Thursday, 2/3

[dpdash]

I got a call for a last minute trip out yesterday and we decided to take advantage of the excellent weather. We set up a little north of the usual, about the 26.06 line and were the farthest boat north that we could see. Baits in the water at 8:00pm. Eric was looking to get his cherry popped and I was more than happy to let him be the winder. :biglaugh: 20 minutes later we were tight on a pretty nice fish, had him straight up and down with the windon almost to the real when, snap, the wind on let loose. Pretty sure it pulled out although the hollow core may have broken. Either way, it was a crappy way to lose a nice fish. Set up again and before we had the full spread out we were on again. This fish was a little more cooperative and Eric had his cherry popped with a spunky little guy.



Turned him loose and set back up. 20 minutes later we were on again, with this fish giving Eric a nice fight. He came to the boat right away and jumped, almost splashing us! After about 30 minutes, he was in the boat, 53", dinner was secured and we heading for the barn. Another great night on the 50 line, finally had a trip with some action, it's been slow for me the last few times I went out.

[Mike]

WTG DD...

I stopped fishing wind-on leaders...not just becuase of the horror stories I have heard, but I like long leaders and less connections...


Thanks for the report.

[RiskTaker]

Hey Doug:

Tough break, but good job on the fish. I am sure the one that got away thanks you though. Although I must say I like that other monster fish you were posing with from a while back. By the way your second picture did not print. You missed the bracket syntax at the end. ]

I have been tinkering with wind-ons lately and will be making a few of my own. After doing some research and learning: at first the hard way. But Basil Pappas set me straight with the right way to do things.....

So what I have learned is that all of the reputable wind-ons are double walled and the spliced loop it fed all the way through back to the other end, hence the double wall. With this method the braid is also likele to be 200 or 300 lb. test, times 2 for the double line loop. (Weakest place is likely the loop-2-loop linkage. Therefore it would be impossible for the loop to slip. If the finger trap failed you would still be holding the evidence to indicate that. With that said, my guess would be that your braid broke, assuming that you had a reputable wind-on.

Will this wind-on failure change your mind about using wind-ons in the future? By the way, who made the wind-on that failed on you and how long have you been fishing with that one?

But TEK at Reel Pro shop sells them. He guarantees the workmanship too. So if one ever fails, you get another wind-on. Since he is probably well stocked with fish, maybe he will even throw in a chunk of swordfish as a consolation, should that EVER happen from one of his.

Wind-ons by Basil are probably the best in the business, made from Spectra material and double walled as described above. Basil told me that is the only way he will make his.

Did you read the forum topic and Poll about (Monofilament Leaders) wind-ons. Mike G. and Capt. Ken have indicated that they not using wind-ons anymore. If you look at the poll result you may see how many prefer which option

For me, I am not yet convinced. So I am still sticking with wind-ons for now. I had one fail too last year, with a fish on. But I know for sure that it was not made with a double wall construction and a fully captured loop since I watched the guy make it for me. And I am willing to bet that the loop slipped out on mine.

Now I know better and will only use ones that are made to this standard from the ones I purchase or the ones I make myself. RT

[JahMussa]

Hi Doug,

Nice night out there for ya's! Sorry about the windon failing. I'll go way out on a limb and guess that it wasn't one of mine or Basil's.

Let me know what size leader you are fishing and I'll send you one that is guaranteed to boat Swordy's