Q: When you use cable for lures, how long is the piece of cable you use? Is it all the way to the wind-on, just a short piece from the hook to the lurehead or something else? 

 Bengt Enequist,
 Sweden

A: Hi Bengt- Thanks for a very good question.

In general I have two major considerations with respect to the length of the wind-on leader and the trace (the bit between the hook or hook set and the snap or swivel at the end of the wind-on). I am usually trying to keep within IGFA rules just in case we hook a record fish (granted this is usually not likely, but since it does not handicap us why not be ready all the time?) so my total leader has to be under 30 feet on 30-pound line and all heavier lines, and 15 feet on 20-pound and under.
        
I therefore try to have all hooks for live and dead bait and all lures rigged on the same length of trace so we can use them on any line class without getting confused and maybe losing a shot at a record if we grab the wrong length of trace in the heat of the moment.

I want my lures to be able to slide up the trace to the swivel to hold everything tight for us. A lure flopping around wildly close to the fish's mouth can unhook even a well hooked fish,  and a trace 10 feet long allows the lure to slide to where it actually works for us and holds the hook in even if it is not driven in past the barb. Therefore all traces - wire , mono, or cable - are the same length and equal 10 feet. It is my wind-ons that vary with 20 feet on heavy line and a mere 5 feet on light stuff.  (For serious record chasing we use a full 15 feet of non-wind-on leader on 20 pound and under.)