Leader weight for braid?

[bma3]

Hi all, I have 10# braid on my spinning rod and 20# braid on my bait caster and was wondering if 8# fluorocarbon would be suitable to put on both of these as a short leader? I know it will be fine for the spinning rod but is it too light for the bait caster? I really don't want to buy 2 spools of fluoro so I'm hoping using 8# fluorocarbon is suitable for both.

Thanks

[Bluebasser86]

Yes that will be fine on both. 

[d-camarena]

Honestly dont be cheap and buy yourself a 12lb or 15lb spool of big game mono. Youll have leader for years. 8lb is not enough for the baitcaster

[bma3]

1 minute ago, d-camarena said:

Honestly dont be cheap and buy yourself a 12lb or 15lb spool of big game mono. Youll have leader for years. 8lb is not enough for the baitcaster

I don't want mono because it floats and I would rarely if ever be using topwaters on these rods. 

[Bluebasser86]

8 minutes ago, bma3 said:

I don't want mono because it floats and I would rarely if ever be using topwaters on these rods. 

Braid floats, mono is somewhat neutral. I use mono for a lot of bottom contact baits and it works just fine. I also use mono for most of my leaders on braid because it's cheap and so am I. 

[bma3]

30 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Braid floats, mono is somewhat neutral. I use mono for a lot of bottom contact baits and it works just fine. I also use mono for most of my leaders on braid because it's cheap and so am I. 

Is mono durable and abrasion resistant like fluoro? 

[Bluebasser86]

44 minutes ago, bma3 said:

Is mono durable and abrasion resistant like fluoro? 

Yes and less difficult to work with than fluoro. I use Big Game and Stren Hi-Impact for a lot of my rods. Seaguar Senshi if I need something a little higher end.

[Outdoor Zack]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Yes and less difficult to work with than fluoro. I use Big Game and Stren Hi-Impact for a lot of my rods. Seaguar Senshi if I need something a little higher end.

 

Everything he said.  

 

But I also like to use suffix siege and elite 

[NHBull]

The beauty of leader is that you can adjust your bait presentation and I think those telling you to just use 12 or 15 big game isn't taking drop-shotting and other finesse presentations into account.

 

I carry small spools of FC...6,8,10,12,15,20, with 10 being the most popular,

 

To each his own, there is no right answer, just preferences 

 

On a side note, I use a lot of Blue label

[OkobojiEagle]

7 hours ago, bma3 said:

I don't want mono because it floats and I would rarely if ever be using topwaters on these rods. 

 

Yes, if you throw it unattached to a weighted lure.  When attached to a lure it will follow wherever that lure goes.  Nylon monofilament  has characteristics that make it a better choice than fluorocarbon for many presentations.  Use your line as a tool to fish with... most of us use a "set" of screwdrivers...

 

oe

[MickD]

Mono and braid are both about the same density as water, FC is about 50% higher, so on a loose line it will tend to slowly sink while the mono will not.  But as mentioned, attached to a lure the difference isn't that great.  The leader grade monos are very tough and hard, with the added advantage that tangling on something like a blade bait will be less.  

 

I think 8 pound FC, especially if it is not leader grade, is too fragile for both the spin and BC application.  Since you don't use much leader the expense of leader grade leaders should not be prohibitive, and they are definitely tougher and harder than line grade (both mono and FC).  I recommend at least 10 for the spin leader and 15 for the cast.

 

For some reason, it seems to me when FC gets below about 10 pound test it gets pretty fragile.

[uncustered]

For my leader needs I (for freshwater fishing) only use segaur red label. You can get 200+ yd spools for $13 on sale.

 

If your fishing in slop, or brush 8Lb ain't enuff.....

 

You can economically have options.

 

For saltwater, especially surf applications were you're throwing heavy (8oz + bait) I prefer mono, (50lb) Berkeley big game(big) has never failed me. if using as a bite leader, either the red label, or bbg is fine.

[frosty]

I use 10 lb pline copolymer for all my leaders. With a good double uni knot it's pretty tough. 

[bma3]

8 hours ago, NHBull said:

The beauty of leader is that you can adjust your bait presentation and I think those telling you to just use 12 or 15 big game isn't taking drop-shotting and other finesse presentations into account.

 

I carry small spools of FC...6,8,10,12,15,20, with 10 being the most popular,

 

To each his own, there is no right answer, just preferences 

 

On a side note, I use a lot of Blue label

So do you think an 8# would be a happy medium?

1 hour ago, frosty said:

I use 10 lb pline copolymer for all my leaders. With a good double uni knot it's pretty tough. 

That's exactly what I'm using right now but I'm using 12#

[LxVE Bassin]

The lowest I will go on leaders is 12#. I have used leaders between 12#-25#. Mostly flouro but for top waters I will use mono.

[lmbfisherman]

Yes you can get away using that for both setups, however I wouldn't use 8lb test in general for everything because some techniques require heavier lines. 

[Turkey sandwich]

So, for the 100th consecutive thread on this, someone has to suggest copolymer.  I guess I'm that guy today.  I keep a bunch of spools around for different applications, but generally, Yo-zuri Hybrid is my leader material 90% of the time because It's ridiculously strong, has incredible knot strength,  maintains some of the reflective characteristics of FC, is pretty much neutrally buoyant, and 600 yards of it costs like $4.  Also, that 8lb diameter line will have 11.5-12lb breaking strength.  

[frosty]

3 minutes ago, Turkey sandwich said:

So, for the 100th consecutive thread on this, someone has to suggest copolymer.  I guess I'm that guy today.  I keep a bunch of spools around for different applications, but generally, Yo-zuri Hybrid is my leader material 90% of the time because It's ridiculously strong, has incredible knot strength,  maintains some of the reflective characteristics of FC, is pretty much neutrally buoyant, and 600 yards of it costs like $4.  Also, that 8lb diameter line will have 11.5-12lb breaking strength.  

I already mentioned copolymer. He is already using 12lb copoly 

[Turkey sandwich]

1 minute ago, frosty said:

I already mentioned copolymer. He is already using 12lb copoly 

I have no idea how I missed both posts.  I was curious how no one else provided the obvious answer to this man's problems...  Two spools of copoly.  We seriously need an Oprah handing out spools of copoly meme for this forum.

[frosty]

Just now, Turkey sandwich said:

I have no idea how I missed both posts.  I was curious how no one else provided the obvious answer to this man's problems...  Two spools of copoly.  We seriously need an Oprah handing out spools of copoly meme for this forum.

Heck yeah, I love that stuff! I did start with it on my spinning reel, then decided I would stop punishing myself and put braid one! 

[d-camarena]

I hate copoly, specially yozuri. I bought a spool and my line would break off at random spots. Memory was really bad and my line would also break while tying knots even if wet

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The type and size of leader depends on the reason for the leader. 

[Darren.]

On 5/27/2017 at 10:33 PM, bma3 said:

Hi all, I have 10# braid on my spinning rod and 20# braid on my bait caster and was wondering if 8# fluorocarbon would be suitable to put on both of these as a short leader? I know it will be fine for the spinning rod but is it too light for the bait caster? I really don't want to buy 2 spools of fluoro so I'm hoping using 8# fluorocarbon is suitable for both.

Thanks

 

Yes, depending on what you are doing with the BC.

I, too, use 20 on BC and will tie 8, 10, 15# test on 

it depending on the technique.

 

For instance, if I'm throwing a light presentation with

a smaller bait (and happen to be using my BC), I'll opt

for 8. 15 is for when I want to throw stuff in nasty 

laydowns with tons of snags and such...

 

Point being, you can use any pound test if you want to.

Just make sure you are pairing it up properly, and have

your drag adjusted properly, or else you'll be sorry you

used 8lb leader throwing a frog with a tight drag  

[KDW96]

On 5/28/2017 at 5:56 AM, NHBull said:

The beauty of leader is that you can adjust your bait presentation and I think those telling you to just use 12 or 15 big game isn't taking drop-shotting and other finesse presentations into account.

 

I carry small spools of FC...6,8,10,12,15,20, with 10 being the most popular,

 

To each his own, there is no right answer, just preferences 

 

On a side note, I use a lot of Blue label

 

Seaguar BLUE LABEL is all i will use now. Proven benefits time after time,worth the money.

[DINK WHISPERER]

30# is the smallest braid i will use on a baitcaster. If i feel i need a leader I'll use 17+ izorline XXX or P-line CXX copoly. In clear water I'll go with seaguar AbrazX or P-line fluorocarbon.