Brain Fart... How Long Is Your Leader?

[roadwarrior]

Playing in the yard and getting rigged for the RoadTrip, I made an AMAZING discovery.

I found the PERFECT leader length. This is soooooooo obvious, but something that never

occurred to me.

 

I hate feeling the knot and sometimes it can interfer with casting. So, I "discovered" a new

(to me) trick: Tie the leader to the main line between the reel and first guide with just enough

leader sticking out 4"-6" beyond the tip of your rod.

 

Duh....

 

Man, it's like the light just came on!

 

 

 

 

[motodmast]

HA! i never thought of that, genius idea! 

thanks for the tip!

[lmbfisherman]

HA sheesh, that was so simple and never occurred to me either.  DOH!

[PABASS]

I typically make a leader from the last guide down to the baitholder, I hate feeling the knots as well and even with a modified albright I still felt it, so that's what I have been doing.  Never thought to post it..

[Siebert Outdoors]

You must throw a real long leader.  I typically stay 18-30" of leader.    Good idea though.  See you Wed!

[PABASS]

You must throw a real long leader.  I typically stay 18-30" of leader.    Good idea though.  See you Wed!

I do and the reason is versatility, when I fish the bank I only carry two rods/reels and I need the ability to swap baits and techniques which can require line cuts and use(drop shot) sometimes at the end of the day I might only have a few inches of leader or no leader at all.  Recently I started carrying some with me but I only have so much space in my backback and I dont like using it for a leader material.

[11justin22]

You must throw a real long leader.  I typically stay 18-30" of leader.    Good idea though.  See you Wed!

i fished with an flw pro a few weeks ago and that's what he did. i actually rig mine excatley like the op wrote.

[derekxec]

you know whats easier? fishing without a leader like i do lol just learn to tie your knots with hardly any tag end.....the fish not being able to see your line is just good marketing and ive never had bass cut through braid 

[Silas]

I've been doing that for years!!   Works well.   I never could figure out why so many wanted really long leaders.  No real advantage....at least to ME. I suppose if you broke off or retied several times a day you might need a longer leader because you shorten it so much.  I don't have that issue.

 

I never want the knot going into my reel......and this was the easiest way. 

 

Some things take years to come to light, don't they?

[SirSnookalot]

You must throw a real long leader.  I typically stay 18-30" of leader.    Good idea though.  See you Wed!

I pretty much agree with this, I may go a little shorter yet.  For most of my fishing I tie my leader on with a swivel, about 20", if I'm freshwater fishing and will be changing lures, I'll use a duolock.  When I do tie leader to line it's only for some specific species I'm targeting, at that time it will be about 5' leader and 10# braid with 20# leader, the knot is fine going thru the tip guide, I don't care to do it with a larger mainline and leader line. If my target is toothy critter I will put a 1" duolock on the end, it prevents a few cut offs, not all.

[BradH]

I always start them that long.  When they get down to 18-24 inches I put a new one on.  I cut off and retie the lure end often due to teeth and rocks.  I guess if you don't have esox to worry about it may not be as obvious to start with a leader that long.

[Hyrule Bass]

my leader length is 0 because i dont use one typically. only when carolina rigging, and even then i use the same as my mainline and a swivel. and also when trolling for striper with lead core line, i will use a leader then.

[.ghoti.]

Leader length? Mine are in the 75 yard range.