sinking leader made from lead core

[littlej81]

Has anyone tried making sinking leaders from lead core trolling line. I am thinking of trying this as an inexpensive way of getting streamers down in the small to medium sized streams I fish.

[Esopus Guy]

I hav'nt but would like to hear more about your findings. I've been tying Smelt patterns to chase the LL in a local Res. and a full sink still does'nt get deep enough. Need to be 20-40ft deep at around 2-3mph around here.

[FK]

I carry several lengths of Cortland LC-13 in my leader wallet at all times. Strip off the PVC coating and remove the lead core from the hollow braid, make a loop at each end and coat with AquaSeal. Lengths of 2ft, 4ft, 6ft and 10ft,,,, very easy to attach via loop to loop onto fly line for instant sink tips for deep pockets or larger pools.

A newer product is Rio T8, T-11 & T-14 which are thinner in dia. and are mono core with tungsten impregnated PVC coating, the same as sinking lines. This can be purchased in packs of 30ft lengths or from dealers with bulk spools.

The basic concept was introduced to me in the early 1970's by salt water FF in CT. They were upset when George Harvey wrote the article instructing their use in Fly Fisherman Magazine in later years.

You can also purchase sinking leaders from AirFlo and Rio in various sink rates and lengths.

Regards,
FK

[Davyfly]

FK, you must have been using the Gladding M5 lead core trolling line at that time ? which is what we used for deep water fishing for the Browns on the UK reservoirs and Irish lakes.
No longer available but l still have a good few spools of it left in 20/30/40/45/50 BS.

I am not fussed on the modern equivalents of same, all be it there are a number of line manufacturers that make sink tip extension systems, Moser being the first.

Davy

[FK]

Davy,

I never used the lead core trolling line with nylon braid covering.

The product we have used for many years in salt water is LC-13 is still in production by Cortland

http://www.cortlandline.com/products/default.asp?id=121

Lead wire in the center, braided nylon over the lead and final coating of vinyl. The vinyl is dipped in acetone and easily strips away with 20# backing in a girth hitch. Remove the lead core and whip finish the braid into a small loop. Stiffen up the loop with AquaSeal or equivalent.

I have also used the AirFlo sinking leaders which appear to be braided core with tungsten impregnated coating, they work well but are very expensive when getting hung up and breaking off. The LC-13 is almost disposable.

We also used the LC-13 for shooting heads, there are some charts available for lengths of head vs. rod line ratings for proper loading.


Today we have Rio T8, T11, T14 and T17 which is thinner and is less affected by currents.
http://www.rioproducts.com/product.php?recKey=31

If anyone is interested in experimenting with Cortland LC-13, PM me and I will mail out a piece.

Regards,
FK

[Davyfly]

FK,

OK the Gladding MK 5 was the same as the Courtland product, from your information here.
Have you tried the Moser systems he developed many years back and are still available.
They are in different lengths, lead iside of braid. Loop tp loop connections.
Once you start to use them the lead breaks up but is still confined inside the braid, then they become way more flexible.

Got some of the Rio material also, good stuff.


Davy.

[FK]

Davy,

I have never seen the Moser system for sale in the US, sounds interesting.

I just received my heat gun and transparent heat shrink tubing for making loops in the Rio T-14 and fly lines. This should be quicker and make a smaller smooth area for loop-to-loop connections. The West coast Steelheaders are really into the heat shrink tubing system, they make a longer connection than the latest factory loops by SA, Rio and AirFlo. Some of the factory loops are having reports of failures and many do not trust them.

Regards,
FK

[Davyfly]

Yes l was aware of that one, not sure the reason why they have not got that problem sorted.

I will email Roman and find out if there is a US distributor here. I know he did have one at one time for all of his products.
One of the main issues is the currency exchange rates, Austria is a expensive country.

DW

[the Dog]

I am sorry gentlemen very interesting discussion))
I tried to do the sink tips from lead core, but remained is dissatisfied with result. Generally because he not such elastic and thin as I would like. Because of a thickness inconveniently in a fast stream to heat.
Much better I agree with the author above to do the tips from T-14 and similar.
Regards Sergey.

[IdahoFly]

I have yet to find sinking leader material that impresses me, Normally I use full sink line for lake trout at pallisades in wyoming but sometimes it just still isn't enough to get down deep enough.