when you say it is breaking my first thought is that you are not removing the lead from it's case.

slide the case back about 8-12 inches and break that piece of lead out.

get the "SPRO Power Swivels" in sizes 10 or 8 - 35 or 50 lb test respectively. tie with these swivels and they will go through your guides easily. SPRO swivels are very small and strong. they slide through guides and levelwinds with ease. the size 10 35lb. test is all you will ever need.

always wet your knots, both mono and leadcore casing, so they slide easily down and don't burn and weaken from friction.

a swivel is best so your leadcore doesn't get twisted

if you want to tie mono to lead and don't want to fool with sliding the mono into the case or whatever take 4 feet or 12lb mono and do a uni to uni splice and then do another uni to uni to your leader of choice.
putting a uni to uni from leadcore to 6lb test is tricky for a uni beginner so use that heavier piece first and then splice the lighter mono to the 12 lb mono.

but, just use the swivel, it saves a lot of headaches if you are not experianced at these knote and if you keep messing up you will lose a foot of leadcore at a time.

That knot site is great. Just found out what the name of my favorite knot is... Didn't even know it had a name.
Thanks for sharing.


If you need any more help... Adrien puts on a free knot tying clinic aboard the YoAdrien. I was lucky enough to learn a couple knots from him one of the times we were out.
YoA... maybe you should add "free knot tying clinic with each charter" to your website??? Hehehe

Im a bit confused with some of the knot descriptions. Specifically the part about removing lead. I tie mine as follows, 14lb leadcore with a uni to uni knot attaching to a 75ft 14lb mono leader then a barrel swivel and a rods lenght of 8lb fluorocarbon tied direct to lure. I have not had any knots break. Am I at risk of the knot breaking if I dont remove the lead before tying it? I always moisten it before tightening. Just wondering what you or anyone else thinks. Whenever I hera the knots could break I get nervous. Thanks

when you remove the lead the knot is much stronger, tighter, smaller, and cleaner. I learned this years ago when all my knots kept breaking and asked an old guy why and he laughed at me for not pulling some lead out. Never broke 1 since. get the lead out and it is just like tying to dacron, EAST and STRONG!!

you can do what works for you but i would re-do with the lead out. you will be amazed how much better it is. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks!

We do a variation of what Adrien has described.
First make two overhand loops at the end of your lead core several inches up from the end. Then as Yo says remove 2-3" of the lead. We then insert our 8lb mono leader into the core of the dacron right up to the base of where you broke the lead off. Then slide the two overhand loops you put in previously down onto the part of the dacron the your mono is inserted in. Space these two knots evenly and pull tight. We put 75-100' of the the 8' mono then tie on your Flouro leader of choice. No swivels on you lead to mono so no problems going thru eyelets.

i put the lead core thru a spro swivel as mentioned befor and fold it back on itself. then i tie 2 nail knots with 12 pound mono on the loop created with the leadcore. have never had a problem doing it this way and it slides thru the guides just fine. the trick is to find a tool that ties the nail knot easily, i have a thin diameter piece of tubing that works well for the knot

I myself am cheap and go with a number 14 ? bb swivel if i can't find the small bb swivel I'll buy the regular swivel's with the clip and cut the clips out, I tie this to my leadcore (4" of lead taken out) then tie my mono to the other end and use another swivel with my fluro leader about 10' any time Ive gotten caught on bottom I've usally only lost my mono and leader not my leadcore, and the swivel's pass through the glides and levelwind with no problem, Of course I'm a Backwards Frenchman and am still learning so listen the Adrian he's the Pro LOL Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Donkey Dave From up North The Backwards Frenchman

Ive heard that if a fish runs after you have reeled him in past the barrel swivel it can take a guide off if it gets hung up on his run back out! Thats why I only use a barrel swivel at the last 8ft of my line. Im sure this has not happened or you would not set up this way. Have you heard of this happening?

the size 10 spro swivels are so small that the knot on the lead is thicker than them and it is not a problem and when fishing winni our drags are set usually about 1 lb. or less. it is pretty hard to tear stuff up with 1 lb of drag maybe if we were talking heavy duty stuff like big stripers or tuna it could be a problem but not our fish. more often the tag end on your knot will hang up rather than the swivel itself.

note: yes, all rods are different and have different action speeds and different sized guides and pick any other exception you want but on my cheapo (which i like the best) eagle claw light rods it is a non-issue.