Tech Tip - Copper Wire
There are no real established standards for copper line. All of the weights used would pull test at far greater than 45#, but the idea is to give comparable performance in durability to a 30# mono.
G-Fly copper is about the same diameter as the opti “30 lb”. Even Opti-Tackle puts that in quotes because it does not mean the same thing. Opti and Howie use the same convention with the diameters of their 30# and 45# wire.
So my advice is to call it "Regular" .028 inch or "Heavy" .037 inch diameter
The quality of the copper wire is very important. I have seen stranded copper wire being sold that is just plain junk. You want a tight wind, the smallest diameter for the weight you can get. Loose winds are weaker and will have more drag, and that defeats the purpose of using copper.
The three brands I know, Opti-Tackle, G-fly and Howie (just to show how ecumenical I am) are good quality wire. I would be cautious of buying anything else unless I took a good look at the wire and knew the brand.
The following is (mostly) courtesy of Opti-Tackle Company:
Copper wire is very soft, it should be fished like lead core. Which means "NO HOOK SET", just reel when a fish is on.
Use the Albright knot (below)
Some people are using a small swivel to attach the leader to the copper. This apparently works, but we do not do so. All I can see is one more thing to break, and an extra knot to fail.
You have to be careful on what kind of knot that you tie as the knot is the weakest link in copper wire.
Typically 5' to 6' of drop for every 10 yards out, is how deep it runs. We estimate 27 lb lead core at 4' drop for every color (10 yards)
We do not recommend it to be used on dipsys or lb. balls. The diameter is too large, the "blow back" would be worse than Mono. Think of this as another type of lead core.
We typically fish it straight out the back of the boat. We fish lead core and copper often at the same time. If lead core is working, copper usually will that day also. Great for skittish fish, gets the bait out away from the boat, etc.
It is "30lb" rated which is basically what it is called. We do not know for sure the actual rating of it. But this is what other people who sell copper wire call this size of copper also. This is known as "30 lb". We make no claims to the actual rating of it.
If someone fishes it on a board, they should not pinch it on the wire, only on the backing (Cortland Black Spot, etc.) same as lead core.
Leaders, we usually use 20 lb mono, 30' for spoons works well and 15' to Dodger/Fly works well. Long lead on Dodger/Fly does not work well. (I have been running spoons on a 10' leader just because of a tangle, with great success. These are guidelines, not hard rules.)
Do NOT use a twilli tip
Advantages -
sinks deeper then lead core,
costs less then lead core,
no special roller guide rod is needed, a regular rod will work,
A roller tip on the end would help but not necessary,
it is safer to handle than lead.
Albright Knot
I also use this knot with Mono/Steel Wire and Mono/Braid