leaders?

[Fisher Guy]

do i really need a transparent leader with my braided line?  I'm not great at knots and therefore i worry 

[Darren.]

In my opinion, yes, but not necessarily why you think.

Braid is expensive and I prefer to not keep cutting down
on it retying hooks and such during an outing. So a 
leader allows you to save braid.

That said, two knots are really all you need: uni-to-uni,
and the Albright Special/Alberto.

There are YouTube tutorials that make tying really easy
with practice. I am 100% confident in my leader knots.

[gardnerjigman]

2 minutes ago, Darren. said:

In my opinion, yes, but not necessarily why you think.

Braid is expensive and I prefer to not keep cutting down
on it retying hooks and such during an outing. So a 
leader allows you to save braid.

So what applications to you use braid, but use a leader to "save" the braid? That has me scratching my head. I only see 2 reasons to use braid, for strength and to float. So if you aren't using a leader for transparency issues, what's the point in using braid at all?

[Darren.]

Just now, gardnerjigman said:

So what applications to you use braid, but use a leader to "save" the braid? That has me scratching my head. I only see 2 reasons to use braid, for strength and to float. So if you aren't using a leader for transparency issues, what's the point in using braid at all?

Line management. In my experience, it is far better than
using straight fluoro, mono, etc.

[gardnerjigman]

Just now, Darren. said:

Line management. In my experience, it is far better than
using straight fluoro, mono, etc.

As far as line memory? That makes way more sense. 

[PennBass]

I've seen no difference between fluoro leader vs. straight braid, and I guess the fish don't either. But because braid is so limp, I sometimes tie a fluoro leader when using jerks or treble hook baits so the hooks don't get fouled up. I found the FG Knot works best for me, but it's a bit complicated to tie at first. 

[d-camarena]

The main reasons i use leaders are-

1. Sometimes when you set the hook on a biggin the line can snap because of the lack of stretch, this goes for smaller braid like 10 or 15 lb.

2. Because when you get snagged, something has got to give. Braid will not break. 

[Scott F]

1 hour ago, gardnerjigman said:

So what applications to you use braid, but use a leader to "save" the braid? That has me scratching my head. I only see 2 reasons to use braid, for strength and to float. So if you aren't using a leader for transparency issues, what's the point in using braid at all?

Transparency is not an issue for me. I use braid (no leader) because it doesn't stretch.

[lmbfisherman]

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

In my opinion, yes, but not necessarily why you think.

Braid is expensive and I prefer to not keep cutting down
on it retying hooks and such during an outing. So a 
leader allows you to save braid.

That said, two knots are really all you need: uni-to-uni,
and the Albright Special/Alberto.

There are YouTube tutorials that make tying really easy
with practice. I am 100% confident in my leader knots.

Darren has given you great advice.  Those two knots aren't hard to do.

Just so you know I've fished straight yellow braid before and still caught fish.  Main reasons I use leaders as stated in a previous response.  Also other reasons are other lines have better abrasion resistance and adding a mono leader gives you the advantage of the stretch needed for treble techniques.

[Insanity]

I first started using braid in a heavily fished small bank fishing lake. And never noticed a difference in catching numbers. Ther for I've never used leaders. If I ever fished gin clear water I'd consider it.  

[lmbfisherman]

2 minutes ago, Insanity said:

I first started using braid in a heavily fished small bank fishing lake. And never noticed a difference in catching numbers. Ther for I've never used leaders. If I ever fished gin clear water I'd consider it.  

Even in clear water I'm confident you'll still catch.

[MIbassyaker]

1 hour ago, Fisher Guy said:

do i really need a transparent leader with my braided line?  I'm not great at knots and therefore i worry 

I don't buy concerns about line visibility for bass in most situations. When I use leaders with braid, it's not for transparency.

Like scott and darren say above, I use braid for line management and low stretch, in addition to strength.

Around vegetation, I don't use a leader even in clear water. unless as darren says, I will be retying often and want to save line. Otherwise, I find straight braid is simply unbeatable in grass.

Around rocks or rip rap, I use a leader for better abrasion resistance.

In snaggy rivers, I use a leader so breaking off is easier if I get irretrievably hung, as d-camarena above says.

 

[gardnerjigman]

21 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Transparency is not an issue for me. I use braid (no leader) because it doesn't stretch.

Yah, that's what I was saying. 

[S. Sass]

1 hour ago, Fisher Guy said:

do i really need a transparent leader with my braided line?  I'm not great at knots and therefore i worry 

No 

[blckshirt98]

Use a swivel and attach both ends via Palomar.  No shame in using a swivel, though some people see it as using mudflaps on a bike.  Might not be the cool thing to do, but it works.

[Airman4754]

It probably doesn't matter, but if it makes the difference on one fish then it's worth it to me. I'll never really know, but I know I'm doing the most I can. 

[flyingmonkie]

8 minutes ago, blckshirt98 said:

Use a swivel and attach both ends via Palomar.  No shame in using a swivel, though some people see it as using mudflaps on a bike.  Might not be the cool thing to do, but it works.

Intersting... then I assume you're using a pretty short leader.

[Dye99]

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

Transparency is not an issue for me. I use braid (no leader) because it doesn't stretch.

Same here. For my style, straight braid works best for me...

I see no reason in my waters to tie on something that weakens my line. I don't need the transparency. 

Funny thing is, Ive been drop shotting with ten pound braid lately even, catching more than ever....

[blckshirt98]

I'm assuming this is for some kind of finesse presentation using a spinning outfit, and I'll go up to 24-30" for a leader.

[Catch 22]

I use a leader all the time.

Stretch on the hook set. Sometime I`m a Wildman on the set==can`t help it.With out the leader I believe I would straighten the hooks on some of the LC`s and or tear the lure from the mouth.

Abrasion, I fish lots of stumps

Break offs are easier,more controlled 

Economics==not cutting off much braid.

I swing lots of fish in . Grabbing  braid would put my hands in worse shape than they usually are.

uni=uni with  6 turns each side works well for me.

BUT,I will try without the leader sometime to check it out.Old habits die hard

C22

[flyingmonkie]

Historically, I've fished a lot of straight braid.  The past year or two, I've started using leaders more often than not.

You'll catch fish, even in clear water, on straight braid... but I must assume that, especially when using slow moving baits, a transparent leader will get you more bites.  You rarely see guys in the Elites fishing straight braid unless it's their frogging rig... a few for flipping/punching.

My Logic:

• Braid is arguably the easiest line to cast, has great longevity, and unparalleled strength.  Braid is my mainline of choice 80% of the time.
• Rocks cut through braid like a warm knife through butter, and braid (especially 30# and down), has the tendency to snap (heavy lures + backlash, quick hooksets)
• Flouro can be hard to cast but is invisible, abrasion resistance, and has a little bit of stretch.
• Fouro's strengths almost perfectly compliment braid's weaknesses!  They are like pizza and beer - why wouldn't you put them together?!  

Not only is the Albright not easy to learn and reliable, it will make you feel like a man after you do it right.

 

[Kevin22]

I fish a lake with 10-20' visibility. If you use straight braid the fish turn and swim the other direction. Tie on a 10' fluoro leader and the fish swim towards your lure. Took 10 casts to make me a believer in leaders. 

I don't use braid anymore except for SOME shakey head fishing and punching. I used to use braid for almost everything. 

[KYBassin']

In very clear water fluoro can make a difference in bite rates.  Also, a fluoro leader on a drop shot helps the presentation.  Other than that, braid.

[Smokinal]

Just check this out OP:

http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint

 

The Albright and Blood knots are all you need to learn. Both have worked great for me; just depends on which you prefer to tie. And if you have micro-guide rods, you will want the Albright as it is a slimmer/sleaker knot.

I subscribe to the braid/fluoro leader thought for all the reasons already mentioned and have 100% confidence in my knots.

[buzzed bait]

for me, it's not about the clear line.  i use it to break off a snag a little easier because braid just won't break, also fishing from the bank sometimes it can mean you have to cut off a lot of line.  Not good for the pond nor for your wallet to cut that much off.  and i also like the abrasion resistance for dragging bottom baits.  for me, the uni to uni is easy to tie and has given me no problems with knot strength.