looking for some new ideas for storing pre-tied leaders. I use Pips now but it never fails, the leaders always tangle inside and I have to pull them out with more force than I want to. Am I doing something wrong? I have also used pipe insulation and don't like that because the leaders tend to get loose and unravel, not to mention the fact that when using light line it takes a few casts to straighten out the curls. I use a good system that I picked up from STS for when I'm fishing from the boat. I need a solution for when I bank fish. Because of this I rarely drift fish even when I know conditions call for it. any ideas?

What are Pips?

You are doing nothing wrong with the pips.It seems to work great with shorter heavier leaders ,but not as well with the long light ones.A leader wallet made by Finsport is very tough to beat for bank fishing.It comes with a swivel fast snap for attachment and a velcro fastener for quick opening and closing.Replacable zip locks hold any length leader.Comes in three sizes.Works great.

David-Ive got the Pips-sounds like a disease,eh. Actually, I like Pip swhen bank fishing. They are made in Leavenworth, Wa by Im guessing Macks Lure or Worden's. But very conveniant way to carry lures. Its maybe a 3.5 diameter container-looks like a chew container that allows you to wind up your leaders and stick the hooks through the middle. Sold in most tackle stores. As you see you can have tangle problems when using long leaders--then go to the foam pipe installtion to wrap em.

later

Erik,

I have the SAME problem with pips, which is why I came here asking questions a couple weeks ago about it! I get my Pip all nice and neat with pre-tied leaders, take one out to get set to fish, and the line might as well explode inside!!! Then I have a MESS!!!

Gear management is my MAIN frustration when river fishing!!! It seems like 1/2 or more of my time is spent trying to get SET to fish or roll up a leader or tie a jig!!! I LOVE it once I'm SET to GO, but arghhhh...gettting there!!!

One of the guys said he uses gummy tape...the kind that only sticks when wet that you pack shipping boxes with works well...I think a leader wallet is the next thing I'm gonna try!!!

Lots of maintanence!!! But isn't it FUN!!!???

Take Care and enjoy the day!!!

L

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"Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds!" Albert Einstein

I use pipe wrap (1" size) cut into approx. 1 foot sections. I wrap these onto the pipe wrap starting with the top end of the leader and wrapping around until I get to the hooks, then bury the hooks into the wrap to secure. Then, the rolls can go onto a leader dispenser (even a paper towel holder would work). They roll off very nicely. I usually figure about 15 leaders per 1 ft. section. This is for a boat set-up. For the bank, I just cut my rolls down to about 4 inches, so they can fit into a pocket. I hate using PIPS leader dispensers because if you have more than a few long leaders, they seem to get tangled. No tangles with this method. Many of the guides I know use this method, as well.

Erik-
Should have read your question a little further. To prevent loose leaders on the insulation, tie a swivel on the top end of the leader. Start with the swivel in the middle of the insulation between the cut, then wrap tightly around until you can bury the hooks. You can drop the rolls, step on them, etc., and they won't become loose.
Also, the leaders will "iron out" on the first cast - you shouldn't have kinked line. If you do, try another line. I use Ande, and it works great.
Hope this helps - Mark.

I have found that depending on the line is how well Pips work. I use Ande and have had no problems. I tie 5 leaders, put tension on the line and wind the spool. I just went to Maxima again and will see how well it works.

I used to have the same problem with PIPS, but now I think I have it figured out. When I get one I take it apart and coat the surfaces that slide together with vasaline. Then when you wrap the leaders inside, they go in with no resistance. This is why (I think) you are having trouble getting them out, because they wound on too tight. I can put 25 to 30 leaders in a pips and don't have any troubles. Let me know if this works, or if I am just lucky. Good luck.

Erik, I too use both the Pip's dispencer and foam pipe insulation and encounter the same problems. Yet, why are we complaining? As far as I know these are the best leader storage systems for short and long leaders respectively. I have a Finsport leader wallet, but it's too bulky. Besides, if I lost this in the river it would ruin my day because of it's price$$$ This one only holds backbouncing rigs now. To counter problems with the aforementioned two, I ONLY use Pips with 12-18 inch leaders, and after wrapping leaders onto the insulation I put it into a ziplock. The ziplock helps prevent the rolls from jostling around too much in your vest pocket, and at the VERY LEAST keeps the tangled mess confined into a plastic bag..LOL

thanks, those are all good ideas. I think I'll get a leader wallet and try that.

hmm,i've never had a problem with my pipis leader keepers getting tangled,and i've had up to 30 40" 8# leaders in them you just have to put each leader in one at a time with smooth even tension,then you can pull the first,middle,or last one out without any problems,hope this helps.

FISH ON!!!

I too, use both the Pips and Pipe insulation to store my leaders. I try to get everything ready to maximize my fishing time, by having my lure or bait fishing, which means in the water, not busy tying leaders.
Whether steelhead fishing or in the salt, when the bite is on, it can be really hard tying leaders when you look around and see fish on and here you are now, really fumbling along with the adrenaline building up and frustration takes over because you just dropped the leader and can't find it.
I have a good tip to make winding the Pips container easier when stowing the leaders. Take a small drill-bit and drill a hole just big enough for the tip of a ballpoint pen to fit into. Drill the hole opposite of the notch in the Pips. Then insert hook into the cork and take the pips in your left hand and put the pen in the drilled hole and start rotating. This sure beats putting the lid on and aligning the slot and notch every time.

BTW , My signature has to do with my other site that I am a member of and read daily! Ford-Diesel.com
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Steve Ng....The FishNg1
99 F-350 Powerstroke 4x4 , 18ft Alumaweld Formula Vee Sled, 115 Yamaha.

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 03-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 03-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 03-01-2000).]

Here is an even simpler version to hold leaders. When I take someone new fishing, and don't want to snell hooks all day, I pre-tie leaders for them. I go to the drug store, and get those clear inserts that guys use to hold pictures in their wallets. I put two pretied leaders in each slot. One of these holders will handle about a dozen leaders. All you do is wrap the line around 3 fingers, and secure the ends by tucking it back in to the loop. They fit great in your pocket, and they are cheap too. My $.02

Ditto on the three finger roll and putting them into plastic holders. I use old plastic sleeves that hooks come in. Work great. I do put three per package instead of the two, but it works and cheap. They also fit nicely into my vests.

I havn't had to many problems with my pips getting tangled but I have had problems with the lids sticking. I've found that if you grease them with vaseline before every other trip they run very smooth. I also try to keep one leader size in each pips. This could be why they don't tangle. I have about six pips filled with differant size leader and hooks. Try not to over load them.

I have used pips and wallet type leader dispensers for many years and have experienced all the problems the rest of you have. I finally decided that I would spend some time practicing tying the ever popular egg loop type leader to eliminate my dependecy on any type of dispenser. Foe me, that has proved to be the best solution altogether. Now I can carry 3 or 4 leader spools of varying test line and a packet of hooks instead. I have the choice of tying long or short leaders on the spot and I know the knot is fresh and strong. It really does not take more than a few seconds to do this and I'll never go back to leader containers, besides, it helps reduce the weight of my vest and like almost every steelheader alive and fishing, my vest some days feels like it's about 30# after several hours.

LB, you ever tie them leaders on a 40 degree or colder day? I'll stick with my custom made leader wallet, holds 75+ leaders, never tangles. good fishing