I am wanting to make my own leaders. I have been looking at crimps, crimpers, mono, and wire. I am at a loss as to what size crimps, for what size mono, and wire. What size crimps do I need for the various sizes of mono and wire? Also what is better as far as sleeves, round section, oval section, or double barrel? What do you all reccomend. Any help is appreciated.

What are you fishing for? Inshore I use a 25# test mono leader and have caught sharks up to 3 ft. Not on purpose.

Fishing in the surf, and off the jetty for reds. Would like to catch small sharks.

I use 20lb Flouro, 30lb mono. I have some 40lb flouro left over from something that I use too when I feel lucky. lol.

The problem with steel leaders on the jetties is you WILL get hung up. I used to use pre-made 6" steel leaders when casting for Kings on the Port A north jetty. I'm not sure you need steel for reds or even small sharks.

For wire leaders, a simple haywire twist is all you need - no crimps or sleeves needed.

I agree with Zeek the Greek. No crimps or sleeves are necessary. Attaching piano wire to your hook, use the haywire twist. When making up your bite trace, the wire should be between 6 inches maximum 9 inches long. At the opposite end of the wire, bend the wire in a "U" and make an albright knot but before finishing the albright, put the mono through the eye of the loop twice instead of once only. This will stop the knot from sliding over the eye. Very few fish will part this connection.

Also, If you use a reasonably thick mono bait trace, I agree with Fritz423.

Crimps are usually for heavier mono/fluoro, say 100lb up. For mono/fluoro crimps, use aluminum oval sleeves. For stranded wire, use the double barrel black brass sleeves. Both of these require the correct crimper, one with ovals or rounded sections on both sides of the crimping hole, i.e., cup to cup. Round black brass sleeves can be used with lighter stranded wire, using the crimper with a half moon on one side and a stake on the other (point to cup) but the double barrel or oval are much better. When using single strand wire, use the haywire twist. As for size of crimps, it varies with the lb test of the mono or wire.

Go here for lots of info:

http://www.leadertec.com/tips_index2.html

but remember, tests have proven that for mono, aluminum sleeves are best

Unless you're going for large shark you don't need steel leader, crimps, sleeves, etc.

You can catch most every inshore fish with simple mono. Exceptions would be kings, Spanish macks and, of course, sharks.

Thanks guys for the replies. I really appreciate the help.