Flurocarbon shock leader and hollow core spectra

[MudRiverDan]

Went fishing the other day and I rigged my reel up with hollow core spectra 60lb.
I bought it about 12 months ago from USA and some threading needles to go with it, never used it because it was the 40lb I wanted but it was out of production temporarily and I had already paid so I just said send the 60lb.

It is pretty good, though I think I lost about 10 meters cast distance, but I think a lot of that is due to the wiry fluorocarbon hitting the guides on the way out..
I managed to hook a 70cm Jewie and I would have to say the best thing about this stuff is the strength when nicking rocks off a wall, and mostly the smoothness it has when running through the guides loaded up, and it has a lot more shock absorbance.

The 50lb braid casts better.

One thing I noticed was my shock leader rapping the guides on cast and buggering the distance.
The way I rigged up was to thread 29lb fluorocarbon into the first 5 foot of the hollow core, then at 5 foot mark poke needle out and pull a bit of line out, then burn the end with a hot knife, then push it back in.

A dob of line glue on each end and that's it, knot-less join.
Then I tie the fluorocarbon shock leader (about 20 foot long), off to my end leader of 20lb with a swivel, sinker etc, whatever you using.

Question is, the Fluorocarbon shock leader I feel is not running off the spool smoothly as it is a bit stiff and tends to spring off when I cast, rapping the guides and making my casts less effective.
So is this correct?
Fluorocarbon is too stiff for a shock leader at 30lb?
So what else would suffice that is around 30lb mark and has a bit more elasticity?

Also what is the ''shock leader'' they sell in the shops, is it a bit more supple?

Dan

[tunaticer]

First thing I would do is cut the splice length back to about 60cm with two ins and outs each way. There is no need to 150cm of splice.
Super glue should not be needed.
If you want a little extra security, bind the splice just below your melted domed end, a bind 3mm long is ample. A similar short bind at the tail end is always recommended.
There are lots of varying hardness flurocarbon leaders on the market, try another brand if you think it is too wiry.

Did you top shot a long length of hollow core over 50lb braid??

[MudRiverDan]

First thing I would do is cut the splice length back to about 60cm with two ins and outs each way. There is no need to 150cm of splice.
Super glue should not be needed.
If you want a little extra security, bind the splice just below your melted domed end, a bind 3mm long is ample. A similar short bind at the tail end is always recommended.
There are lots of varying hardness flurocarbon leaders on the market, try another brand if you think it is too wiry.

Did you top shot a long length of hollow core over 50lb braid??

I just ran the fluorocarbon up the hollow core, the whole spool is 60lb hollow core.
The fluro just sits within the hollow core and I lightly sanded it for grip, they recommend you go 5 foot, I don't think it is called a splice, it is just inserted into the hollow core for 5 foot, bulb on the end the that's it.

But the fluorocarbon is very wiry and springy.

Main reason I was asking is that they sell this stuff called 'shock leader', after a Google on the internet it seems there is bugger all difference between 'shock leader' or just plain old mono or fluro.

Dan

[tunaticer]

Ok, In the past I have used the hollow core lines as a 1m section to join braids or backing to shock leaders, not run the whole spool on. Used to bring the leader out and in twice thru the first 10cm of hollowcore then up to the middle of the joiner, whack it out the side briefly and dome the end then pull it back in a tad. Similar with the braid except at the middle you bring it out then tuck it back in pointing back up along the braid again about 5cm. A quick bind with 2lb braid either end and bob was your uncle. Never had one pull out before the mainline or the leader gave way. I used a bobbin holder with two wraps on the arm for tension of the whip.
The more tension you put on the joint, the tighter it grips.
I never sanded the leader, I used non glossy leaders.

[MudRiverDan]

Your method sound similar to others I have seen on the net, but not the same, but would it be any good for casting?
Ah yeah I seen a method similar to that, I don't have a bobbin wrap so I just used a dob of glue, sure holds well though, cant see it pulling through.
Seems to work so far, guess I will find out if it gives way sooner or later, might bind it some time.
The 60lb hollow core feels so much better and smoother under load that the straight 50lb round spectra I have.
I think the 40lb hollow core would be very nice, but they want some exuberant price for it, not worth it to me at the moment.
The larger spectra braids like 50 and 60 HC seem to be very good around rocks and rock walls, you can nick a rock and it does not ping off like lighter braid, for the beach I would rather just use 30lb to get a decent cast (even 20lb might be good).

But the smoothness is pretty impressive, no rasping through the guides, and since my reel has no clicker and a modified drag it was smooth sailing all the way... all except for the fluorocarbon leader, way too stiff and springy, rapped through the guides and took most of the momentum out of my cast,, I will have to look for a softer one.



Dan