Diawa T-wing, better or worse with line to leader knots? 2025
Fun4Me reply :
I'm looking to get another reel. I was contemplating a Tatula or Curado/Citica. I almost exclusively use braid to a mono/flouro leader. In my research of reels, I came across some who say that knots don't go through the T wing system as good as regular level wind designs. Can anyone confirm that?
I generally just use a 6 or 7 foot leader, but I sometimes use a leader longer than that, and the knot would pass through the T wing on every cast. I use an FG knot for most of my main line to leader applications if that makes any difference.
Thanks for any help!
smr913 reply :
Sound like that would be a problem with either reel
bigturtle reply :
All my knots go through my zillion sv tw just fine
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
You're using 6'> leader? A knot that passes the level wind Should be less of an issue with the t wing
Fun4Me reply :
On 1/7/2017 at 8:43 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:You're using 6'> leader? A knot that passes the level wind Should be less of an issue with the t wing
On things like jigs, top water walking treble baits, square bills etc. yes, unless I need a longer leader to reach a different depth.
I thought the T wing would help but i've heard more than one person say knots catch worse on the T wing than a regular hole, which seemed odd to me too. I heard Matt from Tactical Bassin mention it, so it got my attention, as I know he fishes a lot with different equipment. I might just send him an e-mail and ask him about it, but I thought there might be some members here who have both and could confirm or deny.
MassYak85 reply :
If I were you I'd just ask Matt like you said. He fishes Braid to Leader almost exclusively and uses unconventionally long ones for certain techniques. And he's usually a very responsive guy so he should be more than happy to help.
CenCal fisher reply :
I find that it catches worse. I was using 30lb braid to 12lb yozuri hybrid with a double unit and had to shorten my leader so that the knot wasn't going onto the reel. It casts fine but when reeling it in it would have trouble going through the narrow bottom part of the t wing. When I use a leader I cut it to around 14' but keep it under a rod length with the t wing
Onvacation reply :
What is the reason behind such long leaders? I fish a lot of clear water but can't recall ever tieing on a leader that was long enough to reach the reel. On a seven foot rod, that's a good eight to nine foot leader or longer.
bigturtle reply :
I often tie 10-15ft long leaders, just so I dont have to tie on a new one during the day.
CenCal fisher reply :
I like an extra long leader so that I can re tie a few times, break off a snag or two and still have a long enough leader by the end of the day
Tim Kelly reply :
I use an FG knot and don't have any problems at all. Double uni knots might well struggle, but then it probably would through the guides too. If you're going to use long leaders you really owe it to yourself to learn the FG knot.
MassYak85 reply :
On 1/7/2017 at 12:42 PM, Onvacation said:What is the reason behind such long leaders? I fish a lot of clear water but can't recall ever tieing on a leader that was long enough to reach the reel. On a seven foot rod, that's a good eight to nine foot leader or longer.
I know Matt Allen does it because he firmly believes in "the fish can see braid" theory. I remember he said his justification for 15ft leaders for cranking was that he didn't want the braid going by the fish as they are looking at the crankbait coming towards them. Seems a little nitpicky to me but he claims he's experimented and found there is a difference. More power to him. Personally I tie 8ft ones pretty much out of laziness so I can retie as much as I want throughout the day without pausing to tie a new leader.
S. Sass reply :
On 1/7/2017 at 2:00 PM, MassYak85 said:I know Matt Allen does it because he firmly believes in "the fish can see braid" theory. I remember he said his justification for 15ft leaders for cranking was that he didn't want the braid going by the fish as they are looking at the crankbait coming towards them. Seems a little nitpicky to me but he claims he's experimented and found there is a difference. More power to him. Personally I tie 8ft ones pretty much out of laziness so I can retie as much as I want throughout the day without pausing to tie a new leader.
Yeah I think Tim was right behind him in that video saying just the opposite. If I am thinking of the right video.
As for the T-wing and knot issue, just quit using those leaders and it won't matter. 
MassYak85 reply :
On 1/7/2017 at 2:34 PM, S. Sass said:Yeah I think Tim was right behind him in that video saying just the opposite. If I am thinking of the right video.
As for the T-wing and knot issue, just quit using those leaders and it won't matter.
The video I'm thinking of didn't have Tim in it, but it wouldn't surprise me since they do disagree on certain things.
Onvacation reply :
I'll side with the lazy theory since that is the reason I tie leaders as long as I do. I still think double digit leaders are a bit excessive though but if it works for you, it works for you.
npl_texas reply :
Recently purchased a Zillion TWS (from the sale on TW) and made a post about issues with my knot hitting guides and the TWS. The consensus was to shorten the leader, so that's what I did.
I'm thinking about trying a smaller knot I was using uni to uni 30# braid to 12# flouro.
Fun4Me reply :
On 1/8/2017 at 2:34 AM, npl_texas said:Recently purchased a Zillion TWS (from the sale on TW) and made a post about issues with my knot hitting guides and the TWS. The consensus was to shorten the leader, so that's what I did.
I'm thinking about trying a smaller knot I was using uni to uni 30# braid to 12# flouro.
I use an FG knot. Generally speaking, it think it's the thinnest knot possible. Let me know if you find something that works.
WRB reply :
The T wing will not restrict the line when casting. The design drops the line into a .062 wide vertical slot when winding line back onto the reel spool. when the knot travels through the .062 slot it may stop if larger than .062.
Tom
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 1/7/2017 at 12:42 PM, Onvacation said:What is the reason behind such long leaders? I fish a lot of clear water but can't recall ever tieing on a leader that was long enough to reach the reel. On a seven foot rod, that's a good eight to nine foot leader or longer.
i use leaders around 15 ft. ( braid to flouro ) , but it's not about line visibility at all , it's about taking the bow out of the line . using that long of flouro leader makes a straighter path to the bait , making slack line sensitivity go up and being able to react quicker to light bites ( not having to drop the rod down and reel up slack , that's for the birds )
fishnkamp reply :
If you are that concerned about the bow in your line with braid then forget the braid and fish straight fluoro. Also if your reason to tie on such long leaders on is that it might take you 1 minute to tie on another leader during the day, and a 6 foot leader is too short to go through a single day of fishing then either learn to tie double uni knots better or learn to tie on a 15 foot leader using a FG knot. That FG knot is tiny, but time consuming to tie.
kbeeb374 reply :
x10 on the Fg knot. crazy good knot if you learn how to tie it right. don't use it with gliss line thogh...
FryDog62 reply :
I'm a believer you need to re-tie a leader knot each day because it bashes through the guides all day long and can weaken. I find if I start with a 6-7 foot leader (stops just in front of the reel) have rarely ever not had enough leftover by the end of the day. And we fish in pike infested waters in Minnesota. For crankbaits and spinnerbaits I do use the micro pike leader from Bob's Tackle which saves line and lures very well.
Mosster47 reply :
I fish long leaders and mostly Lew's reels. I've never had a problem with it catching at the reel, the eyes are what beats the knot up.
kbeeb374 reply :
I didn't post this before but if you do attempt to learn the FG knot, this is the video I learned from. It is definitely the easier method to getting good tight wraps. At the time I was learning it, this was the only video that showed this method. I am sure there are many more now.
LxVE Bassin reply :
I got a tatula type r with the t-wing level wind. I never tie extra long leaders to where they pass through the level wind. I have a leader tied on with an Alberto knot and it won't go through the t-wing but I don't like my leaders going back into the spool no matter what type of level wind my reel has so that isn't an issue to me. Keep the leaders between 6-8 feet and your problem is solved.
noway reply :
With baitcasters, I just keep the knot off the spool.
faygo1979 reply :
I have a hell of a time with leader knots using the t-wing reels. They catch while going out of the reel quite a bit with the double uni I use. I normally just shorten up the leader length on my rods that use those reels.
boudroux reply :
Just did a quick google search and found this thread.
I've been lucky to fish the last two days in a row using a Daiwa Tatula CT that I just got. All my other reels are Shimano. With the Shimanos I've been using a long leader and have not had any issues with my conection knot going through the line guide hole. Day one with the T wing was spent cussing and undoing bird nests after my knot continually hung on the T wing system when casting. I used a blood knot on day one. Day two I retied my leader with the FG and the exact same thing happened. No big deal, just cut the leader down so it didn't go into the reel. It seems counter intuitive when looking at the Twing system that the knots hang on it but I certainly experienced it with two different knots.
On a side note, I'm really digging this Tatula CT. To me it seems every bit as nice as the Curado 200I's I have for a little less money and the mag brake seems to do a good job.
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