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Made a wind-on with 270# stranded wire and 200# dacron for wahoo to avoid potential cut-offs. The plan would be to reel up to the end of the dacron, but would continue to the leader swivel if no one thinks I'd damage the roller guides. Thoughts?
I guess that would depend on the quality of the rollers. As long as there is no kink at the tip you should be alright.
But what about the steel holding tight against the line/Dacron on the spool? Think it would cause an indention on the line?
There would also be zero give once the steel was on the spool (but ya have the drag).
I use a similar method, except I don't need a needle to thread the cable (super glue and a touch of sandpaper on the tip). The cable is at least 4 feet into the dacron and I put a drop of super glue on the end after piercing the loop. Also, I use nylon coated stainless - no rust issue under the serving. Next trick to attempt, I'm going to try shrink tubing for the serve (will protect the dacron and nylon cable with removable tape of some sort).
Why do you want a long wind on wire leader anyway?
Its hard on the hands, rollers and line.
I'm certainly no expert (hence the question), but here's my rationale: Once a year (twice, if lucky and temporarily rich) I go to Abaco, rent a boat, and troll the 600 - 6,000 drops. 90% of the time, I'm either alone or with my wife (not a seasoned mate, by any stretch). We usually go in December when the wind's up and 4-6' swells is the norm. I get upset after losing three or four $50 lures. Though I primarily fish for wahoo, we've caught all kinds of fish - some fairly large and toothy sharks.
From Swordfishing Journal:
"While leadering an estimated 250-pound blue marlin off North Carolina during the 1994 Big Rock tournament, Chris Bowie was pulled over the side and disappeared under the surface, never to come up again. Just last year off San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sigfredo Santana suffered the same fate while leadering a 700-pound blue. Each man was a seasoned mate, fishing with experienced tournament anglers and captains who watched the excitement of bringing a large fish to boatside turn to sheer horror in a flash.
Both accidents occurred because of leaders - leaders so long that these men had to "leader" or "wire" the fish to pull it close enough to tag or gaff. This process really should be referred to as "hand lining" because that's exactly what happens when anglers can reel in their line only to the swivel before someone else must pull in the entire leader by hand. Thirty feet, 20 feet, even 10 feet is a long way. Serious accidents can occur at this stage of the end game."
No one says you should not use wire for wahoo, but a A 4' wire leader is plenty long enough, and this length lets you get em in the boat without a wire man, keeps the wire from scratching chrome off the rollers, nicking your spectra on the reel, and form getting kinks when bent 180 degrees near the tip.
Hooking 4' to a swivel at the end of your mono or spectra alows you snap it on and off interchanging with other flouro leaders for live baiting, or when you use mono for marlin and tuna trolling.
You only need 4 feet or so of wire. Esp if you are fishing just with your wife. Go with wind on top shots right to the swivel. I prefer mono. You can handle the fish much more safely. Use black crimps and swivels.
If I have a trolling weight, I put a foot of wire on each side of the weight in case the weight gets whacked. I use a Yoyo to retrieve the mono leader.
Any reason this wouldn't work?
