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)
