Lead core help

[cdah]

I need a little help adding some lead core to my arsenal of fishing for salmon/trout. I have the small size yellow birds. How many cores can I run on these boards? What type of knot do I use to tie the mono backing to the lead core? Can I use flasher/flies on these smaller boards? Any help
Would be greatly appreciated!!

[lameduck]

I'd use power pro backing... There's good knot advice on the internet.. just google knots.. use the one for tying different types of line together JP

[lameduck]

you can use the same knot to tie your fluorocarbon leader to your leadcore

[BFG]

In my experience, the yellow birds are good for about 5 colors of lead or less. They don't particularly plane out well with any more than that behind them.

The best (i.e. easiest) knot to use for connecting mono to leadcore is the Willis knot. It's very easy to tie, and after the first time, you will be able to do it in about 20 seconds. Depending on the size of your reels, you may want to consider using braid as backer, but braid is tough to tie into a Willis knot with leadcore.

Good luck...and do yourself a favor and tie up 2 colors of lead on one of your downrigger rods and run it as your deepest rigger with a spoon or a j-plug.

[fishoil]

I'll second the recommendation on the Willis knot. I've been using leadcore with mono for salmon and walleyes for years and have never had one fail. I don't use Yellowbirds but can tell you an Offshore is good for about 6 colors, anything more and I put it on a Walleye board with the weight slid all the way forward.

[cdah]

Thanks for all the info! Much appreciated. What lb test lead core do most of you run??

[BlackOut]

27lb core ... 20lb Florocarbon leader at about 18 feet... section of 30lb mono between the core an braid backing to clip the boards... willis knots to the core an double uni knot for mono to braid

[maplelaker]

When i tie PowerPro backer to the lead core I use 2 loops instead of one and it holds very well.

Here is a link for the willis knot: www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/willis-knot

Good luck

[lameduck]

Another thing that's important is to take the lead out of 4 or 5 inches of the lead core line where the knot is tied. if you fiddle with the very end of the leadcore you can strip back the braid

[rod]

When you put the mono in the lead core sheath make sure it stays butted up to the lead.

[cdah]

Thanks again for all the help. Couple more questions. Any particular brand of lead core better than the others? I like to run a flat line down the chute. If I run a 3 color off of one side and a 5 off the other, can I run more colors down the chute? Say an 8 or 10?? Or will this tangle??

[maplelaker]

I have had great luck with 27# lead core from Cabela's. Running 8 or 10 color down the chute is quite common and a good producing option. Depending on the width of your boat and the size of the fish, you can move the this line to to away corner of the boat and be ok but if I have a big fish on we try to reel it in.

[BFG]

Jul 12, 2016 10:11:10 GMT -5 cdah said:

Thanks again for all the help. Couple more questions. Any particular brand of lead core better than the others? I like to run a flat line down the chute. If I run a 3 color off of one side and a 5 off the other, can I run more colors down the chute? Say an 8 or 10?? Or will this tangle??

That full core will be anywhere from 35-40' deep, and in my experience at least it'll need to be cranked quickly damn near every time you hook up on another line. Will it catch fish? Sure. Enough to warrant running it there? Not in my opinion b/c it's 300+ feet of line that has to be cranked in, and if you get a pissed off king or rainbow that decides to take your corner rigger up up up and away...you are gonna have one hell of a mess.

Just my opinion...which is often wrong.

[lameduck]

one more point....make wide turns with 10 color leadcore on your outside ski or it'll drop to the bottom