Flouro Leader Issues

[unionman]

I went fishing yesterday and had a decent day of seven fish in a couple hrs. Was walking along the bank working some weeds on my way back to my truck to head home for the night when all the sudden I hooked something BIG. I had my 19#drag cranked to the max and it was still peeling off line. I fought it for a couple minutes when I felt something every fisherman dreads, nothing. So I reeled my line in and noticed my polymar had broken. I have 30# Fireline with 14# Berkley Vanish 100% flouro. Should I get a floro stronger than my main line? Whats the best knot for a floro leader? My uni-to-uni held up fine... I need a good line to hook knot for 100% floro. Thx fellas B-)

[BassinLou]

Unionman, IMHO, I do not think it was the set up. Based on what you described, unless you left some info out. You said you caught 7 fish in a couple of hours. Did you check your line/knot after the first couple of fish? I know sometimes I get into them and fail to check my line every so often and snap!!! Flouro leaders are helpful but there not bullet proof. Hope that tid bit helped.

[unionman]

Yup. I had actually just retied... Im starting to second guess superlines. I think the fish can see it. especially in clear water. Maybe Ill fill spool with flouro.

[S Hovanec]

I had my 19#drag cranked to the max....... with 14# Berkley Vanish 100% flouro.

There's your problem, the weakest link broke.

(and I'll keep the Vanish jokes to myself)

[unionman]

No please share. It was on sale. lol. I was just trying it out. Real small spool.... I heard Seagar is good. So my leader should be equal to or greater than my main line?

[S Hovanec]

The big joke about Vanish is that the only thing that vanishes is the lures and fish at the end of your line.

If your drag was set at 19# and the line has a break strength of 14#, the line is gonna break, no matter what brand it is. Your 30# main to 14# leader sounds fine. just back off on the drag a little. Typical drag setting is 25-30% of line break strength.

[Chris at Tech]

19 > 14

I think you need to set your drag more appropriately for your setup. I'd recommend setting it for approx 1/3 the strength of the lightest line in your setup. You can always add more if truly needed, but you need to give the drag the opportunity to do the work for you.

[Under the Radar]

I don't think you've got many gators up in your neck of the woods. And I'm assuming that you actually put a scales on your rod to check the pull of drag. Trust me when I tell you that a true 19# of drag pulled with the rod pointed straight at the scales will pull you off your feet when the rod is bent and the added friction of the guides on a hook set.

BUT the issue here is your weakest link sounds like as stated above your vanish and the knot. Seaguar red label is a very good line for the price point.

[SirSnookalot]

19# of drag for bass fishing is overkill, I've never had a bass been unstoppable using less than half that drag. My typical set up for bass is 15# braid and 20# mono leader( which is pretty much the same for my snook fishing), I don't use f/c leaders for freshwater. IMO you were effectively fishing with 14# test, as mentioned that's the weakest link. Not all line breaks at the same strength, this site, although not done by a testing company, will give you an insight to where lines break, this one is for 10# lines, the other one for 20# lines, too bad it's a little on the old side but still good information.

http://www.gamefishi...es/linetest.htm

http://www.sportfish...-break-strength

[msolorio]

one of the best, if not the absolute best knot for fluoro is the shark knot. look it up on youtube, zonas shark knot. easy and super strong. as for a braid to leader knot, i prefer the alberto. never have had any issues with that knot, even when hookin into a 20# channel cat and landin her. i use sunline sniper, the best fluoro ever made imo. ive had waaaay too many break offs with seaguar so ill never waste my money on that stuff ever again.

[unionman]

19# of drag for bass fishing is overkill, I've never had a bass been unstoppable using less than half that drag. My typical set up for bass is 15# braid and 20# mono leader( which is pretty much the same for my snook fishing), I don't use f/c leaders for freshwater. IMO you were effectively fishing with 14# test, as mentioned that's the weakest link. Not all line breaks at the same strength, this site, although not done by a testing company, will give you an insight to where lines break, this one is for 10# lines, the other one for 20# lines, too bad it's a little on the old side but still good information.

http://www.gamefishi...es/linetest.htm

http://www.sportfish...-break-strength

Thats was kinda my thougts. If I put a 14# leader on 30# braid then whats the point of the braid? I think if i use a leader it will be the same strength or greater than main line. Im very good at tying knots (union Ironworker) with rope and fishin line so I dont think it was a faulty knot just the fact that the knot was the weakest point. BTW I think my mystery fish was a big cat...but I know theres a LMB in there over 7 1/2#'s...and yes, my drag wont be a "drag" anymore.

[RyneB]

iv used Vanish as a leader for 3 bites, all 3 bites ended with a lost bait. In the garbage it went.

[Bair]

I blame the line. I bought the exact same line and I know the knots s.... . I've lost a good amount of lures with it.

[Chris at Tech]

Thats was kinda my thougts. If I put a 14# leader on 30# braid then whats the point of the braid? I think if i use a leader it will be the same strength or greater than main line. Im very good at tying knots (union Ironworker) with rope and fishin line so I dont think it was a faulty knot just the fact that the knot was the weakest point. BTW I think my mystery fish was a big cat...but I know theres a LMB in there over 7 1/2#'s...and yes, my drag wont be a "drag" anymore.

A leader does serve a few purposes:

1) for those concerned about braid's visibility in the water, the leader reduces it

2) there are times when you NEED to break off, and a leader is likely to be easier to break than the braid

3) when you need more abrasion resistance than braid provides, the leader can help

[SoFlaBassAddict]

A leader does serve a few purposes:

1) for those concerned about braid's visibility in the water, the leader reduces it

2) there are times when you NEED to break off, and a leader is likely to be easier to break than the braid

3) when you need more abrasion resistance than braid provides, the leader can help

Exactly.

My primary reason I do it is number three. The pits I normally fish in are limestone strip pits. That stuff will straight out destroy braid. Another reason to use a leader: shock. If you've got a big strong hookset, having just a little give in the line isn't a bad thing.

[SirSnookalot]

I can add a 4th to the above list...........Braid getting wrapped around treble hooks can be a nightmare, leaders unwrap easily.