Rod leash alternative

http://www.allkayakfishing.com/articles/brodleash.html

You can get 12' spiral phone cords at the 99c store.  Each one makes 2 or 3 rod leashes.  None of these leashes are very strong though, they break at ~20lbs - possibly before your line if you tug-of-war with a snag.

I've used the coiled power cords before, but found the crimp doesn't hold very well, mostly because of the soft rubber coat that doesn't hold the crimp well.  I switched over to just using straight cord, but it doesn't have the nice stretch to it.   There has got to be a better way to crimp these.

I'm was also going to try making some of the bungee inside webbing leashes.  Anyone use these?

-Allen

I just use 3 ft lengths of thin 1/4" shockcord w/ trigger clips for all of my leashes for rods, game clips, paddle, etc.  It's cheap, strong, has good stretch, and I think less likely to get tangled-up than coiled leashes.

I tie surgeons loops in it...

Surgeons loop, you mean like an offshore loop, or put another way, like a half hitch looped double before coming back to the crimp.  Now why didn't I think of that?  I use that technique in tying tuna jig leaders for chafe protection, but I guess the strain would pull the loop tight on itself before pulling on the crimp.  Sounds like it would work great ... now if I can find all thos old leashes I tossed to the side of the garage somewhere, I could revive them and try it out.  Cool, thanks for the tip.

-Allen

I cant take credit for this one because my boss came up with it but i use it for all my leashes.

Take some 100# spectra and thread it threw a length of red latex surgical tubeing However long you want mine are 4 or 5 feet however much came in the package.  Tie the spectra with a palamer knot to a 2/0 or 3/0 snap swilvel then push the tubeing over the eye of the swilvel and secure it with a zip tie. then atach the swilvel to some hardmount oblect like a workbench.  Take the other end of the tubeing and pull it as far as you feel comftrable over the spectra. Slowly let the tension off. The spectra will coil inside the tubeing cut the spectra 7 or 8 inches above the tubeing tie another swivel on with a palamar then pull that end of the tubeing over the swivel and secure witha zip tie.

these can withstand 100#s of pull strength yet still have alot of streach pluss they dont tangle and you wolnt get your hooks stuck.

Thanks for the tip; that sounds slick. I'm going to have to try it.

The surgical tubing idea is pretty cool.  It also sounds like a good way to make homemade snubbers for trolling.

Golden Arrow ... I LIKE IT!!!

-Allen