How to make solid glide bait or jerkbait leaders from stainless steel using the haywire twist and also storage tubes.
Some notes on Tools and Materials
The wire
American Fishing Wire Tooth Proof Stainless Steel Single Strand Leader Wire 124lb / 56kg
As then name suggests this is a more available in the USA and I found it hard to get hold of in the UK, I ended up buying from it Amazon and it was shipped from the USA. After a bit of research I found two uk stockists, https://seadogtackle.co.uk/ and https://www.rokmax.com/
There are alternatives, Malin also produce this kind of wire which is really just a hard stainless that although coiled has been torsion straightened. Like all leader wire it does not last for ever and once kinked it is time to bin the wire and save the snap if it is good condition.
Break strain wise I tend to stick with anything around the 100lb mark and length wise I aim for minimum of 12” for completed leaders.
A great alternative from Phil Blakey (a uk pike fishing god) is 0.8mm or 0.030” 316 S/Steel Tig welding wire this is sold in straight lengths and he has also made a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiSQR3y27Xs
Heat Shrink
1mm or 0.040” diameter heat shrink tubing, this can be bought from electrical, electronic suppliers and on ebay.
Snaps
Stay Lock safety snaps or equivalent strong snap with some kind of rating over 50lb
I bought these from Dave Lump the king of custom pike rods https://www.dlstshop.co.uk/shop/
I seldom use swivels with this type of leader but when I do I like to use either barrel or the ball bearing with some kind of breaking strain rating over 60lb
Tools
To cut the wire any wire cutters will do even those found general purpose pliers
I use jewellery pliers to form the loops these often described as Round to Concave pliers; I bought mine from Ebay for under £10. Round nose pliers will work and are also often easier to find.
Storage tubes
I had two types of tube in the video one was pvc overflow pipe 21.5mm and the 22mm pvc plumbing pipe. In USA ½” pvc is around the same size but as I do not live there it maybe an idea to take an empty pop bottle down to the hardware store and try it out.
Gluing PVC on PP bottles together requires the surfaces to roughened up and then some five minute epoxy should hold things together.
Post time: Jun-21-2017