Leader Or No Leader

[livetofish28]

I just got a St Croix legend tournament jig and worm rod and a Lew's tournament mg speed spool and 30# Power pro braid. I need to decide wether to put a fluoro leader or just direct tie. If leader what knot should I use and how long should I make it. Any feedback would be great thanks.

[ww2farmer]

Alberto knot. I use a fluoro leader for just about all my jig/worm fishing. Your set up is similar to mine, I also use 30# power pro on MH powered St Croix rods. I usually use a 20lb leader, but will drop down to 15 if the water is super clear and the cover is light.

[SirSnookalot]

People have success using braid both with and without leaders, making it a personal choice. I always use a leader and seldom tie line to leader, when I do it's the alberto, an excellent knot. My leader size is dependent on the water I'm fishing, high baked canals I'm using 20#, pond fishing I drop down to 10 or 12#.

[Jig Man]

Right now I am using straight braid. When it is Jan and Feb if we haven't had enough rain to cloudy the water I'll add a leader of 3-4'. I attach it with the Alberto's knot.

[Bankbeater]

I have caught bass while having a leader tied on and without a leader.. IMO, I don't think there is a right or wrong way. If you are not having any luck tying directly to braid, try a leader.

[OkobojiEagle]

I just got a St Croix legend tournament jig and worm rod and a Lew's tournament mg speed spool and 30# Power pro braid. I need to decide wether to put a fluoro leader or just direct tie. If leader what knot should I use and how long should I make it. Any feedback would be great thanks.

There may be several reasons you want to use a mono leader with braid line, but your rod and reel doesn't figure into any of them.

In some heavily pressured and/or clear waters bass have been conditioned to avoid highly visible lines.

Abrasive cover may fray and weaken leaderless braids.

Leaders can control how much line is lost in cover that is snag prone.

Mono leaders can improve "walking techniques" in topwater and jerkbaits.

Mono leaders can alter drop speed or running depth of baits.

You have to decide whether a mono leader will improve your circumstance.

oe

[Christian M]

I prefer 10lb Power Pro in moss green, to a #8 - #10 Lazer diamond or power swivel (they're both really small and the use of a swivel prevents line twist) to an 8" 12" 100% flourocarbon 10lb or 12lb leader (depending on lure & water clarity). I use this setup with an improved clinch knot & I've never lost a fish to knot failure. Every once in a while I'll hook a big Pickeral & get cut off, but I've hauled in 6lb+ Bass with this setup.

The only time I use Mono is when im fishing top-water poppers, walkers, jitterbugs ect.

The only time I tie Braid directly to my lure is when Im using 30lb+ for topwater Froggin or punching in murky water.

Remember if you're using braided line you NEED to put mono backing on your spool because the braid (having no stretch) will warp the spool.

I use a slip knot to tie the mono to the spool and an Alberto knot to tie the mono & braid together.

[craww]

I also use 30lb braid with a leader of either 12lb Yozuri Hybrid or Seaguar leader material secured by a alberto knot. The leader starts life around 6', and I'll change if it gets roughed up or shortens down to about 2'. Ive noticed that while using conventional lines works fine, actual leader material is a bit different (in a good way). Ive noticed that the Seaguar is so clear its virtually invisible to my eyes in clear water. Other lines I've noticed I can spot in the water, whether than makes any difference I don't know. Abrasion resistance is also top notch with the leader material.

The alberto knot is the way to go, plenty of videos out there on how to. Some of the videos gloss over the fact that the loops when you tighten the knot must seat evenly and not jump over one another.THIS IS THE KEY TO THIS KNOT. I like to finesse it into itself like a Chinese finger trap as I tighten to ensure it seats right.

[thehooligan]

I use 6-12lb flouro leaders when im fishing heavily pressured lakes or clear water. If its murky/dirty water im using straight braid. For my leader knots i use the double-uni. Its the easiest knot for me to tie and i havent had one break yet, the knot held for the 10lb muskie i hooked last week

[deep]

I always use a leader. If nothing else. it makes breaking off snagged baits much easier.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Straight braid for me. I fish in clear water a lot with vis around 15' down. One thing I notice is my braid will match the color of the weeds I pull in. My PPS8S Aqua-Green very closely matched the weeds early spring/summer then when weeds strarted going off/dead late summer/fall my Timber-Brown matched them very well. If you match the hatch why not match the weeds to blend in. I tried leader this year and didnt care for the loss of sensitivity but was using Yo-Zuri not fluoro. I also use thinner braid like 8,10,15 not the anchor rope 50 stuff.

[SirSnookalot]

What puzzles me is, do fish see exactly what I see? My common sense leads me to believe the answer is no. How many animals are nocturnal and see things in the dark that I can't. How many times have I caught a fish at night using a black lure, they see it but I can't. I have tired all the combinations, don't see much of difference one way or the other, even for species that are supposed to be extremely line shy. I personally have given up on F/C leaders, even for fish like kings or snook, both are supposed to be very line shy, but that myth has been disproved countless numbers of times to me. It does boil down to a confidence factor, as George Costanza said "Jerry, just remember, it's not a lie if you believe it".

[J Francho]

In weeds, I tie direct. In rocks or cover where the bait might hangup, or the line can suffer from abrasion, I use a leader.