What shock leader should i use

Then your line goes slack! I used to spool my reels with 30 lb. The diameter of 30 lb. I liked that. With 30 lb braid and a 3 oz. I even made a custom protector from a piece of inner tube and had it attached to my rod in such a way that it was ready to slip between my finger and the line for a cast.

Otherwise the surf would wash my rig back towards the beach. Now in order to prevent a break off, a 6 oz sinker should have a 60 lb. Even when using the smallest knot to tie the shock leader to the main line I never liked the way it felt when the knot went through the eyes of my rod.

As a newbie to Surf fishing, this can still seem like a confusing description of the differences. So, I did some researched to understand the difference between these two, and this is what I found. So, what is the difference between a shock leader and a regular leader? A shock leader is tied up directly to your main fishing line and wrapped around the spool at least 5 to 6 times.

A regular leader is about 2 to 6 feet fluoro or monoline tied up on a swivel on one end, and your hook is tied up on the other end. The main fishing line is tied up on the other end of the swivel.

Below, I try to elaborate more on the difference between shock leader and a regular leader lines and try to create more clarity in terms of which are best to use for you.

Leader lines , you will find with a bit of practice and experience, can make your fishing experience more rewarding and fruitful. If you are not familiar with the underlying objective of using a leader or shock leader, then the difference between them and the ability to choose the right one can seem complicated. As above, I mentioned that a shock leader is a mono or fluorocarbon line attached directly to your main fishing line and wrapped around the main spool.

Lures and rigs are attached to this piece of the line instead of the main fishing line. A regular leader line is quite similar, in that it is a piece of a fluorocarbon that is attached to the main fishing line with a swivel. Rigs and lures are also connected to this piece of fishing line. With a shock leader, a surf angler can cast further and more accurately without worrying about breaking or damaging the line.

The general rule of shock leader length is, it has to be twice the length of your surf rod. So you could able to wrap it around in the reel spool about 5 to 6 times, and also ensure for it to work its purpose effectively. On the size, I learned that the rule of thumb is 10 lbs for every oz weight. So a 3oz sinker would require 30lbs of shock leader. The reason why shock leader is tied-up directly to the mainline wrapped around the spool a few times is to protect the knot from any stress and absorb the load from casting.

A shock leader is a length of the heavy fishing line designed to absorb the weight and pressure of the sinker from the main thinner line. Its placement provides added strength. When attaching your shock leader, it must be done correctly to provide the intended benefits. There are many knots you can choose from, but the most popular knot that I found to tie a shock leader to your main fishing line is a double uni knot.

And they can also stop fish from noticing the actual main fishing line, which is great if you fish from a spot where catches are slim pickings. When it comes to surf fishing, casting heavy loads and lures can be made easier with a leader. The leader also reduces the risk of losing your mainline as a result of predators biting through it.

Casting is a key sea angling skill, and reaching long distances with bait gives the shore angler an edge when it comes to catching bigger and more fish, especially during winter when weather and sea produce the worst possible conditions. Getting baits to reach maximum distance involves using heavy 5oz or 6oz lead weights and low diameter lines between lb breaking strain or 0.

The heavy lead and light line combination offers the least resistance to wind and gets the best performance from the reel. The job of the leader is to deal with the massive load put on the line during the build-up stroke to the cast and final release. This would be dangerous, if not potentially lethal. A leader acts a safety net for anglers firing out a lead weight over oz on all lines under 30lb.

Any sea angler not using a shockleader when casting from a beach or pier is irresponsible. The problem with a shockleader is that you need to know how to join the heaver leader to the thinner mainline, which is a potential weak link if you get it wrong. If tackle gets snagged, the leader knot is most likely to break and that means losing the complete shockleader as well as the rig and lead weight.

This is a big mistake, and you should never cast a big lead and bait directly off a lb mainline. But read on, because we are going to show you simple ways to tie leaders without losing your temper. The strength of your shockleader is dictated by the weight of the lead you are casting and your casting style.

The oft-quoted formula for leader breaking strains is 10lb for every ounce of lead cast. In other words, a 5oz sinker needs a 50lb shockleader and a 6oz lead needs a 60lb line. For power casting styles that involve generating compression in the rod and more speed in the lead, which is achieved by swinging the lead in a wide arc pendulum , then a further 10lb is usually added to the overall leader breaking strain as a safety cushion.

There is an allowance for common sense here. There is no comparison between a full-blooded power pendulum arc on the tournament field and a simple back swing from the pier or beach. On the field the lead in not encumbered by rig, bait or wind direction and can therefore generate awesome power and more danger.

On the beach a baited rig, the awkward stance, surrounding obstructions, a strong wind and unsure footing all reduce the power input, but can heighten the dangers.