Leader To Braid

[t4bama]

Just wondering for those who tie a leader to braid how long do you make your leader? Like fishing a jig for more sensitive but don't want the fish to see the braid. 

[backcast88]

I don't think it really matters how long the leader is.  But no matter what I don't want the knot connecting the braid and leader to go into my reel.  To accomplish this I use a uni to uni knot and wind the line so the knot is just above first guide away from the reel.  Then I cut the leader about 3 or 4 ft past the tip.   That gives me a leader of 8 to 10 ft depending on the rod.

[Smokinal]

I usually just pull off about 2 outstretched arms length. I cut and retie until about 3 ft long; then new leader time.

[livetofish28]

I tie it so when the lure is on the keeper the knot is outside of the tip of the rod so as not to crimp the line and weaken it 

 

  tight lines

 

    Andew

[hoosierbass07]

  I just put on some braid on one of my spinning reels and put on a mono leader.  I plan on trying braid out this spring/summer for the first time.  I put on twice the length of my rod so that when I tie the lure on and reel it up, the knot does get reeled around the spool but stays on top.  I'm going by what this guy says in this video: 

 

 

[aprestonSEK]

I use the Albright for tying my leaders.  I usually tie around a six foot leader.  One way I measure out the right length is by reeling the connection knot to the first guide and cutting the line where the tag end is even with the reel.  

[Bluebasser86]

I only use about 3' but it's more for abrasion resistance than visibility. 

[corn-on-the-rob]

Improved albright for knot. The leader length varies but for me never more than 5 feet usually around 3 feet. Like BB said it is mainly about abrasion resistance 65%, visibility is the other 35%. If you are using a jig rod with braid (assuming heavy braid in medium/heavy cover) a leader is usually unnecessary.

[Felix77]

I keep things simple. I tie the leader on. Reel the knot to the tip of the rod. I clip the line in between the last guide and the reel. Tie on my hook and go!

[Catch and Grease]

On bait casting gear short enough that the leader doesn't go back in the reel but I normally only tie it a few feet long, on spinning gear I'll go all the way back to the spool...

[fishballer06]

I normally tie on a about an arm's length (2-3'). 

[BigSkyBasser]

The only time I've ever done this is on my drop shot set up and I'll take the leader all the way back to my spool. This helps mainly for when you break off and have to re tie so even after 5 times you still have leader left. I also use flouro leader.

[Mattfrom_NJ]

2-3ft

[Darren.]

It really depends on what you want to do.

 

I usually do one to two arm stretches, and that's 

my leader. Sometimes I'll tie it the length of my

rod...

 

Gary Yamamoto ties his very long - 20 feet or so 

because he wants the leader knot on his reel while 

he's fighting the fish close to his boat.

 

So it all depends.

 

EDIT: Here's the link for Yamamoto's thoughts...

 

Scroll down to Chapter 4, toward bottom of the 

chapter. Below I italicized the section. 

 

 

Since the braid-to-leader splice is under continual pressure, Gary Yamamoto prefers to always have that splice wound onto the reel spool plus several additional wraps of leader on the reel spool while landing a fish. With the braid-to-leader splice and a few turns of leader on the reel, all or most of the pressure is alleviated off of the splice while landing a bass at boatside. Only the fluorocarbon leader itself is stressed, not the splice, during the final fish-landing process. So the length of fluorocarbon leader line used by Yamamoto is from 20 to 25 feet of leader line.

[SirSnookalot]

Personal choice.

Mine are about 2'.

Don't understand a 20' leader with the knot buried in the spool, unless one has no confidence in their knot.  My bass set up isn't too different than my tarpon set up, 15-20# braid, leader size will vary 10# for bass and 20 or 30# for tarpon.  Knot failure for either species isn't a concern.  If I had a locked drag, which I would never do, I might consider another alternative.  The right drag setting is what takes the pressure off the knots.

[TorqueConverter]

Just wondering for those who tie a leader to braid how long do you make your leader? Like fishing a jig for more sensitive but don't want the fish to see the braid. 

 

 

My leaders start out as long as the amount of line I have out past the tip top guide while holding onto a bait ready to pitch.  Over time this amount of material becomes shorter due to cutting and retiring.  I often let it go as short as foot or less of leader material.  My 40+ visibility water fish don't seem to care when it gets that short.  I sometimes fish high vis braid right to the bait when my leaders are acting up and it doesn't matter a bit.  Chances are you're far more spooked by the line than the fish will ever be so do what feel right to you.  A confident angler is a successful one.  No leader, all the leader in the world.  Whatever gives you warm an fuzzies is best.       

[Smokinal]

Remember, though, that using a fluoro leader isn't always about visibility. Braid will cut like paper against a rock. I fish a lot of pretty green water and wouldn't need a leader for visibility but all my water is rocky so I always use one on my jig, worm, any bottom presentation etc...