Shakey-head leader when using braid

[McAlpine]

Within the last few years I have started to grab a shakey-head whenever the going get's tough and the bluebird sky is killing things.  However; I have been having an issue with break-off's on hookset if I go too long between re-tying.  I fish a 6'-7" ML fast *** Black spinning rod with 10lb braid and 10lb Inviz-x as a leader.  I generally fish this in rocky areas which could be contributing to fraying the leader.  However; I love the feel of the firm rod with braid and fluoro as I can tell every little thing that the jighead bumps into. 

 

So, I'm open minded here.  Any input on what to change?  I could go with a rod that has a bit slower action to ease the hookset, or change the leader material out to a mono or more than likely some sort of mono-flouro hybrid.  

 

Any ideas?

 

 

[Sam]

Mac, good question.

 

You will receive many responses and each one could be different.

 

I go with braid tied to the jig head.

 

No leader as I don't want a weak place in the line via the knot.

 

Have not had any problems with this set up.

 

Some of the pros are doing the same, especially in stained and dirty water.

 

I use a medium heavy fast action tip 7-foot rod for shaky head fishing and it works great.

 

Can't wait to read future posts to your thread.

[Choporoz]

most of my shakyheads have a med to light wire hooks, so I'm not crossing their eyes.  I do have some heavier ones, but I generally throw those on a bit heavier line...that said, I think you solved this yourself when you mentioned going "too long between re-tying" -- I'm not great about retying, either, but I've gotten better....I think this is likely a bigger problem than your rod or hookset

[MassYak85]

For shakeyheads I use a 7'MHF spinning rod with 15lb braid to either a 8 or 12lb leader. I think the reason you might be breaking off is a combination of not retying enough and possiblyin combination with too hard of a hookset. I know when I used to fish wacky worms all day I wouldn't retie ever and I ended up breaking fish off eventually because of it. Learned my lesson from that. 

[JustJames]

I recently got one break off on hookset too and that happened to my dropsot setup with braid main line and 6lbs fluro leader. I concluded the problem is too hard of a hookset combine with no stretch of braid line and very close distance (5-10 ft away). I hardly have this happened with my hybrid line #8 (no leader) same knot, same style of fishing.

[WRB]

Set the drag at 2 lbs with 6-7 lb line, 3 lbs for 10 lb line and trust it!

Jigs don't twist your line unless you reel agianst a pulling fish,  therefor no reason to use braid with a FC leader, use straight FC and retie as needed.

Tom

 

[MassYak85]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Jigs don't twist your line unless you reel agianst a pulling fish,  therefor no reason to use braid with a FC leader

I certainly think there are benefits of braid mainline other than managing line twist. 

[WRB]

29 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

I certainly think there are benefits of braid mainline other than managing line twist. 

The OP's problem is that he hesitates to retie because he is using a braid with leader, eliminate the leader or the braid and retie often without the need to tie for 2 knots.

Braid is an advantage is heavy vegetation, otherwise I can't see a reason to use it and don't. Those who like the combination of braid with leaders have confidence using it, it's not for me because of knot failure potential is 50% higher.

Tom

 

[Angry John]

Your leader is one of the softest FC around.  It has great handling on a spinning setup but if your using it for leader material get something like real leader material or shooter.  You will never get away with not inspecting your line and re-tying when required but the harder material will last longer.  

[MassYak85]

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

The OP's problem is that he hesitates to retie because he is using a braid with leader, eliminate the leader or the braid and retie often without the need to tie for 2 knots.

Braid is an advantage is heavy vegetation, otherwise I can't see a reason to use it and don't. Those who like the combination of braid with leaders have confidence using it, it's not for me because of knot failure potential is 50% higher.

Tom

 

Oh I see what you're saying. Then yes for OP I'd say either use straight fluoro or tie longer leaders. I usually opt for the second simply because I like the manageability of braid as a mainline more. 

[shovelmouth83]

if i am fishing in heavy cover i will use just braid. heavy cover such as trees and sumps ill use just braid. if i am on rip rap i will use 12 or 17 lbs floro leader 3 ft in length. if i am in grass ill use a

12 lbs floro or mono, depending on cloudy or bluebird days. mono is better for cloudy days low vis but on a bluebird days i like the floro.

[RoLo]

 

I fish shaky worms on a braided main-line with a braid leader, better known as "straight braid"

Tell me again, I keep forgetting....What is a "break off"?

Any bass petrified by the sight of braided line is scooped up in a dip net  

 

Roger

 

 

[BigSkyBasser]

I fish a shakey head on a 7 FT Medium Power fast action rod. My line is 10 lb power pro braid to an 8 lb p line leader tied with the alberto knot. I haven't had a break off in long enough to remember a specific time. 

 

Could you tell where the line snapped at? It could have been fraying due to rocks by less likely unless your waters have quaga mussel issues. I have a rule to check by leader vitality every 5-10 casts or after a larger fish catch.

[HookRz]

8# Braid to 6#-8# flouro (leader material, not line) with a small drop of liquid lock-tite on the leader knot. Tiny snap at the end. I know, the snap is heresy, but I can switch between different colors of pre-rigged shakeys, tubes, grubs, small swim baits,  Ned's, and sliders in a flash. If I break off on a snag it's at the snap. I can get about a half dozen re-ties out of a 3' leader. 

Works for me. Never broke off on a fish and we catch 6# smallmouth pretty regular up here on Lake Erie.

[junyer357]

I switched to actual leader material (seaguar blue label) and it has worked much better. I normally run a 3-5' leader. 

[Bluebasser86]

10lb braid is so thin I have a hard time even seeing it when I'm looking for it. I've gone to straight 10lb braid and it's worked great with no retying leaders and no hookset breakoffs. 

[fishnkamp]

Go try P Line CXX in moss green. I would try 6 or 8 pound test. I usually use 14 pound Berkley FireLine and the P Line CXX in 8 pound test. Just so you know 10 pound moss green CXX breaks around 23 pounds, 8 breaks around 16 pounds and so you can see you do no have to run heavier line.  If you want to stay with a fluoro leader try 6 or 8 pound P Line Hallo.  I use Stren mono as backing, the FireLine as my main line and a 4 foot leader. That is all you need. Learn to tie good knots and retie as needed. The Uni to Uni knot has worked for me and I have never had my line break at that connection. An FLW angler showed me that arrangement 6 years ago. 

[Team9nine]

Don't change anything... other than how long you go without checking or retying. Your setup is fine. Chalk this one up to user error 

 

-T9

[runt4561]

retying is key especially for light line around rocks. if you can rule out the damaged line or knot issue, I would say the most likely cause is the type of knots you are using. IMO knots like the palomar and others are good strong knots but my issue with the palomar is that is it is not substantial in size. to me, if there is a likelihood that part of the knot may become damaged, you want a large knot to spread all of that load. if the knot is dimunitive, like the palomar. it will not take much to damage that strong knot. however, if you tie a larger knot, that damage will be spread out over a larger area and will not weaken the knot as much overall. I like tying the "shark knot". I don't know if you can find it on the internet or not. mark zona was talking about it one time in a video.

[McAlpine]

Thanks for all of the advice.  The breaks, when they occur, are usually low on the leader near the bait and I am pretty convinced due to nicks on rocks.  It is extremely rare that I have a break at the line to line knot (uni).  Alot of the fishing that occurs here in the Kentucky-Southern Indiana region is in impoundments that are mostly rocky.  Also, the water can drastically change from creek arm to creek arm from very clear to downright chocolate mud.  I use the leader so that I am ready for whatever we pull into and I want to pull out the shakey head which is my go to when it's tough.  For my mainline I use Nanofil, which is awesome line to begin with but one of my primary loves is that bright white color which makes it easy to see the line where it enters the water.  However; that bright white is another reason I use leader.

 

I think based upon the above I'm going to stick with what I'm doing but change it up to a bit heavier leader maybe 12lb with better abrasion resistance such as a hybrid line.  One of my purposes of sticking with the FC for a leader as well is to retain that feel.  Many hits on that shakey head during bluebird sky days are nothing more than the bait becoming heavier or just an odd tick.  I'd hate to go all the way to mono and loose some of that.

 

And yes, I need to retie more often.  ;-)

 

Thanks!

[J._Bricker]

On 3/13/2017 at 1:53 PM, MassYak85 said:

For shakeyheads I use a 7'MHF spinning rod with 15lb braid to either a 8 or 12lb leader. I think the reason you might be breaking off is a combination of not retying enough and possiblyin combination with too hard of a hookset. I know when I used to fish wacky worms all day I wouldn't retie ever and I ended up breaking fish off eventually because of it. Learned my lesson from that. 

 

X2- I believe in retyping due to nicks in the line including tying on a new leader as the cost of doing business, as this is a fun and effective technique. I also keep my file handy, as I don't have to put as much effort into the hook set with a needle sharp hook. 

[Turkey sandwich]

There are only two reasons why line is going to break low on a leader during a hook set.  #1 is a bad line to lure knot, #2 is damaged/frayed line.  This has nothing to do with the rod, or braid to leader. If your knots aren't the problem, I would suggest changing your leader/retieing more frequently and considering a different line.  I like fishing finesse jigs a lot, and fish rocky rivers mostly.  I like Inviz-X a lot for fishing very clear conditions without hard cover and rock.  It's limp, handles well, and is very low visibility, but isn't as abrasion resistant as a copolymer line.  If I'm fishing finesse on a rocky bottom, I'm using 8-10lb Hybrid leaders 85-90% of the time.