Which Fishing Leaders

All of the fishing leaders sold on this website have a specific use. I have used every single one of them and each of them represent the finality of a lesson learned. I used to bring crimpers and leader material to the beach and make my leaders while I was there to suite what I was fishing for. Maybe one weekend I was targeting black drum and figured out a better way to cast for them (The Surf Rig), or all of my bait was eaten by smaller fish and I wanted to figure out what was eating my bait (The Bait Rig) or my redfish leaders keep getting bit in half by something (3ft Shark Leader). I look at my leader collection as a timeline of my fishing career. At different points of my experience, I have used different type of leaders. All of them were good and served their purpose and that is why I made them available for everyone.

The Bait Rig

This is the fishing leader that everyone should own. If you send me a message and ask advice on what leaders to buy, this is always in that mix. I have had people tell me that if they could only bring one leader with them fishing it would be this one. I have seen four fish reeled in with this three hook leader. Customers have sent pictures in with bull reds over 40", Stingrays, Cownose rays (?), Mullet caught by mouth, Pompano and sharks. This rig is great to keep kids busy and to get them hooked on fishing because there is constant action. Since I have started using this rig, I have never left the beach skunked. It is the reason why I stopped bringing bait to the beach. Catch and use what is swimming around in the surf.

The Lightweight Surf Rig

This is great fishing leader for catching slot reds and slot black drum. It's only 90lb test and can handle some huge fish. I have caught plenty of oversized fish with them. Great to use with crab claws!!

The Surf Rig

I originally made this leader because I needed a leader that I could cast far. This leader keeps the spider weight and the bait together during the cast which allows a better pendulum effect and prevents helicoptering of the bait and weight. The weight and bait will spread out once in the water. This heavy weight leader will have no problem reeling in huge bull reds and black drum. Although this leader is a mono leader, I have caught sharks over 6ft on them.

Live Bait Fishing Leader (Striper Leader)

Snelled hook mono leader that works great with finger mullet for catching speckled trout and redfish. This leader also works great when you thread fresh dead shrimp on the hook. I've caught some monsters with this rig.

3ft Castable Shark Leader

Well, this leader is one of my most used in my tackle box. Worth every penny. Will catch everything from slot reds to 5ft+ sharks. If you are targeting 5ft sharks and over, you should choose a shark leaders designed to handle larger sharks.

6ft Castable Shark Leader

How do you catch large sharks when you don’t have a drone or a kayak? Cast to them. The longer leader provides better protection from tail whipped breakoffs. I have personally caught sharks up to 7-1/2ft with this leader.

15ft Deployment Leader

This is another one of my must haves for shark fishing. It doesn't break the bank and it can handle just about anything in Texas waters.

Tidwell Drone Leaders

These come in two different lengths and work perfectly with all drone deployments (10ft Drone Leader and the 20ft Drone Leader)

25ft Stinger Series (with Replacement Bite Leaders)

If you are chasing monsters, this is the leader for you. This leader uses a stainless steel link to easily replace a damaged bite leader. Bite leaders can be purchased separately at very reasonable prices. Replacement bite leaders can be purchased with 18/0, 20/0 or 24/0 circle hooks. This is a great leader that has proven itself with sharks over 10ft.

Tidwell 800lb Deployment Rigs

This is for the big ones and only if you are serious.

Which Fishing Leaders to Use