Wind On Leader

Creating a Wind-On Leader Correctly
Tags and Receptors
First Step is to cut yourself a length of your selected breaking strain size
dacron/hollow gel spun material about 600mm long . This is to be used to
create the required link up tail between your mono leader and main line. Fold
this length so that one side of the fold is shorter by 30mm. (Fig 1).

Pass a looping needle through the fold point at right angles. This is the point
at which we will begin to form the Tanaka loop. Pass the longer end of the
dacron through the head of the loop needle by 5mm to 10mm then pull
through as shown in (Fig 2).

Continue to pull this dacron piece through to form up desired size loop you
require. It is not necessary to have large loops. (Maximum loop size should
be no more than 20mm).

Now pass the needle through the shorter length of dacron as close as
possible to where the first pass through was made as shown in (Fig 3).

Place the shorter piece of dacron through the loop on the needle then pull all
the way through until the dacron is neatly secured against the first pass.
Repeat this process a minimum of 4 times but also as many times as you
like. Remember to alternate the long and the short end backwards and
forwards through each other finishing with the short section ready to be
passed through the long. End result should appear as small but neat plate
(Fig 4).

Do not just pass one length of tail backwards and forwards through the other
- you must alternate the long and short to form the Tanaka loop correctly.

Thread the looping needle as close as possible to the finish of the Tanaka
loop plait down inside the longer piece of dacron all the way through to the
end leaving the loop end of the needle exposed. Now pass 5mm-10mm of the
shorter piece of dacron through the loop end of the needle. (Fig 5).

Now thread the needle through the length of the long piece drawing the short
end all the way through. Bunch the now external piece of dacron back up
against and as close to the Tanaka weave and pin it through with the loop
needle. (Fig 6).

This link up tail is now ready to be inserted with the leader material. When
making leaders in numbers these tail links can be constructed to this point
ready to be finished.

Now load your selected mono into the end of the dacron needle. For ease of
loading of the Dacron Needle cut end of mono at 45degrees.(Fig 7).

Thread this mono loaded dacron needle up the inside piece of dacron to
where it has been pinned. Push the point of the needle out through the side
of the dacron at this point and draw needle loaded with mono all the way
through and remove needle from the mono leaving approximately 30mm of
leader exposed from the exit point. (Fig 8).

Now using a sharp blade create a longer, fine taper on the end of this 30mm
mono exposed section. (Commonly referred to as forming a rat tail) (Fig 9).

Now draw the mono back into the dacron until all that is exposed is the rat
tail section. At this point apply ultra fast tac (i.e super glue) to the rat tail
section. Next draw the rat tail back inside the dacron as well. (Fig 10 & 11).

Pull the mono back inside the dacron just enough to cover the rat tail
section. Wet thumb and forefinger and roll this section to ensure the gluing
process.

At this point place the Tanaka loop over a locating peg on your jig. Lock the
mono end to the adjustable end of your jig with a minimal amount of tension.
Using your fingers and thumb now roll out the inner piece of dacron along the
mono so that the dacron is retensioned. Now glue down the end of the inner
piece of dacron to the mono using the same glue as before (Fig 12).

Remove the pinned looping needle that is retaining the bunched outside piece
of dacron. Using thumb and forefinger roll the outer piece of dacron over the
inner piece and down onto the mono. At this point the outer piece should be
20mm further along the mono than inner piece. If not then trim the end of the
outer piece so it is 20mm further along. Repeat the same gluing process as
was completed for the end of the inner piece. Using your jig to pre- load, the
leader must now be loaded to its full stretch point.(Fig 13)
This is a critical part of the process.

The next stage requires the use of a tension whipping tool loaded with 20 or
30 lb gel spun line. Firstly pull out 200mm (8 inches) of free line. Now tie a
clove hitch followed by two half hitches behind the glued end of the inside
dacron section. Lay the tail end along the dacron towards the mono. Back
wind the whipping tool to remove the slack line. Keep winding until the
V-block in the tool is located hard up against your knot on the dacron. Rotate
the tool around the dacron ensuring that it tracks evenly towards and down
onto the mono. (Fig 14, 15 & Fig 16) Only cover 20mm of mono before
locking off with two double half hitches. (Fig 17) Repeat the whipping process
in the opposite direction back up onto the dacron. This reverse whipping
process is highly recommended as although the first whipping is sufficient for
the strength of the leader the second is a back up and protective one only.

(Fig 18) The whipping process is not completed for aesthetic purposes. It is
an essential component in the wind leader process. In reality we are forming
a flexible crimp on the leader. Although the tension whipping tool applies a lot
of pressure, is fast and easy to use, a similar result can be achieved by
using a continuous series of half hitches over the same area using waxed
thread or gel spun material. The critical feature using either method is for the
leader to be pre-loaded to its stretch point.

To complete the reverse whipping trim the end of gel spun as close as
possible to your hitches. Now coat and seal off the whipped area with Dac
Tac or similar rubber based product. (Fig 19)

Finished wind on is now complete. It is compact streamlined and extremely
strong. (Fig 20)