Tested-Egrell Wind On's & Paulus Bimini Aid

[Tim_N]

Most people on this site would be aware of the work Paul Van Gaal has done regarding line testing, knot testing and braid/mono/leader measuring.
This is not Pauls job, he actually manufacturers very specific instrumentation for many fields, but he is like the rest of us, a made keen fisho, and this is a hobby to him.
In his reasearch he has found that when using braid, most peoples knots or connections can be reduced by 50% as a result of the damage caused simply by friction when tying the knot.
So has has developed and refined a neat little tool which ties Bimini Twists, and if you follow the instructions, you will end up with near enough to 100% of breaking strain. I thought I tied a pretty good Bimini, but mine regularly broke around the 75% mark, so that was a let down.
Take a look at the pic below.
Here is his web site too,
http://www.pcwi.com.au/fishing/index.htm

Now the next hurdle to overcome, is joining a leader to the doubled main line. Eric Grell of EGRELL fame has been making and using his own wind on leaders for years, and those who have used them and/or fished with him, know how good they are. Eric likes to test his tackle to the max, just to see what his rods are really capable of. This is fine as long as the line and terminals hold together.
I have been using the 20 lb model mostly for my SP work, but also carry a few 40 and 60 lb leaders if fishing in tiger country or if I'm likely to encounter nasties like Kingies etc. Best fish to date on a 20 lb leader is an amost 18 kg Cobia, but a goodly dose of lady luck also helped on that day.
What is required to get this 100% system up and going is to tie a Bimini and then to simply loop to loop an Egrell wind on through the Bimini for a sure fire no fuss leader. More often than not, a leader will last the whole day but if I do get snagged up, it is usually breaking at the jig head where the weakest link is the Uni which joins the jig head to the leader.
If a leader needs replacing while on the water, simply undo the loop to loop and thread on another one.
These wind on's are approx 2.5m long and are individually hand tied by Eric.
These are not available commercially, but if any body wants some, contact Eric via PM. He will do them up in lots of 10's for Ausfishers. I hope this information is a help.
Tim

[jtpython]

Thanks mate will look at site.
I have have been using the Sufix Windon leaders and the Black Pete windon last couple trips and your right so simple and easy to use.
Make it a lot easier
JT

[Horse]

They look like they would run through the guides quite nicely

[Tim_N]

You're spot on Horse, they cast a treat. The big secret to improved casting with a loop tp loop wind on is to keep the double formed by the Bimini as short as possible. This avoids any hang ups when running through the guides when casting.
Wind on's have been used forever in Game Fishing circles but only recently in cast and retrieve style fishing and I think, if done correctly, can provide the easiest, smoothest, strongest connection when coupling a mono or flurocarbon leader to the modern braids.
There is nothing worse than having all the best gear, getting on to really good fish, only to be let down by something as basic as a knot. Knot or gear failure has probably lost more fish than angler error, so this system can help tip the balance back a bit our way.
The heavier line classes of wind on's are apparently, awesome for impoundment Barra casting. I haven't had a crack at that yet, but I think they would be too.
Tim

[Stuart]

Tim_N

Cast able wind-on leaders certainly aren’t a new concept mate. I have been making cast able wind on leaders for the past 12 years. I make them as light as 20lb and up to 700lb for the Australian and American markets. I have also been making wire trace wind on leaders for the shark fisherman for many years as well. In fact there are many systems you can use with this style of join. The secret in a good cast able wind on is in the length and material of the join its self. To make the loop to loop connection even stronger and more secure is to do a cat’s paw connection.

Stu

[Lovey80]

Thanks tim thats exactly what I need. I have been very frustrated of late with my leader connections breaking and it always seems to be the flouro breaking at the leader connection (little pice of the knot remains)

You said that the key is keeping the Bimini loop small. If your using the tool how do you keep the loops smaller than the set size that the tool will provide? It looks quite large?

what is Eric's username so I can PM for details of the windons?

Cheers

Chris

[Tim_N]

Chris,
To keep the Bimini short, when doing the winding process, just pinch the braid about half way down. That way the Bimini loop will only be about 4" or so.
I think Eric username is The BeaR, but his mobile number is 0418-795 784.

Stu,
Yes I'm aware that guys in the know, like you and Eric and others like Darryl Steel that have been involved in the sportsfishing scene for ever, have been making their own for ages too. But this is the first time I have seen a soft plastic "system" which even an amateur like me can use and get 100% results. If it suits my style of fishing, it will probably suit many other fisho's on thses boards too.
I also think it is relatively inexpensive and not only saves lost expensive jig heads and SP's or even worse, lost fish, that it is worth sharing.

If you're a bait fisho, and I do from time to time too, attach a swivel at the end of the leader and then run your own leader and hook set up, or even wire if you're Mackerel fishing at the end of this wind on. Also, a sinker can run up your wind on and not up and down the braid (which is a big no no).
All in all, a very versatile system that suits bait and SP fishers alike.
The wind on's are made from very good quality product like Black Magic and Penn 10X monos and flurocarbons.
Am hoping to give them another work out tomorrow.
Tim

[LostNearBribie]

Cheers Tim.
I have only used these connection styles on 30lb and up.

[Tim_N]

Okay,
Here is the result of a bit more testing done this morning. Main line was 10 lb Fins with a 50 turn Bimini done with the Paulus Bimini Aid and the leader was a Egrell 20 lb wind on, fish went 6.975 kg, not huge but more proof that the leaders and Bimini system works. Even at this size, Cobia still pull hard.
Lure was a Snapback in Electric Chicken on a 3/4 oz TT jighead fished in 37 m of water.
Good fun on 10 pound braid let me tell you.
Better get back to my real job I suppose.
Tim

[LostNearBribie]

Nice work Tim!
That testing looks like hard work...

[Paulus]

Hey Tim
Try this, just finished it.

I owe you a email.
Paulus