visible) mono than 60 lb for hoochies to counteract gear-shy Kings, so there are a range of reasons for other pound test choices.

Since I wrote my response above, I read one of your posts under another topic where you state you plan to use rods and downriggers on your vessel - fishing down South. My suggestions above were written with the belief that you were running "regular" power or hand-operated commercial gurdies and matching wire.

Thanks, I'll get some 60lb also and experiment with things. I do have some hand gurdies I just want to try the electric down riggers with 1-2 spreads on them, I have heavy duty down riggers with 18lb pancakes they don't struggle at all. I can also run some fixed rods off the stern as an option.

[Crawfish]

what pound test are you guys using for kings? My first season and I have a coil of Jinkai 80lb, 100lb and 150lb not sure which is best? I'll be trolling hoochies mostly. Thanks.

I use a heavier leader before the flashers so if a Sea Lion grabs the salmon I usually lose the hootchie tail leader. Most of the time it's 90# to 70# or 100# to 70#.

[Lulu]

Yama 80#. I've tried it all; even 40# test and fluorocarbon. Yama lays in the leader box so easily, and trust me, the fish don't care about line test. Great thing about Yama is it turn black when it's stressed. Time for a new leader.

I've found that the most important difference is keeping the leaders fresh. When mono is exposed to UV (sunlight) it starts to degrade ever so slowly. When you notice your leaders are cloudy verse clear, it's time to change leaders.

[ICECAPTN]

Ande 80# also used Ande 80# pink for awhile. I have tried a few others and for the time being will stick to Ande.

[pomfret1uku]

I once tried, during a good king bite ....for weeks on end some chartreuse.
Or high visibility leader. On one or two spreads. I don't remember why I did that but I do remember I caught no legalfish on it. The rest of the time yams or jinkai.

[pomfret1uku]

I use mostly 80 on hootchie and 100 on flasher for lions. But my first year I used 50. Most of my memory of that year tho was a blur of auto pilot troubles and tangles.