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Tips for light leader


nutsaboutfishing

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Hi Richard,

Are you actually and frequently getting busted off or are you worried about being busted off.

I've rarely found it to be an issue. Yes at times the leader comes back scuffed and I cut off and re-tie the damaged section but it is not often I lose a fish. Most of my flathead come in lip hooked as I only do short stays on the bottom before flicking it along again. The danger would be if you either over muscle (rather than play) a fish or if you try to use the line to lift it out of the water when the leader has been chaffed.

Regards,

Derek

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2 hours ago, nutsaboutfishing said:

I'm wanting to practice fishing with lighter leader (4-6lb) and was wondering could I get a few tips on how not to get busted off being things such as flathead when they've  inhaled the jighead

cheers

Richard

4lb leader? A big lizard has some serious fangs. I'd never contemplate going that light on the leader. Ive had 10lb look like it just made it on ones that had swallowed the lot and changed it just after the 1 fish. I think I'd probably have lost half my good ones that woofed it all down with something that light. Only way I could see surviving that would be fishing with ultra light drag, even then id be hoping it didn't shake it's head! Small flatties ok, but the big lizards you'll loose more than you land for sure. Me I wouldnt go below 8.

Edited by TAZ
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Keep the head of the flathead down during the fight. Keep him/her under the water when netting it and bring the net up under it. If its head gets up above the water, it has more chance of sawing through the leader, which is generally how they do it... by sawing through rather than biting through.

Edited by Berleyguts
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2 hours ago, nutsaboutfishing said:

I'm wanting to practice fishing with lighter leader (4-6lb) and was wondering could I get a few tips on how not to get busted off being things such as flathead when they've  inhaled the jighead

cheers

Richard

You'll find the lighter the leader, or the main line, the more hook ups you will get so the occasional bust off won't bother you, especially if you are using ultra light mono as the stretch is very forgiving

If you want to try ultra light fishing I'd suggest spooling an entire reel with 3 or 4lb good quality mono, and not worry about the leader. Ive caught flathead up to 60cm on 3lb, even caught a mack tuna on the same set up not long ago that i took to catch garfish (see photo) 😂 to prove the same point to a mate

As Derek said you'll find by using lighter lures/baits with the lighter line a lot mire fish will be lip hooked 👍

20190322_130528.jpg

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I've caught many large flathead on 1kg pretest line includin two over 5.6kg but I use a heavy leader.  Other than being bitten off, the trick is to play them very smoothly to prevent them panicking. Use a light drag, keep their head under the water and swim them into the net.

If using light leader make sure its one with a tough outer coating but using a flurocarbon leader is best.  You can also consider using a light leader with a short 50cm heavyer bit on end.  All nylon to nylon or flurocarbon joins should preferably be a double uni knot.  Ron 

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3 hours ago, DerekD said:

Hi Richard,

Are you actually and frequently getting busted off or are you worried about being busted off.

I've rarely found it to be an issue. Yes at times the leader comes back scuffed and I cut off and re-tie the damaged section but it is not often I lose a fish. Most of my flathead come in lip hooked as I only do short stays on the bottom before flicking it along again. The danger would be if you either over muscle (rather than play) a fish or if you try to use the line to lift it out of the water when the leader has been chaffed.

Regards,

Derek

Hey Derek,

                 i've been using 10lb but have been changing to 6lb to target  bream. But then I get a big flathead bycatch, the leader breaks and i retreat back to my 10lb.  I think i need to learn to play the fish as you say and not muscle it.

thanks for the advice

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Having caught multiple Flathead over 80cms with a pb of 86 I wouldn’t fish anything less then 10lb fluoro leader. Flattys are not leader shy as long as you are fishing the right areas they will not shy away from a well presented plastic/ soft vibe. I am a firm believer of scent, increases your hook up rates dramatically.

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2 hours ago, TAZ said:

4lb leader? A big lizard has some serious fangs. I'd never contemplate going that light on the leader. Ive had 10lb look like it just made it on ones that had swallowed the lot and changed it just after the 1 fish. I think I'd probably have lost half my good ones that woofed it all down with something that light. Only way I could see surviving that would be fishing with ultra light drag, even then id be hoping it didn't shake it's head! Small flatties ok, but the big lizards you'll loose more than you land for sure. Me I wouldnt go below 8.

Hi Taz thanks for the reply, afraid my post may have been a bit misleading, I'm actually targeting bream but am getting flathead bycatch

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1 hour ago, campr said:

I've caught many large flathead on 1kg pretest line includin two over 5.6kg but I use a heavy leader.  Other than being bitten off, the trick is to play them very smoothly to prevent them panicking. Use a light drag, keep their head under the water and swim them into the net.

If using light leader make sure its one with a tough outer coating but using a flurocarbon leader is best.  You can also consider using a light leader with a short 50cm heavyer bit on end.  All nylon to nylon or flurocarbon joins should preferably be a double uni knot.  Ron 

Hi Campr,

                I'm targeting bream and getting flathead bycatch. I think the key is has you say back off the drag and play the fish smoothly.

thanks for the advice

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1 hour ago, dirvin21 said:

Don't go hard on them, back the drag off and work them slowly, keep they're head in the water boatside as much as possible to stop them shaking they're head

Hey dirvin,

                 Thanks for the reply. You're the third person to say back off the drag and play the fish rather than muscle it in. Methinks this is what I will try!!.

ta

Richard

Edited by nutsaboutfishing
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Aside from all that has been said above, learn how to tie a good FG knot. Of course not for the thin diameter but for the 100% strength that other knots can't offer.

Its not easy to tie in 4 and 6lb leaders but worth the trouble, as every little bit helps.

If you can't get your hands or head around tying one, consider buying a Knot Assist 2.0. Google it and see.

I use one and have no trouble with knots slipping down to leaders as low as 3lb FC.

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11 hours ago, nutsaboutfishing said:

Hey Derek,

                 i've been using 10lb but have been changing to 6lb to target  bream. But then I get a big flathead bycatch, the leader breaks and i retreat back to my 10lb.  I think i need to learn to play the fish as you say and not muscle it.

thanks for the advice

Can you try this? Before tying on the jighead, double the 6lbs line. Then tie a uni knot. You’ve now changed the breaking strain at the terminal connection to 12lbs. 

I’ll bet you a beer you can fish exactly as you are now and 1 in 10 flatties will bust you off.

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Hi Richard,

@flatheadlukeraises a good point. Is the line breaking at the joiner knot or somewhere in the line above the jighead.

As @Berleyguts stated it is the sawing rather than biting through which is the concern.

Regards,

Derek

PS If it is (k)not currently breaking at the joiner then offer to take @flatheadluke up on his bet. If he is right you win (at the small cost of a beer). If he is wrong then you've won a beer which with a bit of planning you could claim after a fishing session with him. A winning bet either way. 😊

Edited by DerekD
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5 hours ago, DerekD said:

Hi Richard,

@flatheadlukeraises a good point. Is the line breaking at the joiner knot or somewhere in the line above the jighead.

As @Berleyguts stated it is the sawing rather than biting through which is the concern.

Regards,

Derek

PS If it is (k)not currently breaking at the joiner then offer to take @flatheadluke up on his bet. If he is right you win (at the small cost of a beer). If he is wrong then you've won a beer which with a bit of planning you could claim after a fishing session with him. A winning bet either way. 😊

I’d buy you a beer Derek to go fishing in the harbour for kings. Some of those twitchy soft plastics moves i’d love to learn!

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3 hours ago, flatheadluke said:

I’d buy you a beer Derek to go fishing in the harbour for kings. Some of those twitchy soft plastics moves i’d love to learn!

Hi Mate, while I don't drink I'd be happy to show you some of the things I've worked out/learned over the years. Next two weekends are likely out but if you are available to join me on the lower North Shore then we just have to find a time that suits.

We'd be using both the bream rods (2-4kg) and the snapper (5-8kg) rods.

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