Danielson wire halibut leaders

So I picked up 3 of these at a little under 2$ a piece Got my Hali rods set up and decided to test them out, hooked up to my rebar style crab pot and attempted to reel in a big flattie, pop, the crimp on the top loop came out.  Had my doubts about those crimps after my friend Doug had one of his self crimped leaders come undone on what had to have been a beast last year.  Tried # 2,  out  on the other Rod, pop the hook crimp came out, bottom line is 2 of 3 failed when stressed, went back to the self tied 80lb mono leaders, haven't failed yet.  Anybody else have any problems with the wire crimp leaders?

Are they double or single barrel style? I generally don't trust the single barrel ones. Probably wouldn't trust a crimp I didn't do myself. And don't totally trust the ones that I do but I haven't busted loose any if the double barrel ones.

Were you able to tell if the cable slipped through the crimp because the crimp wasn't pressed well enough, or did the cable break which could mean it was over pressed cutting into the cable.

I had one of their 90# wire leaders break on a fish that was about 60 to 70 lbs a few years back. It was a stale leader, but still took me by surprise. I have had other issues with their quality over the years. Like Rory says, get the tools and do it yourself. Think of all the time we put in just to get out there and hook into a monster fish. Saving an hour and $10 on your leader is just not worth it.

Why use wire for butts?

-Allen

Why use wire for butts?

-Allen

That's sort of what I'm wondering.  They do have teeth but the mono seems fine to me.  I take it you don't see the need.

They were single barrel and the wire pulled through the crimps.  So I'm just gonna tie my own from here out unless I see some rig that looks really cool.  I'm slow but I can tie one in 4 or 5 minutes with 2 hooks.

I don't really like having one floating hook, what is the purpose of that?

Hrm, now you guys got me nervous about single barrel crimps.  I found that tying a knot in Pline 100lb leader resulted in really low breaking weight (I pullit on it with about 40# of pressure and it popped.  Crimping resulted in not being able to pop it though... but now I'm worried about the crimp pulling through.  Grrr anxiety.

Hrm, now you guys got me nervous about single barrel crimps.  I found that tying a knot in Pline 100lb leader resulted in really low breaking weight (I pullit on it with about 40# of pressure and it popped.  Crimping resulted in not being able to pop it though... but now I'm worried about the crimp pulling through.  Grrr anxiety.

What kind of knot are you tying?  For 100 pound line, tie a 3-turn uni-knot.  Or snell to hooks.  Or a perfection loop (works well on larger leaders where snugging a uni-knot starts getting difficult or I'm in a hurry).  I used to crimp a lot, but it's just too much of a hassle, especially when good knots work perfectly fine.  Of course with 7-strand wire, you don't have much of a choice, although I still wonder why one want wire for butts.

-Allen

Thanks Allen, just the snell, but having trouble with the swivel knot.  3 turn uni, makes sense.  I with you, don't see the need for wire either.

I don't remember the knot, probably a double uni, but I'll try the 3 turn single.

100 pound mono snells easily and I use double barrel crimps for the loop. Up your leader weight and crimp away. I have never had a failure.
Lee is you want to wander up north we can have a leader tying event. Complete with game cube and natty ice. You bring the game cube and hooks I have plenty of the other parts.

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Just my 2 pennies on crimped leaders...

A good reason to use crimped heavier mono (like 400#) is for its stiffness. You can shape droppers that act like spreaders. There is so much less tangling both in the setup and in the water. It just wants to be straight.

And crimps on line of that thickness are far less likely to pull out of a weaker crimp or bust the line on an overcrimp (Though using the correct crimpers and crimps will protect from both).

Plus, you can melt your tag end nubs with a lighter and push them down on a flat surface to mushroom them out...additional protection from pulling thru crimp barrels.

And it gives me something to do while I'm watching Game of Thrones

I have had issues crimping line that was 200# and less. If I was gonna go that route I'd tie 100# like FG said.

noob question but why use anything over 80lb braided at all? When you guys do use it and you hang up what do you? Do you just set your drag really loose?

I run a section of "safety line" between my mainline and leader.  Usually 40lb mono.  Something you can break off if you're really hung up.

80 pound braid is completely unnecessary from a kayak. I find 50 to suit most of my needs.

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