Hey Brad you can reverse twist the leader back onto itself which creates a loop in the end to attach your swivel... this also doubles as a x4 thickness bite leader. You can either twist back through the twists or just twist it back onto itself. Finish it off with a couple of nail knots to hold it in place. Some people put heat shrink over the nail knots too.

Having said that, it's far more time consuming and I find crimping it is a much easier way to do it.

PS. what breaking strain did you make your twisties with?

these ones are 120LB and i also did 150's. We should have gone out yesterday arvo mate, i almost called you at about 2oclock to see how quick you could get ready. Would have got a couple of hours in

Mate Glenn and I went out yesterday morning (last minute decision) hungover as f&%@ after a big night at the Tambrey. Water was pretty crap in the morning and the fish weren't really on... our motivation level was pretty low so we called it quits early.

thanks for the invite

It was crap anyway mate wishin I hadn't even made the effort.

i meant to the pub

The 4x bite leader is a good idea, and i've seen it on some premade ones in QLD (for barra fishing, so a little thinner base mono). These ones have a loop at one end, and a loop at the other for the 4x bite leader. Not sure where the tag ends are. Not too hard to make yourselves either once you know how to hold it together, and the crimps are a pretty easy way to do that. You can whip it of course, but I wonder whether your could glue (and maybe a crimp for strength). You can have a triple bite leader too as the mono fits nicely to form a rounder shape rather than a 'bumpy' one.

Basically using a drill with a hook in it you twist the leader as per usual, then you keep the twisted section tight and use one finger to guide up the line as you reduce tension, and it will wrap around itself, similar to the motion you use to create twisted droppers except the line is pretwisted. 

As Jay suggested you could do it the way you have it atm, but put the crimp further up and wrap the twisted bit around for the 4x bite leader. 

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Always interested in someone to go fishing with

Thanks hlokk, i think twisted leaders for barra is a bit over the top mate. Too much effort for something thats not required i think. Stick to a good ol allbright and single strand mono leader, cant go wrong. I havnt had one fail yet

even read it , was making me spin hahaha

yeah twisties for barra, tried it before but I couldn't really see the benefit. I really don't think it's required.

This was for one of the impoundment dams with big barra, and in lots of submerged trees, so doesnt matter which way the barra goes, your lins going to be rubbing against something. I think the leader was made out of 20lb line or something like that, so not the massive sizes you'd use for gt's. Recommended by a guy who works as a guide in that area. I guess the guys who chase just barra get a bit like the guys who just chase GT's though :p. You dont even need twisted leaders for GT's now do you (but that doesnt make them useless does it).

Was using mono to braid via albright most of the time for the non-tree areas, but no hits unfortunately

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Always interested in someone to go fishing with

hlokk

i have fished the impoundments mate (I'm from Queensland) also fished in the daly in the NT and over hre in the pilbara. Do you honestly think the only place where a barra swims through the snags is in awoonga or similar, you have got to be kidding yourself mate.
Albrite to mono leader is more than enough or even bimini to single strand mono leader. I have fished around guys like col cordingly at the barra nationals mate and i tell you non of this countries most renowned barra fisherman use twisted leaders, definitely overkill for barra.
You said it yourself, a guide told you about it, probably because he is sick of beginners loosing the tackle he has supplied for the trip.

Why would you even bother?

Most I know that fish impoundment barra use 50lb braid and 50lb to 80lb leader.

Al.

as much as i think he is a tool starlo who claims to be the impoundment king and jason wilhelm (another starlo appointed impoundment king) both use a double tied to single strand 60 to 80lb leader. And that includes all the AFC guys who fish in the barra comps over there. But a good idea for guides who are worried about there lures being lost by another amateur on his tour.

 Some of those impondment Barra in the snags are nasty.

The average size of the barramundi caught was 92.34cm, once again proving that Faust is one of the standout big barra fisheries of the east coast.

Team Freddy’s Fishing World (Lewis & McNamara) headed straight to the bay that had delivered them so much during the previous event, and it was here that they began to target the fish holding in about 4 feet of water. With a Reid’s B52 lure (colour-silver and purple) tied on, McNamara worked his lure methodically, twitching it and pausing over the weed. His choice of tackle included an EGrell B65 rod matched to a Daiwa Advantage baitcaster reel, spooled with 50 pound Harro Bionic braid and finished with a Jack Erskine twisted leader.

http://www.australianbarra.com.au/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=9

he is probably sponsored by them mate and is given a heap of pretied twisties. But go for it if you want, fished faust, awoonga all with single strand mono and if you know how to tie knots then you wont have a problem.
twisties for barra, what next?But if you want i can find you about 4 million examples of people that catch barra using the same rig as i do and post that on here too if it actually meant anything

Id trust a 3 or 4 turn uniknot to a swivel more than the crimp.   Another thing after doing a bit of GT fishing and chatting to some GT gurus i dont think im going to waste my time with twisted leaders anymore.  I think i may convert to using a PR knot and a 180 - 200lb single strand leaders.

Cheers

Rob

Brad i cant do a PR knot myself yet i have been shown its one tricky knot but is realy realy slim. You need to get yourself a bobbin. Take a look at this link http://www.jigsdirect.com/eMerchantPro/pc/fishing_knots.asp

Its handy if you have a few spare spools with a few already tied.

IMO the only benefit of a twisted leader is the slim knot for casting. I dont think twisted 100lb is going to be just as strong as 200lb singles.

Cheers

Rob

I'm just saying what he recommended guys, so no need to shoot the messenger. I was using mostly my own lures btw. I'm guessing what the leader was made with, I think it was either a 40 or 50lb leader, making the constituent mono about half that. 

Brad, the snag comment was more about that during the whole fight it would be rubbing against something, but if you were fishing snags along say a river bank, you may be able to pull them out into the open while fighting them. I'm not an expert, and havent even caught a barra yet, but this is what the guide was saying, and he seemed fairly knowledgable.

Besides, all I said is that i've seen it used over there for barra fishing, do you really need to nit pick a passing comment? 

As for GT's on single strand? Theres nothing stopping you using 150lb or even higher chasing GT's. Just because you could doesnt make it the best option though, which is what I was getting at. If its too light, then whats the matter, worried about loosing lures

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Always interested in someone to go fishing with

Did you miss my post above brad? Check out this link on the PR knot.

http://www.jigsdirect.com/eMerchantPro/pc/fishing_knots.asp

Gt knot is too bulky when using heavy mono leaders. Does not cast very well.

Cheers

Rob

Gt knots are strong enough but the figure 8 knot that starts it is an insert popper in the heavier leaders can be expensive with silicon guides thats for sure

Well there ya go Brad, when we're getting smashed by BIIIIGGGG GT's off Onslow,(and im sure you've seen pics of them) your/our backyard there isnt a boat with us that has a twisted leader on it!!! All sounds like over kill to me but ey.... dont get me wrong....I'll give it a go. Mind you, we are trolling most of the time when we're getting smashed by them and thats with the albright. I usually have a rod set up with a popper to throw, and thats single strand. Touch wood... Still got me poppers!!!
Esky's Loaded, Boat's Ready...... Lets Go!!!!!!

Both methods described here are tried and proven. It all comes down to what you are comfortable using and what works best for you.

I've never tried a PR knot but it does look alot more time consuming than using pre-tied twisted leaders. I think if you're after something that is quick, easy to tie and provides a slim connection there really is no substitute for a twisted leader.

2 questions for you guys coming from a novice.......

 Does the leader have to be so long that the knot has to pass through the guides?

What about wire for a leader?

Sorry but I'm a southern fisherman just moved up north....

Woody

Hi Woody, When Gt fishing we are fishing pretty nasty country most the time anything from 2mtrs - 10mtrs of water and there is every chance of hooking 50kg+ fish if you only use a slight bit of leader most fish will ping your braid every time. I usualy have the line either just on or off my spool when i cast. Some people use more but it does compromise your casting.

Cheers

Rob

Hey brad try this.....

http://www.caranx.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=1526&hl=twisted%20leader&st=0

Woody

Migght be a already answered question but new to the site.  How are you attaching the twisted leaders to the main line ?  Loop to loop onto a bimini or something else?

Hi Brad,
You could improve it by twisting the end of the leader back some 6 inches creating a bite leader, and then adding another crimp at the end of that. Two crimps are better than one - because you never know when it'll fail. Rob can tell you more about that.

Having said that, I use single-strand almost exclusively now, 220lb Super Stealth with a PR-knot. Indefinately smoother my friend.

Brad instead of taking a bobbin out on the water you could learn the FG knot. This is just as good.

Cheers