Pitching With Braid And Flouro Leader

[ib_of_the_damned]

Lately I have been having issues with the connector not between braid and fluoro. I use the Alberto knot with 7-8 wraps up and 7-8 wraps down. I have been using 40lb braid and 15lb fluoro. The knot tends to stop at the 2nd or Tip guide and ruins the pitch and causes a minor backlash. 

 

Do you guys have any suggestions on how to keep this from happening? 

 

I also use about a two rod length leader that stops just before the line guide on the reel when I hang my lure from the hook hanger.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Joedodge]

Just don't use such a long leader and keep the knot out of the tip of the rod

[masterbass]

Try a short leader, maybe 18"

[Mike L]

Question...

I asume you're pitching plastics in weedy, grassy shallow areas.

If so why are you useing a leader for that?

I'm really not trying to be a smart A** but I've read that on here a few times and don't understand the percieved advantage but never thought to ask why.

If you're pitching others things in different area's please disreard.

You have already been given good advise.

Mike

[ib_of_the_damned]

The reason for the long leader is that im lazy and dont want to retie another leader when it gets too short. The other reason for the long leader is that I fish at city park lakes that get hammered by every type of fishermen (the walmart saltwater rod guys, bamboo rod carp guys, catfish bucket brigade, and the upside down spinning reel guys...). I feel that I need to use a leader long enough to hide the Tracer Braid im using (because i think it looks cool) also to avoid having to retie a leader back at my car. 

 

I also have been trying to cut down on tackle and just carry one small plano in a cargo pocket in my shorts and one rod.

 

There also isnt much cover to pitch to, but there are walkways that adjoin islands in the lake that i like to pitch under, or if I see surface commotion i'll pitch to that for a quiet approach. So when I pitch, its more for stealth than to cover. I hope i explained my situation to you guys so you may better see where i'm coming from and be able to suggest something.

 

Thanks again for the answers so far. 

[gulfcaptain]

We fish the same waters.  3ft is all you need of leader to braid.  Are you using standard guides, micro, macro?  You need to check your connection, if you have any tag end mono or FC it needs to be trimmed as close as possible to the knot.  If not it will catch. Feel they can see the braid, get a black marker and color 6" sections to break up the visual on the first 4ft of braid closest to the connection. Don't want to carry extra line, leave it in the car in a shady cool area.  My biggest fish this year came off straight braid tied to a jig. Only time I use any leader longer then 3ft is when I fish swimbaits and then it's about 10ft.  You have any questions about where we fish hit me back with a PM.  

[ib_of_the_damned]

We fish the same waters.  3ft is all you need of leader to braid.  Are you using standard guides, micro, macro?  You need to check your connection, if you have any tag end mono or FC it needs to be trimmed as close as possible to the knot.  If not it will catch. Feel they can see the braid, get a black marker and color 6" sections to break up the visual on the first 4ft of braid closest to the connection. Don't want to carry extra line, leave it in the car in a shady cool area.  My biggest fish this year came off straight braid tied to a jig. Only time I use any leader longer then 3ft is when I fish swimbaits and then it's about 10ft.  You have any questions about where we fish hit me back with a PM.  

On my newer rods they are micro or hybrid micro (or whatever they are called, cant remember). But yeah lets meet up sometime, Id like to learn from you.

[gulfcaptain]

Don't run long leaders on micro's, especially heavier braid and FC/mono.  And you have to check that tag on the connection and trim it as close as possible to not leave a tag otherwise it will always hang up on them.  Go 9-10 wraps.  But no problem, we can meet up and fish sometime.

[uncustered]

I've been using a braid/flouro rig for many years. A 5 turn uni to uni and never had a knot failure, in either salt or fresh water.

[ib_of_the_damned]

Learn this knot.  It's the thinnest out there for braid to flouro/mono connections.   It's what I've been using for the past few months, and my only regret is that I only found out about it now, after 15 years of using braid.  

 

http://www.fishcrack.com/fishing-101-how-to-tie-the-fg-knot-strongest-and-thinnest-knot-for-braid-to-mono/

I'm intrigued by this and will try it when I tie my next leader. Thanks.

 

But I'm still open to other tips/suggestions

[Kyle46N]

I'm intrigued by this and will try it when I tie my next leader. Thanks.

 

But I'm still open to other tips/suggestions

 

Also, I throw this with micro guides.   I can't even feel the knot leaving the guides on the cast.  

[Ozark_Basser]

That fg knot looks interesting. A uni to uni with micro guides and thick line is going to be a no go.

To the op, I have that same problem all of the time. It only really happens on short pitches though. Just shorten up your leader.

[WIGuide]

I'd say shorten up your leader, or just switch to straight braid or fluoro. If that's how I was setting things up, I'd run my leader short enough that it's outside the guides from the start of the pitch. That should still allow you enough line to fish a full day without having to put on a new leader. If you're not getting all the fluoro off the rod, what's the point of having the braid?

[Oregon Native]

I've been using a braid/flouro rig for many years. A 5 turn uni to uni and never had a knot failure, in either salt or fresh water.

Yup...works good.  with pitchin the heavier stuff like 40 braid and twenty fluro I do five braid and four fluro.  Has worked well

[ww2farmer]

I use the Alberto, and when pitching I keep the leader short. Problem solved.

[FryDog62]

I had the same problem too when I started using micro guides.  I messed around with different knots, went with shorter leaders, etc..  The braid main line was great because its low stretch, but it was a little too high visibility at times.  The short leader didn't seem to make it stealthy enough.  Sometimes fish are just line shy.  

 

I grew tired of tying knots, and then started throwing straight fluorocarbon (however, too many rats nests.)  So I switched to 12 pound Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  For me its working well, it actually has very low stretch (not as low as braid but better than fluorocarbon) it is low viz, and very abrasion resistant.  Now I'm not sitting in the boat tying knots all day or getting stuck in the guides.  Seems to work for me anyway, just my 2 cents... sometimes simpler is better ~

[PAGreg]

I use a short leader but also coat the knot with some mend-it. It makes the knot more uniform and less edges to stick in the guides.

[Chris at Tech]

Also try fewer wraps on the fluoro.  A line of that width should be fine with 5 wraps.