Leader Or No Leader

[Littlewing29]

Hey guys,

 

Let me just start this off by saying this is my second year bass fishing and I love it. "I'm hooked" as a corny saying fishermen have used. I have a couple questions about leaders if you could help...I have right now 20 lb power pro braided moss green line on my baitcaster. I was wondering if I need to use a leader...especially for jigs and worms and crankbaits. I didn't use a leader at all for top water such as buzzbaits and frogs and poppers and I was successful. But it is that underwater action that I have been struggling with. I'm wondering if the fish are just staring at my moss green line attached to my worm and laughing at this novice fisherman. Please help if you can. 

 

 

 

Thanks a lot and can't wait for the 13' fishing season!

[Teal]

Yes and no. I use braid for alot of my mainline but water here on my home lakes is super clear so i use leaders often. I dont use leaders where the vegetation or brush is really nasty. I dont use leaders for punching mats of grass either.

I also use straight braid for frogs and heavy topwaters.

[Darren.]

There's plenty of stuff out there on visibility of line to bass at varying depths.

 

Some will tie a jig directly to braid, others use a leader. Some use straight braid no matter what they're throwing.

 

Personally, I use braid + leader on all my spinning gear, and two baitcasters, whether jig or worm fishing. If I do throw a topwater, I may leave the leader attached, or may go straight braid-to-frog, etc.

[nascar2428]

I use straight braid on top waters, because it floats. Braid with a flouro leader on everything else.

[Felix77]

I go strictly FC on 3 of my baitcaseter.  (10, 15 and 20lb FC) and 12lb Mono on another for topwater.  I only use braid on spinning and 90-ish% of the time I use an 8lb FC leader with the braid.  It's a confidence thing I guess.

[thatlewsguy_810]

I use straight braid on top waters, because it floats. Braid with a flouro leader on everything else.

Same with me...

[thehooligan]

Right now im using just flouro on my baitcasters, and 10lb braid on my spinning rods with flouro leaders only in clear water. If its heavily stained or muddy i just use straight braid.

[jignfule]

I have more confidence in clear water using a leader.

[BrettD]

I use straight braid but 95% of the water I fish is stained and I fish alot of heavy cover.

[Loop_Dad]

Right now, straight braid when I am at some heavily vegetated water because I don't feel like I'm hurting anything, and attach leader when I am not. Sometimes for jigs and worm, I go straight braid, even if it I'm in open water. All of this can change as I am experimenting what's the best compromise with limited resources.

[Crestliner2008]

Most braids don't do well with bottom presentations, mainly due to their lack of abrasion resistance. I usually use a fluoro leader just for that reason. A bonus is it's diminished visibility. But again....it's probably more of a confidence thing than anything else.

[slonezp]

There are good and bad for both arguements. I used to use a flouro leader on braid. I don't any more. I would rather retie periodicaly than chance losing a fish. I carry numerous setups on my boat and can switch from braid to flouro depending on water clarity.

[LgMouthGambler]

I just cant get over the fact that you use such a thin line on a baitcaster, but thats me. If your gonna use that thin of braid, then I would use a leader of at least 12#.

[ww2farmer]

I just cant get over the fact that you use such a thin line on a baitcaster, but thats me.

 

It is just you.......plenty of people, including me use 20lb braid on casting equipment and get along fine with it.

[SudburyBasser]

I generally fish in pretty clear water up here using braid but I rarely use a leader whether its plastics, cranks or top water. I know I'm paying somewhat of a penalty in at least some situations but I've never really had a problem not using a flouro leader.