What leader for impound barra

[snodger 08]

Hi all,
I have been using 80lb Jenkai for Mondy for 5 trips now and have been using an improved albright with a dab of glue. I have noticed that with my new rods the knot is a bit clunky through the guides on casting. I am downgrading to 60lb leader with a slim beauty (it looks thinner at the casting end when tied). I was just wondering what brand of leader you guys are using that is compatible with both the knots I have mentioned? Also is it advisable to wack a dob of glue on the slim beauty as well?
Cheers
Steve
P.S. using 50lb tuffline braid.

[Sevric]

Hi Snodger,
I do not think it matters what knot you tie in a leader of 60LB or 80LB it will catch on the guides. I have shortened up my leaders to 18 inches or less and casting the knot from outside the guides. Makes no difference that i can see to the Barra. Many of the pro guides use this method.
As an alternative tie a double to the braid and use a Yucatan knot which is very slim. Another option worth a try would be converting to wind on leaders.
Although some frown upon the use of glues to the knot i will take any advantage i can. There are several options here the cheapest being super glue and the best a product called "knot sense" which coats the knot in a smooth layer of a plastic like substance. Mainly used for game fishing to avoid knot bubbles in trolled skirts and the like. The smooth finish makes the knot bulkier but quite smooth and rounded. It is available from wellsys tackle who have an on-line store.

Good luck with it all

[LostNearBribie]

Steve you know what you should be using.
A small bimini loop, a loop to loop connection to a wind on leader.
Smooth as.

[snodger 08]

Thanks Sevric. I like the sound of the 18" leader. Better for the guides. Now to work out which leader to use. I found the newer Jenkai seemed a bit stiff. Dont know if I am game to use 40lb all the time at Mondy hey. I gave it a try last week and was worried the whole time.

[snodger 08]

Steve you know what you should be using.
A small bimini loop, a loop to loop connection to a wind on leader.
Smooth as.

I know mate. But my dexterity with the Bimini is killing me. I am seriously struggling to tie the dam thing Red. ::)

[Sevric]

Hi Snodger,
40LB is a bit light for Barra in my opinion too. I use 60LB or 80LB in a hard wearing mono, Schneider, mono flex or straight leader material such as Penn 10X. The purists may disagree but i think fluorocarbon is a waste of money in a dam with water clarity like Monduran. I find the knot snugs down a whole lot better with the better flexibility; generally a better knot using just mono. I use 30LB braid main line, generally Nilton and tie a 4 turn surgeons knot, bulky but cast outside the guides it does not matter and as strong a connection as i have come across.
I am with you, Red has never tried to tie a Bimini with fumbling old fingers in the dark wet and cold not to mention the failing eyes; his turn will come with luck.

[trueblue]

schneider 55 lb

[snodger 08]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna try a couple of different ways. I'll give the schneider a go and try one on a wind on if I ever master that short bimini.
Cheers
Steve

[Roo]

Steve,
I use the 60lb Black Magic Supple and have used 60lb Penn 10x with no dramas. use the slim beauty and some times dab a little glue on them for good measure. On our reels with finer lines like 30lb whiplash I use a short double to bulk up the knot a little. This double is nothing more than 8 inches of braid doubled over and tied off with a double granny knot just like you use to start your slim beauty. Never had a failure. I also use the 50lb Tuffline on my baitcaster and this is tied single strand in the Slim B. knot but I put the 2 last turns through the lock loop rather than just the last one. this helps to give the knot a bit more bulk just under the leader half and will help to get it formed into a neat cone shape, I also carefully dress the knot as it is forming so that the Braid gets no premature bunches as it is being pulled up.
Cheers, Rod.

[NAGG]

OK ..... I've got the gloves on for this one ;D

Pfffff for black magic (tough & supple) , Jinkai (original & plus) , Nitline , 10X ... , Stren , Yamatoyo Pro , Hardrock FC , Suffix ...... :(

I've used all of these & had failures ........ I've wasted a lot of money :'(

- dont get me wrong ..... you can catch barra on them all - but when the chips are down ( big fish , long fight , stitched up fish) ..... Schneider Klear 55lb (0.8mm) is the one that I want on.
Having been down the path of looking for the best leader / leader system over a 4 year period ...... Schneider was a revelation ( Its cheap & it is the toughest) - I have gone from regular losses (worn leaders) to none... since I made the switch 10 months ago .

I just cant sing its praises long enough

Chris

PS .... No disrespect to Roo , Nath or Sevric - Individual fishing styles , drag pressure & location can make a hell of a difference to how a leader performs .......... I've pushed all the above listed hard & had them fail ..... some in seconds

[snodger 08]

Think ya took the gloves off Chris "L"

[NAGG]

Think ya took the gloves off Chris "L"

Not kidding either ...... Trev (Awoonga) and I were having a fish at Mondy last Oct and I had one outfit that had 80lb supple trace on it - I hooked a small fish of around 70cm and got it boatside pretty quickly where it spat the lure ....... fair dinkum the leader was F^@%ed - less than 1 min ......... now if a small fish can do this in such a short time frame - what chance will you have on a big fish :'(

Ive had 2 big fish go through leader (80lb tough trace & 10X) in under 10 sec - head out of the water & violent head shakes ... no run , jumps - mindblowing!!!!!

chris

[LostNearBribie]

Lucky he only took the gloves and and didn't set anyone on fire....

[snodger 08]

Lucky he only took the gloves and and didn't set anyone on fire....

You will burn in a BBQ from hell for a comment like that Red "LOL"
BTW, getting better at the bimini.... at long last its starting to sink in ::)

[snodger 08]

Hey Red. You know how I said I wouldnt be buying any more tackle for a while ::).... well I happened across this site selling Yo-zuri F7 & F10 crystal minnows for $11.50 Aus delivered 8-)..... Couldnt resist... got 6 :o.... The barra that made me do it hey....::) thats it for sure now:-X no more lollies til after the muster ::)

[NAGG]

Lucky he only took the gloves and and didn't set anyone on fire....

I tried to set Nath on fire ...... but he woke up & wouldn't be part of it ( where is a Buddhist monk when you need one:o)

[Sevric]

Good information on the leader material Nagg. Like many i have wandered from brand to brand looking for the best. Like you i use a bit of Schneider klear especially on Snapper and other assorted reef species but never tried it in the impoundments scene. I will be off today to get some 55LB; many thanks for the tip and slapping me around the face a bit i needed it.

[snodger 08]

Cheers Chris,
$45 for a 500m roll. Cant beat that hey.

[NAGG]

Good information on the leader material Nagg. Like many i have wandered from brand to brand looking for the best. Like you i use a bit of Schneider klear especially on Snapper and other assorted reef species but never tried it in the impoundments scene. I will be off today to get some 55LB; many thanks for the tip and slapping me around the face a bit i needed it.

Not a problem Severic8-) ........ anyone who knows me or have read my threads over the years know about my quest for the ideal barra leader .......... some have promised the world but failed to deliver ........ I even spent some time working with twisted leaders of various construction...... but I was still loosing fish on too regular a basis -
funnily a nylon 6 mono filament fishing line that I used to use off the rocks many years ago was recommended to me as a barra leader.......... What is old is suddenly new again. ::)
The reality for me is - I have full confidence & I'm not thinking to myself is it going to wear through - last weekends stitched up 104cm barra attests to the abrasion resistance of Schneider - I doubt any other leader would have lasted 10 mins on a tethered barra

Chris

PS ...... Oh yeh at about a third of the price of most leaders - its economical :P

[Pete62]

Yep I am sold on it too, did a bit of testing again last trip and am fully sold, u can even see the difference in the abrasion, the 10X I was using is abraided deeply and out of shape,the kleer abraides but only externally, if that makes sense AND it does not have the poxy memory that other leaders have, all other leaders have been chucked in the draw in the shed and a 300mtrs spool of 55Lb is all I need now.

Thanks Chris


Pete

[Peter4]

Yep I am sold on it too, did a bit of testing again last trip and am fully sold, u can even see the difference in the abrasion, the 10X I was using is abraided deeply and out of shape,the kleer abraides but only externally, if that makes sense AND it does not have the poxy memory that other leaders have, all other leaders have been chucked in the draw in the shed and a 300mtrs spool of 55Lb is all I need now.

I agree Pete. Switched to this after a conversation with Chris earlier this year and I'm very happy with the slimness of the knot and lack of memory.

Yet to test the abrasion resistance on a big fish though. My lost fish since I have used it have been from being dusted against underwater timber, thrown lures or line failure...

[NAGG]

Petes - If I only have 1 gold nugget to hand out - this is it ! ( braids , reels , rods. lures & plastics ) are such personal choices - Schneider klear has simply proven to be head & shoulders above any others :)

Chris

PS ..... ooops forgot about X Raps ;D

[jayvee]

does any1 know a tackle store that stocks the schneider leader on the sunny coast around caloundra/maroochydore area?? or where to buy it online?

as for leader knots i simply tie a granny knot in the leader, feed the braid through the loop and tie a uni knot in thr braid around the leader, then pull the granny tight and pull the knots together. (basically a double uni except a granny knot instead of uni in the leader) is a small knot and doesnt bash through rod guides at all. i cant remeber where i saw this knot or learnt it tho..... hasnt failed yet on 6 barra between 96-103cm.

jayvee

[NAGG]

does any1 know a tackle store that stocks the schneider leader on the sunny coast around caloundra/maroochydore area?? or where to buy it online?

as for leader knots i simply tie a granny knot in the leader, feed the braid through the loop and tie a uni knot in thr braid around the leader, then pull the granny tight and pull the knots together. (basically a double uni except a granny knot instead of uni in the leader) is a small knot and doesnt bash through rod guides at all. i cant remeber where i saw this knot or learnt it tho..... hasnt failed yet on 6 barra between 96-103cm.

jayvee

Most tackle stores sell the stuff - just remember , its fishing line not a specific leader material ...... so will be found with the mono's

Chris

[BR65]

B - C - F has a 20% sale off the stuff at the moment, brought some for main line for the lagoons up Swains.

[jayvee]

is the schneider a, i spose you'd say "light Camo, mossy, clear ,green" colour on the spool??

bought a 500m spool of 55lb schneider Klear for $30.95 from B.C. F. and that was all it came in, colour wise.
JAYVEE

[NAGG]

is the schneider a, i spose you'd say "light Camo, mossy, clear ,green" colour on the spool??

bought a 500m spool of 55lb schneider Klear for $30.95 from B.C. F. and that was all it came in, colour wise.
JAYVEE

Thats the one ......... should last you a while (unless you leave it on the Mondy camp kitchen table :()

[snodger 08]

Gotta get me down to the unmentionable place... $30.95 thats awesome

[aussiebasser]

I've been using Black Magic 60lb Flourocarbon tied on with a slim beauty for a couple of years now. It hasn't failed me or my guides. In PNG I played with a 10' Croc on this leader with 50lb Bionic. When I finally locked up to break him off the line broke at the spool. For Barra now I'm down to 30lb Black Magic FC and it has been holding up very well. I use 15 in the same for Bass. It's the best leader I've found since I stopped using Knotted Dogs.

[gunna]

Question for Nagg - Chris - what knot are you using as your leader connection?

[NAGG]

Question for Nagg - Chris - what knot are you using as your leader connection?


I use two knots ..... a yacatan & Harros knot ( a version of an improved albright) .

Both are good knots :)

Chris