Q “What is a good general formula for tyinga 10-foot tapered leader for inshore fishing, including knots? Doesadding Super Glue on the knots help, and would I change the formulaif I add a 7-inch shock or bite tippet?”
The butt section should be half the length of your leader, andit should have flexible weight. To make the rest of the leader,just make each successive length of mono shorter until you arriveat the desired length. If you are off on any lengths by a fewinches, it’s no problem as long as the butt section isone-half the leader’s overall length.
To build a good inshore leader of approximately 10 feet for an8- to 12-weight rod, I suggest using a 5-foot butt section of50-pound test. Add a 2-foot section of 40-pound test, then about 18inches of 30-pound test followed by a short length of 25- or20-pound test. So long as the butt section measures one-half theleader’s length, it won’t matter if the other sectionsare off by a few inches. The tippet should not run more than 18 or20 inches. Longer tippets tend to develop wind knots more easilyduring casting.
The best monofilament to use is premium spinning line, and it isimportant that all sections of the leader be constructed from thesame brand. I recommend blood knots to connect the various lengths,although a surgeon’s knot is OK in lines testing 20 pounds orless.
-Lefty
