When To Use A Leader?

[LakeNormanFishing]

I was just wondering when to use a leader and what the point of it is? I pretty much fish bass exclusively and they aren't toothy so I was wondering why use a leader? Started fishing this summer so would love to know, thanks.

[ABW]

I use leaders to save money on line. I'll use 40 lb braid with a filler spool of fluorocarbon as leader material because braid lasts a lot longer and is more maneagable. Also, leaders act as a shock absorber for braid. If you're fishing clear water with braid, then you might want to tie on a leader so the fish can't see the braid. Don't know if thats true or not, but its a confidence thing for me.

[LakeNormanFishing]

How long is your leader typically?

[roadwarrior]

The main reason I use a leader with braided line is so I can break-off when I need to.

[LakeNormanFishing]

The main reason I use a leader with braided line is so I can break-off when I need to.

So do you use a lower # leader?

[gulfcaptain]

It's easier to break 20lb mono or FC then to break 50-65lb braid.

[ABW]

How long is your leader typically?

 

 

I usually just do a wingspan of my arms and then cut that length to tie on

[BiteFiend]

I have braid and flouro leader on a few of my set ups. I like it for bottom bouncing techniques and on my DS and SH set-ups because fish can't see it. I also feel like a leader provides better abrasion resistance than straigh braid offers.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Abrasion resistance around rock and especially shell beds. Zebra Mussels and braid don't play well together. The ability to break off helps in snaggy areas and fishing from the back of the boat. I hate asking the boater to hold up or back track to deal with snags. A leader saves line if you'll be retying often.

[Arv]

I mostly do it for abrasion resistance and breaking off if needed. Sometimes its a confidence thing if I feel like braid is spooking fish, but thats rarely the case

[jason41987]

i agree with others in using leader to preserve your stronger, and often more expensive main line.. especially if youre using a spinning reel where a more full spool is more important.. but i usually tie a ring to my main line, swivels to my leads so i can quickly disconnect leaders and ill have a separate leader for each lure so i dont have to tie a new one or cut lines whenever i switch, and this is better than hooking a lure directly to a swivel so theres nothing close to your lure except the fluorocarbon line

 

also, by having a clear fluoro leader i can use a bright high visibility braided line giving me the best of both worlds, clear line where i need it, easy to see line where i want it and little to no risk of snapping anything more than a short length of fluoro, and in my opinion as a leader is the only way i see fluoro as useful, its properties in my opinion doesnt lend itself very well to being used as a main line

 

as for steel leaders i used to use them when id fish for pike, but stopped when i learned more about what i was doing, the unlikeliness of a lure going that deep into a pipes mouth (the teeth only get to chew on the metal spoon or wire from a spinnerbait) and even then their teeth tend to be more pointy designed to hold fish, than sharp, i havent actually had one bite off a line yet to be honest, the lures ive lost have been due to snags or trying out a new knot that didnt work so well