Making own leaders

[The Crew]

I got AFW 1x7 Surfstrand 40lb test that I want to use to make my own leaders with. Will be using circle hooks on one end (of course) and SPRO swivels size 8 50lb on the other. What tools do you use to manipulate the wire? How many wraps should I make? Thanks

[AtlantaKing]

I'm assuming this is single strand wire leader; if so, then the "knot" to learn is the haywire twist. Use the HT to connect the wire to the hook and the wire to the swivel. I use my hand and a pair of pliers. If I'm making a lot of leaders (ie prepping for a king mackeral trip), I'll use a DuBro Wire Twister.

[HellRhaY]

crimper
sleeves

[Charlie2]

I would have to agree with the haywire twist. It's ismple and cheap. I have had crimps fail. Not a pretty sight.

Use gloves and a wire twister. You can make a simple twister from a washer. Just cut a slit in one side with a hacksaw and it'll work.

Watch those sharp ends. They'll get you. Learn to cut wire by twisting it. C2

[The Crew]

I'm assuming this is single strand wire leader; if so, then the "knot" to learn is the haywire twist. Use the HT to connect the wire to the hook and the wire to the swivel. I use my hand and a pair of pliers. If I'm making a lot of leaders (ie prepping for a king mackeral trip), I'll use a DuBro Wire Twister.

I made three using the haywire twist. It looks ok. On one when I held the hook and pulled the swivel the eye next to the hook started sliding towards the hook. I guess its just gonna take practice. I found the link to the twist here:

http://georgepoveromo.com/perfectlyhaywire.htm

Thanks for the help guys.

[The Crew]

My preference is crimper with sleeves for stranded wire. I just can't seem to get a decent and tight HT in stranded wire. If it's single strand, then the HT is the way to go.

Gotcha. Maybe that's my problem. The 40lb is think but definitely looks like its stranded. When I bend it back and forth to break it off, I get multiple strands coming off one at a time, and it says SurfStrand...So stranded use a crimper for non-stranded use they Haywire.

[Charlie2]

AFTER RTQF, I realized that you were talking about stranded wire. I withdraw my recommendation to use the haywire twist and go to PROPERLY CRIMPED sleeves. Nothing is more sickening than to lose a big fish because of IMPROPERLY CRIMPED sleeves.

Yes, I am emphasizing PROPERLY CRIMPED sleeves. Get a book on crimps and read and heed it. Buy a crimper or swager. C2

[kingfish]

What kind of leaders are you trying to make? You can not haywire twist the stranded wire. You can use a very simple figure 8 knot.

[emanuel]

The figure-eight tightens on itself, so the harder the fish pulls, the tighter it gets. Works great on king leaders, haven't used it on shark leaders yet.

[The Crew]

What kind of leaders are you trying to make? You can not haywire twist the stranded wire. You can use a very simple figure 8 knot.

HUH? Using a #3,#4 & #5 Circle hook on one end (1 Hook per rig) and swivel on the other for a fish finder rig. Put them in a baggie and take it out tie it to my line with a clinch knot and I am ready to bait and cast. How do I do the figure 8 knot? I'll google it. I am also looking to make bottom rigs like these: because it should keep the hooks from tangling in the line. Haven't started on it yet:
http://www.gamakatsu.com/new_products/new_topbot.htm

[HellRhaY]

in the picture it doesnt tangle, but in real fishing situations- it does. consider the flight of ur rig, the helicoptering of ur rig.
one solution to prevent it is to add a swivel, to allow it to move freely/turn freely.
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6060/topbotgridcg1.gif
or you can make the rig a fishfinder rig by moving the bead 2-4 inches up allowing the swivel to move up n down.
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/5945/topbotgrid2wq7.gif

[toejam]

Before the thread is completely hijacked to a Braided FishFinder thread,,, What KingFish is taking about using a Figure8 knot,, is it is used to tied hook , swevel , etc., to the stranded steel... haywire twist or barrel twist ( u can buy a barrel twist tool for few bucks) for solid wire.

[RuddeDogg]

What HellRhay said.

[The Crew]

What kind of leaders are you trying to make? You can not haywire twist the stranded wire. You can use a very simple figure 8 knot.

Found it here:
http://www.iland.net/~jbritton/figure8.htm

Tied it and you are right it ain't going nowhere.