Using A Leader

[LuckyGia]

I read a lot of information. Some I use, some I don't.

I am curious about the use of a leader when you have a spool full of braid.

I see people are using Flourocarbon leaders to hide the line from the fish.

I have to say that I have been fishing for over 40 years. And I have never had to hide my line from the fish. I believe that if you land that lure in front of that bass, they don't care if you have exposed braid.

Am I missing a big picture here ?

[Scott F]

No, I don't think you are. 

[FishTank]

So the line in is invisible and maybe because FC sinks and braid floats.  For me, I use a leader occasionally but otherwise when I use braid for it's intended purpose, I use straight braid, no leader.

[ABW]

I use a leader to absorb shock, and to break off without losing too much line.

[LuckyGia]

I understand the ideas behind using one. I guess I always felt that the knot is the weakest link in the chain. I don't want to add more weak links.

And I am sure you could say you could coax a stubborn bass while using one.

I still don't do it.

[iabass8]

Here's what I found in a quick search. Enjoy.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/124512-best-knot-for-braid-to-fluoro-leader/?hl=%2Bfluoro+%2Bleader

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/130145-dropshot-braid-with-leader-or-straight-fluoro/?hl=%2Bfluoro+%2Bleader

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/142583-flippin-a-jig-braid-fluoro-braid-fluoro-leader/?hl=%2Bfluoro+%2Bleader

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/144492-shakyhead-setup-braid-fluoro-leader-or-straight-fluoro/?hl=%2Bfluoro+%2Bleader

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/156381-knot-that-works-mono-fluoro-leader-to-braid/?hl=%2Bfluoro+%2Bleader

[corn-on-the-rob]

Hiding the line from the fish is an added bonus to the main reasons I use a leader.

 

1. Abrasion resistance. Rocks eat up braid like a hot knife through butter.

 

2. I can break off intentionally at the leader with out losing braid.

 

So I get all of the benefits of the braid with out the negatives, and likewise for fluoro.

 

But I will say that believing line visibility never matters is an extreme oversight. It may not matter some of the time, perhaps even most of the time, but there are certainly times when choice of line visibility can absolutely make or break a day.

[corn-on-the-rob]

I understand the ideas behind using one. I guess I always felt that the knot is the weakest link in the chain. I don't want to add more weak links.

And I am sure you could say you could coax a stubborn bass while using one.

I still don't do it.

 This just goes back to the most influential thing in fishing: confidence. Which makes it understandable.

 

My leader never breaks at the knot, always between the lure and the knot. Over the last year of using this set up I have the utmost confidence in it. Really the only down side to me is having to take the 35 seconds to tie a new leader when necessary. I have had days on lake Erie where I caught over 40 drum (I kept track) on a 12 lb leader with out retying with the smallest being no less than 3lb, most in the 6lb to 10lb range and a few pushing 15lb. I wouldn't change the leader in a bass tournament unless it has gotten too short or if it is nicked up. Also brought in a close to 40lb catfish on the Potomac on a 12lb leader with out fear of failure. (lol I was more worried about my medium powered rod than the knot)

 

If you use the right tools for the job and use them correctly, the leader is not even a remote concern.

[jbsoonerfan]

Hiding the line from the fish is an added bonus to the main reasons I use a leader.

1. Abrasion resistance. Rocks eat up braid like a hot knife through butter.

2. I can break off intentionally at the leader with out losing braid.

So I get all of the benefits of the braid with out the negatives, and likewise for fluoro.

But I will say that believing line visibility never matters is an extreme oversight. It may not matter some of the time, perhaps even most of the time, but there are certainly times when choice of line visibility can absolutely make or break a day.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. I don't use a leader because I think braid scares fish, but for these reasons.

[Darren.]

I understand the ideas behind using one. I guess I always felt that the knot is the weakest link in the chain. I don't want to add more weak links.

And I am sure you could say you could coax a stubborn bass while using one.

I still don't do it.

 

A properly/carefully tied leader knot is not

as weak a link as you might think. I have 

100% confidence in the knots I tie, rarely 

ever break at the knot, it is either the leader

breaking or the braid.

 

Biggest advantage for me is saving of pricey

braid by using a leader. My leaders usually 

last a while, going from long to short where

all those reties using braid only would have 

shortened my mainline more quickly.

 

Pulled a fat 5.5 pounder out of thick slop this 

past weekend. One of the hardest fighting bass

I've ever caught, to be honest. She pulled and 

pulled and came up with a pound of extra grass

no problemo.

[everythingthatswims]

I had one day that made me decide to always use leader with braid. I was fishing a pond while on vacation in SC, and the fish were mainly pre spawn feeding pretty heavy. I was throwing a senko on a spinning rod, 10lb braid to 10lb fluoro. Almost every cast was producing a fish, so when I broke off my leader I said heck with it I will go with straight braid, the bite is hot enough that it won't change anything. Went 20 mins without a bite, put a leader back on and continued catching. Never moved my feet.

 

Just recently in a tournament on Anna, my partner and I were on a solid drop shot bite. I was fishing braid with 8lb *clear* mono as a leader, and he had 8lb "clear/blue" mono with no leader. I was getting tons of bites and he wasn't doing much, as soon as I put a leader on for him he started catching. Leaders definitely make a difference. Even if 9 out of 10 bass will eat a bait without a leader on it, I don't want the braid to be a barrier between me and a bite I could be getting.

[hatrix]

A leader is a life saver when you get hung up and that is a big reason I use one. Also braid lasts for so long then I could change baits a million times and hardly eat up and braid since it was all leader. Although it can be nice to run straight braid with lures you can bend the hooks out. I tie a uni to uni and have no concerns about it being a weak point. Every time I need to pop a leader I get only braid back with no knot and I think it is the braid that breaks not the leader.

[SirSnookalot]

I use a leader to absorb shock, and to break off without losing too much line.

In addition getting a treble untangled with braid can be very time consuming.

[nolantitleist]

I use a leader occasionally but every time I do I feel like I spend more time worrying if my leader is getting nicks in it and worrying when I am going to break off a big bass than I actually do fishing. I am still experimenting with wether or not I like to use a leader. At this point I do feel like fish tend to bite more often and bigger fish for that matter when I am using a leader. But I do feel more confident when I am using just straight braid than when I am using a leader. 

[jbsoonerfan]

I use a leader occasionally but every time I do I feel like I spend more time worrying if my leader is getting nicks in it and worrying when I am going to break off a big bass than I actually do fishing. I am still experimenting with wether or not I like to use a leader. At this point I do feel like fish tend to bite more often and bigger fish for that matter when I am using a leader. But I do feel more confident when I am using just straight braid than when I am using a leader.

Wait, you worry if your leader is getting a nick in it, but you don't worry if your braid is? I am much more worried about my braid when fishing cover as opposed to my leader.

[HoosierHawgs]

I do have a question. I'm fishing big 10 in worms on 50# braid w/14# fluoro leader on a Lightning Rod Shock (7' MH). I'm thinking about straight fluoro, but I worried it will be expensive, unmanageable, and that the Shock's soft tip would not be sensitive enough with fluoro.. Thoughts?

[J Francho]

Personally, if your going to go straight anything for Texas rigs, I'd go with braid or a really tough copoly over any fluorocarbon line. If your talking braid with a leader, I use copoly or fluoro leader material, not reel fill line.

[corn-on-the-rob]

I use a leader occasionally but every time I do I feel like I spend more time worrying if my leader is getting nicks in it and worrying when I am going to break off a big bass than I actually do fishing. I am still experimenting with wether or not I like to use a leader. At this point I do feel like fish tend to bite more often and bigger fish for that matter when I am using a leader. But I do feel more confident when I am using just straight braid than when I am using a leader. 

Like jb said, regardless of what line is at the end of your setup you should be diligently checking for nicks and any signs of potential failure. Heck if I saw a nick in FC and a nick in braid, the braid nick would scare me more.

 

 

 

I do have a question. I'm fishing big 10 in worms on 50# braid w/14# fluoro leader on a Lightning Rod Shock (7' MH). I'm thinking about straight fluoro, but I worried it will be expensive, unmanageable, and that the Shock's soft tip would not be sensitive enough with fluoro.. Thoughts?

 

Are you not satisfied with the braid/FC set up? What prompted the desire to change?

[HoosierHawgs]

Like jb said, regardless of what line is at the end of your setup you should be diligently checking for nicks and any signs of potential failure. Heck if I saw a nick in FC and a nick in braid, the braid nick would scare me more.

Are you not satisfied with the braid/FC set up? What prompted the desire to change?

Really just me wondering if one would be better than the other. Other than the need to tie leaders, which I still need practice with,and the need to purchase a quality pair of scissors, there haven't been any real problems.

[nolantitleist]

Wait, you worry if your leader is getting a nick in it, but you don't worry if your braid is? I am much more worried about my braid when fishing cover as opposed to my leader.

 

 

Like jb said, regardless of what line is at the end of your setup you should be diligently checking for nicks and any signs of potential failure. Heck if I saw a nick in FC and a nick in braid, the braid nick would scare me more.

 

 

 

 

Are you not satisfied with the braid/FC set up? What prompted the desire to change?

I don't know what kind of braid you guys use or what poundage but for me personally braid seems to be way more durable. Braid seems to be invincible when I compare it to fluoro. 

[J Francho]

It's not what, it's where. Up here zebra mussels will slice your braid, where as single filament lines perform better.

[kcdinkerz]

I always use a leader unless in fishing heavy slope or veg. Once you get the knot down it only takes a minute to tie

[corn-on-the-rob]

I don't know what kind of braid you guys use or what poundage but for me personally braid seems to be way more durable. Braid seems to be invincible when I compare it to fluoro. 

 

Right on, and for the most part braid is very durable, but zebra muscles and sharp rock eat it for breakfast, no matter the brand.

[Wayne P.]

Right on, and for the most part braid is very durable, but zebra muscles and sharp rock eat it for breakfast, no matter the brand.

Same for tidal waters and barnacles.

[HoosierHawgs]

New question.... Sorry for all of these! But anyways, would you fish NanoFil without a leader, or with one?