how to and what is a mono shock leader????

[rdent5]

looking to get my tackle ready for the upcoming season i have used a mono leader before but have no idea wat a mono shock leader is. i wanted to try it for a bucktail rig with a teaser....any info???

[NJ Guy]

tie a piece of mono usually 18"-36" of higher test than your braid and tie it together using a double uni knot and then attach it to your prefered rig.i use flourocarbon for my leaders seaguar rocks

[BigAl13]

What is the benefit of that??

[Ramtough]

Mono will give or stretch when you get a strike for proper hookup!!!Braid  has no giving and possibly would snap when fish strikes.That's what I've been told,if I'm wrong someone please correct me.Thanks!!!!

[SouthPaw]

Guess your not wrong no one corrected you, Thats what I believe it's for too. Correct me if I'm wrong too.

[Hotrod]

As Bucktail once told me.  "Gill Plates will cut thru braid easier than Mono Leader"

[Bucktail]

To me a shock leader is different than a regular leader.  A shock leader is generally 10' to 20' long.  Usually it is 1 1/2 to 2 times the length of the rod.  For surf fishing it was useful when most guys used 17# to 20# mono line.  By using a 30# or 40# shock leader you would significantly cut down on the amount of lost rigs when using heavy sinkers.

I use a long leader when vertical jigging as well.  Not sure it would be considered a shock leader.  But, I find it useful for abrasion resistance for when larger fish take my line under the boat and from the body of the fish itself (as Rod said "gill plates") The longer length also helps when handling the leader at boat side.  Plus, the longer length allows me to cut and retie as needed without having to add new leader every time.

A 36" to 48" leader is fine if you are using it for bucktailing.  Although I tie my leaders using a Red Phillips knot, a simpler method is to just tie a barrel swivel on one end and a snap (Duolock, Cross-Lok, Coastlock, Fastlink, etc.) to the other.  Then just tie a dropper loop about 10" to 14" above the snap to attach your teaser.

For fluking I like to use the Bear Paw Line Leader Connectors instead of a dropper loop.  This allows me to raise or lower the teaser as needed, or even take it off completely without having the loop remain in the line.

[NJ Guy]

  casting heavy weights from the surf will snap a lower test line but your higher test shock leader will absorb that initial jerk of the cast


but i find if I use 10'-12' of leader it will decrease my casting distance thats why i use a short leader.... Plus at 20 bucks a pop for 25 yards of seagaur it gets pretty pricey. but it is a great leader

[BigAl13]

Bob do the bear paw leaders hold well or do they tend to slide a little on you?

[Reckless]

Bob, Does Dicks carry them?

[Bucktail]

Al,

They will slide down to the bucktail at times with a decent size fish on, but it's no big deal to just raise it up again.  They are pretty strong and I've never (knock wood) had one come off the line yet.

[Bucktail]

Bob, Does Dicks carry them?

Yes.

[Reckless]

Thanks!!

[Hotrod]

Great post Bob..  

[ped579]

Bob, the bear paw looks more like it would take the place of a hand tied dropper loop than something you would use for tying on a 10' to 12' shock leader.

For a couple of years now I have been trying out a system using the hollow core Power Pro where your main line slides into one end and is secured by wrapping and securing that end with a small amount of super glue.  The other end of the hollow core is used to attach the leader in the same manner.  This workes more like the old Chinese finger trick.

Like I said I have had this on my go to rod set up for 2 years now and my testing has been pretty solid.  No break offs where the lines attach into the hollow core P/P.  Plus you can wind your leader right onto the rod as there is ho knot that will get into the way.

Hope this helps guys.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Bucktail]

Bob, the bear paw looks more like it would take the place of a hand tied dropper loop than something you would use for tying on a 10' to 12' shock leader.

Umm...  yeah, that's what I said.  

For fluking I like to use the Bear Paw Line Leader Connectors instead of a dropper loop. 

For a couple of years now I have been trying out a system using the hollow core Power Pro where your main line slides into one end and is secured by wrapping and securing that end with a small amount of super glue.  The other end of the hollow core is used to attach the leader in the same manner.  This workes more like the old Chinese finger trick.

I agree Paul.  There are a lot of better and smoother connections available using hollow core line.  Unfortunately, those lines are out of my price range.  Someday I plan on spooling up my tuna rigs with it though.

[ped579]

They sell a kit where you don't have to spool up the whole spool.  Just use the amount between the main line and the leader you need.

Happy Catching 

Paul

[rdent5]

thanks for all the great info guys