Step-by-Step Guide to Making your own Wind-on Leaders As written by us in Bush'n'Beach Magazine June 2008         After trying many of the more conventional mainline to leader knots, and with most of these knots biting in and letting go due to the extreme drag settings that I use, the need for a stronger connection was needed, hence the reason I chose to try Dacron wind-on Leaders. I use 40lb and 80lb leader only. The 40lb leader is used for all of my offshore soft-plastics fishing and the 80lb leader is used for all of my Barramundi fishing.  It is a simple connection that consists of a double in your mainline and a loop to loop connection. One main advantage, apart from its strength, is that I am not continually having to cut and shorten my mainline by tying knots. Now all I do is bend and straighten hooks. What you will need:- 40lb Leader: 30lb Cortland Greenspot Dacron..40lb Leader material.. Loop   Needle (LP1)..Pipe Needle (PNSTD1) 80lb Leader: 50lb Cortland Greenspot Dacron ..80lb Leader Material..Loop Needle(LP2)..Pipe Needle(PNSTD2)...Extras: Bobbin Holder, Flat whipping nylon, Dac Tac, Loctite 401 or similiar. Step 1: Cut length of Dacron to 30cm. Take LPN and place it through the middle of the dacron, 8cm from one end.             Step 2: Take the short end and place through the eye of the LPN.     Step 3: Pull tag through to form small loop. Step 4: Maintain loop while continuing process(a pencil or similar inserted through loop will help)       Step 5: Place the LPN back through the short tag, in the stitch just below where the last stitch came through, then place the long tag end through the eye of the LPN and pull all the way through. Note: Repeat this process 8 times, alternating from long to short tag. Finish by pulling the long tag through the short tag.   Step 6: Place the LPN down the centre of the Dacron and bring it back out about 4cm down the long tag.   Step 7: Place the short end through the eye, pull it back through to form a small loop. Cut excess tag off, leaving about 5mm. Do not remove needle yet.   Step 8: Using Dac Tac, put a good dollop of glue into the loop just formed. Now pull the needle all the way through. This will pull tag and glue down through centre of Dacron.     Step 9(a): Now take both ends and pull. Using the glue left on Dacron, smear over the section containing tag end.   Step 9(b): The finished Dacron end, ready to be used to complete a wind-on leader.     Step 10: Cut the leader material on an angle, if needed, to fit snug into the PN.   Step 11: Push leader into back of PN.     Step 12(a): Push PN up centre of Dacron ( this will fray at the end).   12(b): keeping the leader connected, push the PN all the way through Dacron, bringing it out just at the base of the loop tag end.     12(c): The leader material should now be through Dacron and showing at both ends. At this point, cut the end square and slide Dacron back until leader just disappears inside.   12(d): Pinch leader at base of tag in one hand and firmly slide Dacron down until tight.     Step 13: use something to slip loop over to hold tight, (eg. A nail in a board clamped to a bench)   Step 14: To keep tension on Bobbin, take two wraps around one arm before threading. (Tip: to make threading easier, use a piece of 6lb fireline doubled over, then push up and pull thread back through with it).      Step15(a): With loop attached to holding device(refer step 13), pinch the Dacron and leader  and pull tight. Now with the Bobbin and thread, take a few wraps around the Dacron, keeping each thread as close as possible.   15(b): I generally wrap about 20 times, this is what it should look like at this stage.     15(c): Tidy the frayed end and trim off access.   15(d): Continue wrapping down the leader. At this point, add a pullthrough and continue wrapping for about another 10 winds. Cut thread, leaving enough to pull through with. Note: (be sure to press your finger against the bound thread before cutting or it will unravel).....(Binding down the leader and then back up before inserting pullthrough will add extra strength).     Step 16(a): Pull tag tight and cut off flush.       16(b): Dacron and Leader joined.    17(a): Apply Loctite and smear over the bound end.    17(b): Apply another dollop to leader at loop end.     17(c): Smear over Dacron .   The final product(centre)pictured with a bunch of Dacron loop end that I have pre-made, ready to complete when convenient.      Wind-on Leaders attached to both Spin and Baitcaster Rodz. Rodz pictured: Egrell S10(spin) and The BeaR B6-6(baitcast).   If you need any advise about making Wind-on leaders, please feel free to phone us on 0418 795 784 as we are always happy to help if we  can.