Leader length on fish finder rig

[PAT]

How long a leader for bunker chunk off fishfinder?
Fishing on Long Beach Island.
Thanks.

[chunkster]

12"-18" works for me.

[ReelinRod]

For just lobbing gobs or chunks into inside the sandbar holes I would say 14 - 20 inches. That is a good compromise for both natural bait presentation, allowing it to move with the wave action and castability.

If you are fishing a washing machine, an area of real busy water like an outsuck on dropping water, I might shorten it to 6 - 12 inches if tangles and twist-ups become a problem.

Of course, the longer you need to cast the shorter it should be. On the Outer Banks thier "Hatteras Rig" is a fishfinder with a 2-3 inch leader. Many guys down there are going even shorter using a "Cannonball Rig" which is no leader, snell the hook on the shocker with the slide/swivel butting right on the eye.

If I'm using a fishfinder it is Hatteras style, the slide is a 130lb swivel and the leader is 3 -6 inches long

Another route, which is the one I use 95% of the time, is a clip-down pulley rig which keeps the bait from helicoptering in flight but once on the bottom works like a fishfinder. With a long pulley you can have a leader as long as you want and have it cast very, very well.

[PAT]

Reelin Rod,
clip-down pulley rig? Have heard of them but have never seen one. Can you describe or have a pic of one.
And also thanks to chunkster for reply.
Seems a lot of persons look but don't reply. Just trying to learn and help others.

[StormCaster]

3 inches

[Striperjim]

Pat
Leaders can be several feet long. Castability is one determining factor another is water clarity, abrasion resistance and another might be to grab hold of when landing the fish.


If I may heres a clip down pulley rig and where you can buy them.
and a video on how they work


http://www.breakawayusa.com/shop/rigs.htm


heres another thread with several different types and pictures
https://www.stripers247.com/phpBB2/showthread.php?t=7641

[PAT]

Striperjim,
Thanks!!

[Sudsy]

I tend to use a shorter leader for bunker then I do for other baits, about 10" to 12". I gues it makes it easier to cast
I go about 18" to 24" with smaller baits like worms or clams
(beach only - boat is a different story)

To be honest, I've no idea why I use those lengths, never really thought about it. It's what I was taught and it's always seemed to work.

Here's another thumbs up for the Breakaway system.
If you need to cast really far or are dealing with a heavy wind in your face, they can make all the difference. I caught one of my biggest "bait off the beach" fish using one of those. It enabled me to get a cast out just beyond some pounding waves in a honkin in yer face wind.

[lizardking3]

Can you use a bunker chunk or bunker head on the breakaway system? I think that it's the perfect set up for long distance casting.

[badfish2]

As long as you can still get the hook under the tab on the impact shield the chunk bait will work . The hook is released on impact with the water after the cast . Refer to illus. in the other post .

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by lizardking3

Can you use a bunker chunk or bunker head on the breakaway system? I think that it's the perfect set up for long distance casting.

The problem using clip-downs with bigger chunks or noggins is when the bait weighs more than the sinker; simple inertia will unclip the hook. There are some work-around's that allow the use of "reasonable" sinkers in increasing degrees of complexity. To be honest, (and I use clipdowns for just about all beach work) If I need to get a big chunk or noggin way out there I use a Hatteras Fishfinder (2" or less leader) or even a Cannonball Rig (no leader, sinker slide|bead|snelled hook).

[lizardking3]

I was worried about the bunker chunk weighing too much. Is it reasonable to increase the size of the weight at the end? I am not too familiar with the other rig set ups. I'll have to look into it.

[StriperPole]

The Pulley Rig looks interesting. A guy on the beach showed me one this past weekend. I usually have 14"-18" leader for clams and slightly shorter for bunker chunks. For Bunker heads, which I love using most I prefer an even shorter leader but I am curious about the added distance with the pulley or even 2"-3" leader.

[NYJer]

Anything from 6" to 3' will work, depending on conditions of course. Like Reelinrod said, it's ok to use a shorter leader if you're tangling up. I'm interested to hear whether folks are using mono or fluoro leaders and why? Fluoro can be pretty expensive stuff!

[Sudsy]

Flouro for plugging or boat chunking when the water is very clear and the fish can become very line shy.

Rest of the time mono is fine