INDIANANGLER

Really enjoyed the writ-up.

One think I must suggest to all those who are going to shop on BassPro or Cabelas. "Always confirm from their Customer care about the country where the product is manufactured", otherwise you may end-up having Chinese made tackle.

hmmmm... i had read this write up earlier, and was very kindly redirected here, while asking for some information on use of leaders.. So Pavan, since you like to disseminate such valuable info... i am still left wondering if one needs to use a leader for monofilament lines, in North Indian streams and rivers while going for the Mahaseers ? Any ideas... anyone??

well vikrambora i have never personally fished for the mighty mahseer but apart from fly fishing the leader would be a shock leader a length of heavier line that might stand more abraision than your expensive mainline... and likewise the swivel, the swivel will stop that same expensive line from twisting as the bait or lure or even the fish twists or spins in the water because twited line is not functioning to its full potential... but as always the most important part of your takle is whatever you have decided goes in the fishes mouth... it you choose wrong then quite simple it wont go in the fishes mouth and as they say in england "you go home with a dry net" so i hope your net gets to be wet soon... tight lines, doug

thanks trancer,

will keep in mind, but could you think of the drawbacks of using a leader? And in case one does use a leader, is the swivel used to attach the leader to the main line or does one use it to attach the lure to the leader?

I don't know about mahseer fishing that much but we use leader in sea fishing mainly as mentioned earlier in this thread to withstand heavy abrasion from rocks etc. i would think conditions will be quite similar in terms of rocks in the north India streams too. so mono or braid it will be useful to use a shock leader for sure . In the case of swivel I personally don't usually use it to attach the main line to the leader instead i use a albright or double surgeons knot (http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php)
to attach main line to the leader depending whether i am using braid or mono as mainline. I use a snap-swivel at the end with leader to change the lures easily and to prevent line iwisting . cheers and tight lines

oops i forgot to mention a drawback to using a shock leader... the only drawback to me would be that the leader might be as much as twice the thickness of your mainline... therefor twice as visable to the fish...doug

good men... thank you. All very helpful info indeed.

Tight lines to you guys...

cheers

well not necessarily if you use a good mono or flurocarbon shock leader specially the clear ones

just beat me to it i just found this on another site

http://www.animatedknots.com/rapala/index.php

All good and valid replies...

I would use a a florocarbon leader if:

1. Fish I was fishing had teeth...(even use a steel leader in some cases)

2. Looking for tranperency.

3. Fishing on a rocky or abrasive lake bottom or river bed with braided lines.

4. Using a swivel... if I am going to use two pieces of line might as well put on a leader.

So you need to answer all these points yourself and come to a personal conclusion.

Fishing is one sport where everyone fishes different for the same fish!

Good luck,

Pavan

when a big mahseer bangs you want the least amount of variables on your tackle.

leaders and swivels add to the variables.

braided lines are awesome for their feel and one has a mental image of the river bed in a few casts and knows where the fish are holding up to strike.

abrasion issues on himalayan rivers are such that the point of abrasion can happen anywhere with the line in the water depending on the lay of the bed (sand and gravel banks) - leaders would play limited role in controlling all the points of possible abrasion but would add another knot to the risk element not to mention a swivel as well.

have seen too many plugs trashed, hooks straigthened and split rings opened to add another element of risk in the game. with big fish there is no excuse ... you put one little element of risk in your tackle and the fish is gone. not to mention that you are fighting the speed of the river current and a million brain cells going off when you get that bang and the rod buckles, reel screaming and you are desperately trying to straighten up your body and the rod and find out where the fish is heading hoping its not downriver to the rapid.

flurocarbons are good for spring time and 50 lbs test lines are now available. usually in spring its better to wait it out for some snow melt or a shower to colour the water. otherwise its just sweating in the burning sand for nothing ...

with experience one learns to keep the fish off hazards and play it with braided line which is way stronger.

never heard of any river boys using leaders for mahseer ...

a 10 lbs on a big river up in the mountains with the current backing him is as good as a 50 lbs anywhere else ...

and thanks from me also ken...
the latest breed of super-glue in england is a lot better for lasting the stopper has a long thin tail that you slide back into the top then screw down and you can go back months later and use it as new... cheers again my friends.... doug

Bang on advise ...

very well said ...pavan ,...endorse that