Proper leader length

[Maggiesmaster]

I've got 60 lb. test braid on a rig I want to use to pitch & flip jigs. The water in my lake is stained but relatively clear. How long should I make my mono. or flouro leader?

[ww2farmer]

There is no "set" length. Do whatever your comfortable with. 

 

For pitching and flipping I keep my leader short enough that it's out of the guides when I am pitching.........because sometimes the knot will hamper pinpoint accuracy, but I keep it long enough, especially around abrasive cover, that I can re-tie a couple times if I need to without having to tie a new leader.

 

I am usually pitching  with a 7 to 7'6" length rod, so when pitching, with the bait in my non-rod holding hand, the leader is about 5' -6' long.

 

I usually flip with a 7'3" -7'11" length rod, and often when i am flipping, it's in stained water, or really heavy cover where your right on top of them...........I skip the leader, unless I am bouncing around....flipping this, flipping that, then pitching over here, or pitching over to that....if you follow me.

[Jagg]

I don't flip but I do pitch and it is often in very clear water. Green braid straight to the jig for me.

[IgotWood]

I don't really flip much, but I'm using a 7'3", for pitching, and I always fish braid. As said previously, I like to keep the leader short, if possible, to maximize the sensitivity of the braid, which after all, is the most important benefit to me in regards to braid. With that said, I normally go with a 5'-6' leader, and once I've eaten the leader down to about 3', I go ahead and rig a new leader. I really try to keep things as simple as possible. I am fishing in stained water. On a really clear day, I'd say I have about 4' visibility, and the 3' leader doesn't seem to make a difference.  

[d-camarena]

There is no set proper leader length, its a matter of preference. Some people like short leader, i use 10ft leaders. For flippin id use no leader

[RoLo]

The next time I use a leader for pitching, will be my first time    <--straight braid-->

Bass aren't afraid of fishing line, they're not even afraid of treble hooks 

Roger

[bigfruits]

try straight braid and also with a leader and compare results. keep the leader out of the guides like ww2farmer suggested, that should be plenty long. I would use FC.

 

i have been using yellow braid (easy for me to see) and coloring in the last few feet with a black sharpie. might be just a confidence thing but no matter how bass see hi-vis yellow i think black or green will look more natural and un-alarming. i used to use green braid but its hard for me to see in certain conditions.

[.ghoti.]

I use a back to back uni knot, and my leader is about 75 yards long.

 

[IndianaFinesse]

Don't bother tying a leader, the bass could care less especially when flipping or pitching baits that fall fairely fast through dense cover. If you use a leader the line strength is reduced, which is not a good thing when trying to horse a big bass out of heavy cover on a short leash.

[Gundog]

More knots= more places for the line to break, fray, slip. I don't use a leader flipping or pitching.

[Todd2]

Yellow braid with about a rod's length colored green with a permanent marker for me. No leader. When I lose sight of the green, I know its dropped about 7 feet....that comes in handy sometimes. I really think though that the green marker is more for me than the little green things I'm after.

[tander]

Like some have said, I don't use a leader flipping and pitching, I use green braid and tie directly on the lure.

[Angry John]

So because it interests me at what point do we change the name from leader to topshot.  Ten feet seems to meet the magic criteria for me and would indicate the true change in nature on how it is used.  A leader indicates that the main line is x and a short section is added for a reason.  A topshot by my understanding means that the second line might not be used.  Now topshots are a term in saltwater fishing that do not follow this rule but what is the point of calling some thing a leader if your not using the main line.  You are fishing the leader at the point the connection knot does not leave the reel and the main line serves no real purpose other than filler.  Now for me using braid to keep the spool lite serves a huge purpose but then its just backing.

[Bluebasser86]

I don't use a leader on casting gear, even in clear water. If the cover is heavy enough to warrant braid, I don't feel the fish are going to see the line. 

On spinning gear I'll use anywhere from about 2 to 6 feet of leader.

[Darren.]

"Proper" is relative.

 

Use what length you want/are comfortable with.

 

I generally use about one to two stretch arms-apart

lengths and go from there. Sometimes shorter, rarely

longer.

[Montanaro]

Im not worried about the bass seeing braid....

 

...Im worried about braid fraying or digging into wood.

 

Not to mention slack line sensitivity is nill!

 

Im going to play around with a 25 or 30 yard leader this year.  Plenty long for pitching and short casts/skips.  Ive tried short leaders but it really limits you when you need to make a special cast into a tight spot when knot catches guide (alberto knot even!)

 

The problem is my main pitching rod also is my toad/frog rod so Im going to be cutting leaders a lot when i go to different lake.