Flourcarbon Line Or Leader ?

[KDW96]

Hey everyone- Can someone explain the difference between the two?

 

Can i use flouro line as a leader or should i buy flouro that is labeled leader line?

 

The labled as leader stuff has only 25-75 yds vs 150-200yds,of flouro line.

 

Im wanting to start using a braid to leader,for contact baits. Any help would be great

especially a good sensitive brand. I have setups with 65,40,30 and 20lb braid right

now. Of the lines listed,what size leaders do you recommend? Im just looking to get

some clarifaction on the topic.I can get diffent sizes,just wanted to ask here,because

i know ill get some real life experiences.

 

Thanks again everbody....

[Jrob78]

The leader line is much stiffer and more abrasion resistant than filler spools of fluoro.  You don't get very much because you are only using it to tie short leaders.  It is too stiff and has too much memory to spool a reel with it.  Filler spools are what we normally buy, they are designed to be soft and allow you to fill a reel completely.  

I know there are a few guys here who primarily fish braid with leaders, I'm sure they will have more details for you.

[KDW96]

Yes i just dont know what the difference is , some of leader line is available in the same pound test as filler spools.

[SirSnookalot]

The leader line is much stiffer and more abrasion resistant than filler spools of fluoro.  You don't get very much because you are only using it to tie short leaders.  It is too stiff and has too much memory to spool a reel with it.  Filler spools are what we normally buy, they are designed to be soft and allow you to fill a reel completely.  

I know there are a few guys here who primarily fish braid with leaders, I'm sure they will have more details for you.

I absolutley agree, I do believe it's a bit more diffiult to tie a good knot with any kind of leader material, but doable.  For almost everything I cut my leaders from filler spools, cheaper and more manageable IMO, I only use actual leader material offshore.

[Oregon Native]

I too use filler spools and have for years

[KDW96]

What size of flouro do you recommend for 40,30,20lb braid ? sorry for the dumb question,ive read to stay with the sames diameter,and others say go bigger? 

[ww2farmer]

I use regular fluorocarbon line for my leaders, always have. Zero problems with it, and I don't ever plan on using "leader"material labeled line for this.

Leader size depends on the cover your fishing. Simple as that. While your main line might be 20, 30, or something higher lb test, it's perfectly fine to use, say 8lb fluorocarbon leader if you're dropshotting open water, or just the opposite, use 17lb fluorocarbon leaders if you're pitching cover.

[A-Jay]

What size of flouro do you recommend for 40,30,20lb braid ? sorry for the dumb question,ive read to stay with the sames diameter,and others say go bigger? 

 

The size, strength & type of leader material chosen is usually predicated as much by the cover (or lack there of) as the size/strength of your main line, in this case braid.

 

 Routinely, the leader size (diameter) of the leader should be close to the size of the mainline.  20lb braid with a 20lb mono or fluorocarbon leader would not fish well.  Although the rated breaking strength is similar, the size difference between the two is too dramatic. 

 

Despite being boxed with a rated size and test, each company's standard is a little different.  So depending on your favorite brand of both main line & leader, you'll be better served to play around with each until you find what works best for you in any given situation. 

 

Generally speaking, when I am using a braid main line and leader it looks something like this ~

Braid main line    Leader size

    

10 - 20                  6 - 12

30 - 40                  14 - 20

50 - 65                   15 - 25  

 

Though there are many good ones,  I use a Uni-knot to Uni-knot for the main line to leader connection.

 

This is what works for me - your results may vary ~ Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[Darren.]

Like others have said, no need to buy Leader-specific spool. Filler spools will cost less for a lot more, thus lasting you a long time as a leader material.

 

I'm pretty simple with my setups:

 

Spinning: 10 lb braid       Leaders anywhere from 6-15 lb test

 

Casting: 20 lb braid         Leaders anywhere from 10-15 lb test

[roadwarrior]

I agree pretty much with A-Jay, especially with line size match-ups.

For the lighter rigs I prefer NOT using a leader. For braid on heavier

set-ups I am stil undecided and therefore using a leader on some

and direct ties on a couple.

 

My preferred connecting knot is the Alberto.

[Darren.]

Thought I'd add that the only time I've seen actual leader material used is, like Snook said, for off-shore fishing.

[webertime]

I've used both filler spool fluoro (Sniper, Super FC, Abrazx, Stren, Berkley 100%) and leader material (Seaguar and Orvis).  The leader material is way more abrasion resistant and feels like it has less stretch (to me) than filler spool/main line fluoro.  It's more $$ per foot (because it's fly fishing...) but I like the little spools for fitting into my bag and the abrassion resistance is huge for me up here (rocks, zebra mussels, Pike, stalky weeds/grass, wood).  I haven't notices any difference in knot strength or random break offs between the 2.

[RandySBreth]

I use a lot of "pure" leader material in the Orvis "Mirage" fluoro tippet in 0X (16.5 pound-test) to 3X (9.2 pound test) - super stiff and strong - just amazing abrasion resistance. For fishing suspending jerkbaits in clear water I'll use nothing less than the 1X - it's the same diameter as most 10-pound test fluoro but it's 14.5 -  I think it's stronger, actually.

Regular filler spool fluoro is NOT the same thing by any stretch.

[craww]

I use the yozuri flouro leaders and like it alot. Knots hold well and its supposed to have better clarity than the castable stuff. You can drag it over and through most anything without noticing any abrasion via "the fingertip" test.

[BassinLou]

A-jay and Darren posts were spot on. Follow those guidelines and see what works for you. The only thing I will add, is if you choose to go with a lighter leader lets say less than 10lbs for example. When you detect a strike, you cannot overpower your hookset. You run the risk of snapping the leader. Keep the hookset realistic and don't swing for the fences, that's all I am saying. 

[KDW96]

I use regular fluorocarbon line for my leaders, always have. Zero problems with it, and I don't ever plan on using "leader"material labeled line for this.

Leader size depends on the cover your fishing. Simple as that. While your main line might be 20, 30, or something higher lb test, it's perfectly fine to use, say 8lb fluorocarbon leader if you're dropshotting open water, or just the opposite, use 17lb fluorocarbon leaders if you're pitching cover.

 

 

The size, strength & type of leader material chosen is usually predicated as much by the cover (or lack there of) as the size/strength of your main line, in this case braid.

 

 Routinely, the leader size (diameter) of the leader should be close to the size of the mainline.  20lb braid with a 20lb mono or fluorocarbon leader would not fish well.  Although the rated breaking strength is similar, the sze difference between the two is too dramatic. 

 

Despite being boxed with a rated size and test, each company's standard is a little different.  So depending on your favorite brand of both main line & leader, you'll be better served to play around with each until you find what works best for you in any given situation. 

 

Generally speaking, when I am using a braid main line and leader it looks something like this ~

Braid main line    Leader size

    

10 - 20                  6 - 12

30 - 40                  14 - 20

50 - 65                   15 - 25  

 

Though there are many good ones,  I use a Uni-knot to Uni-knot for the main line to leader connection.

 

This is what works for me - your results may vary ~ Good Luck

 

A-Jay

 

 

Like others have said, no need to buy Leader-specific spool. Filler spools will cost less for a lot more, thus lasting you a long time as a leader material.

 

I'm pretty simple with my setups:

 

Spinning: 10 lb braid       Leaders anywhere from 6-15 lb test

 

Casting: 20 lb braid         Leaders anywhere from 10-15 lb test

 

 

I've used both filler spool fluoro (Sniper, Super FC, Abrazx, Stren, Berkley 100%) and leader material (Seaguar and Orvis).  The leader material is way more abrasion resistant and feels like it has less stretch (to me) than filler spool/main line fluoro.  It's more $$ per foot (because it's fly fishing...) but I like the little spools for fitting into my bag and the abrassion resistance is huge for me up here (rocks, zebra mussels, Pike, stalky weeds/grass, wood).  I haven't notices any difference in knot strength or random break offs between the 2.

 

 

I use a lot of "pure" leader material in the Orvis "Mirage" fluoro tippet in 0X (16.5 pound-test) to 3X (9.2 pound test) - super stiff and strong - just amazing abrasion resistance. For fishing suspending jerkbaits in clear water I'll use nothing less than the 1X - it's the same diameter as most 10-pound test fluoro but it's 14.5 -  I think it's stronger, actually.

Regular filler spool fluoro is NOT the same thing by any stretch.

 

Thank you everyone! Learned alot on this.................