How to Make a Proper Wind-On Leader

WATCH: Griquas light-tackle champ shows how to do a proper and very durable wind-on leader

The right way to do the hollow-core sleeve, join the nylon and finish it off beautifully. SA Griquas provincial light-tackle game fish angler Len Matthews shows how to make a proper wind-on leader with hollow-core braid.

WATCH: HOW TO CREATE THE SLEEVE FOR A WIND-ON LEADER

In video 1

• Len shows how to make a 90cm leader
• He shows how to thread the hollow-core braid to make the loop
• And using a splicing needle to pull it through and back over on itself at the start of the leader.

WATCH: HOW TO JOIN THE SLEEVE TO THE MAIN LINE (NYLON)

In video 2

• Len shows how to smoothen and prep the nylon main line for using with braid
• Then shows the detailed way to thread the line into the hollow-core leader.

WATCH: HOW TO FINISH OFF YOUR WIND-ON LEADER

In video 3

• Len shows how to wind the leader to finish it off
• And how to seal it for a durable, flexible leader.

ABOUT LEN MATTHEWS

A provincial Griquas and Northen Gauteng angler who specialises in light-tackle, Len is well known in angling circles from the coast to Rustenburg – he’s a familiar face at Nomads Gamefishing Club.

But you might remember him best as the man who captained the Griquas team to their remarkable second-place finish, just behind the national SADSAA champs, at last year’s (2019) SADSAA Billfish Nationals.

THE HISTORY OF WIND-ON LEADERS

The idea of wind-on leaders can’t really be attributed to any specific person or time, but it did really only surface at the same time as braids, as recently as the late 80s and 90s. See, before then, sport fishermen would often just tie their line directly to lures and hooks, so they needed to invest in some serious (and costly) heavy tackle and even then lost plenty of fish to snags and breakages.

But when braids came along, and especially hollow-core braids, that all changed. Because now guys could create much stronger and durable leaders. The first wind-on leaders were made using the bimini twist. And today, these leaders are even more refined you can do pretty amazing things with them.

WHAT IS A WIND-ON LEADER IDEAL FOR?

Firstly, they’re very strong, durable and flexible, which, on the leader, makes them much more forgiving when targeting and fighting big fish than normal mono and nylon line. In fact, it’s in many ways techniques like wind-on leaders that make light-tackle angling possible in the form we know it today.

These types of leaders mean you can go after much larger species with even a small rod – hence light-tackle for marlin and billfish. It’s even great for when you’re targeting a really heavy and feisty fish, like shark.

That said, though, wind-on leaders also give you a lot more leeway when fighting tuna, so it’s really handy for all types of game fishing. And, as a bonus, a wind-on leader just looks really neat and proper too. It seems to say: look, guys, here’s an angler that knows their stuff.

Thanks, Len, this is beautifully detailed!

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ABOUT THESE #NAUTITIPS

This fishing tips video is courtesy of the South African Deep Sea Angling Association (SADSAA) who, during March and April 2020 invited anglers from around the country to share their angling video tips. We’ll be releasing more every week. But you can also go and see the originals when you follow and share SADSAA’s Facebook page.

Check out the entire collection of awesome video fishing tips and see the fast way to flush an outboard motor.

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Also see how to create a nail knot for game fish lures, making a couta trace and how to rig halfbeak for sailfish.

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