First-time leader user--lengths for techniques?

[IndyQ]

Been a straight line kind of guy my whole life--straight fluoro or straight braid for whatever is needed. However, I am setting up a ned rig specific rod and was wondering what yall would suggest for leader length from 10# power pro to 8# fluoro? More generally, what are the principles of leader lengths? Would assume a bit shorter for flipping since that could keep the knot out of the guides more but I will be making some longer casts with this set-up as I am fishing from a kayak (not the most conducive to repeating the same cast over and over). Thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated, thanks!

 

Edit: I should also add that I will be fishing for both smallmouth and largemouth, although I think this rod is gonna be more at home hitting the creeks/rivers for bronzebacks 

[geo g]

Too much trouble, I catch fish without having to mess with these rigs.  Keep it simple!

[papajoe222]

I'm not a big fan of using leaders with braid. I understand some anglers concern when fishing clear water and I would venture to say that for slower presentations in water 10ft. or less that about 18in.-24in. would suffice.  Much longer and you have to deal with winding the knot past the rod tip.

[Team9nine]

Ned rig specific - go with a 4'-6' leader.

[CroakHunter]

Depending on rod length just above the first guide

[tander]

29 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Depending on rod length just above the first guide

Same here. When you cast, you want your finger on the braid, not leader. The reason I went with braid/leader is because of line twist. I hardly get line twist with the braid. Also, braid cast much better.

[burrows]

From the reel bail to the reel bail.

[islandbass]

Preferably, I’d go straight line when possible. 

 

But since you want to go with a leader, this is what I do for a “leader.”

 

First, let me just say I hate when the joining knot gets caught or slowed down on a guide or on the spool. It can and will especially with a shorter leader. 

 

This is where I have thought out of the box. I approximate what my max cast is and at the very least triple, if not quadruple or even quintuple that length. This is what length my leader will be.

 

Why? Because it eliminates the possibility of the joining knot to affect casting and your temper. 

 

Also, this will keep you into the fishing until your leader is so short that it is better to cut it off and tie on a new leader. 

 

Another plus is that the braid is so far back in the spool it will be as if you’re fishing pure flouro. 

 

One last recommendation. If the cover and current allows it, try to step down to 6# test. 8-pound/schmate pound.  Get the experience of boldly finessing and testing your fish battling mettle. If not, then go with 8# line. 

[Choporoz]

3-5 feet, generally.  I avoid having the knot reach the spool.   Knots through guides, even micro guides hasn't been an issue for me.

[Boomstick]

You can use roughly your rod length, no need to even measure it. What I do is I will put the knot just past the reel so when you hold the line when casting, you hold braid. The knot can be anywhere further up the rod then this. Then leave just enough line to tie your bait on, and you're good. You can always back the line out and move the rod further out as well, so there's no need to put on anymore than that.

 

If you prefer to measure it out, 6' is generally safe.

[LionHeart]

I assume you're talking about spinning gear here but may be wrong. I use braid to leader on ever setup I have and the knot reaching my spinning reel doesn't bother me or cause problems. Feel free to make it as long as you want.

 

With casting gear I typically make the leader just long enough so that the joining knot doesn't go into my reel when I cast( 5-6) foot leader.  I've tied longer leaders, and the knot goes around my spool a few times.  Meh, doesn't really cause any problems.  After a few retires the leader is short enough for that not to happen.

 

Then again, it takes some time to tie a leader knot, so I don't like to do it any more often than I have to.

[FryDog62]

16 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

Depending on rod length just above the first guide

Winner winner.  If you ever watched Knot Wars, they made the statement of the leader knot should be just in front of the first guide.  In slow motion during the cast you can see that the majority of line slap against the guides is the first one.  A knot before the first guide not only slows the cast down a bit, but also stresses the knot more.  Especially when using fluorocarbon, the line can get brittle and weaken the knot faster than mono or braid.  

[IndyQ]

4 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Winner winner.  I you ever watched Knot Wars, they made the statement of the leader knot should be just in front of the first guide.  In slow motion you can see that the majority of line slap against the guides is the first one.  A knot before the first guide not only slows the cast down a bit, but also stresses the knot more.  Especially when using fluorocarbon, the line can get brittle and weaken the knot faster than mono or braid.  

That makes total sense--actually thought the same thing yesterday when I was unboxing my rod. Going to tie it about half way between guide 1 and 2. Thanks everyone, I am a new member and this forum has been awesome so far!

[burrows]

6 hours ago, LionHeart said:

I have and the knot reaching my spinning reel doesn't bother me or cause problems. Feel free to make it as long as you want.

 

 

Then again, it takes some time to tie a leader knot, so I don't like to do it any more often than I have to.

I agree 

[fishwizzard]

For the Ned specifically, I do 8lb braid to 8-12lb floro, with the leader being maybe a foot shorter then my rod. 

 

I like a heavier floro leader to help in keeping the lure down in the water column and for a bit of pickerel protection. 

[IndyQ]

Well ran 10# powerpro to 8# fluoro yesterday and hooked up first cast, solid 15" chunky fella. Leader and knot did just fine. I have a habit of tossing ned rigs into the thick stuff and did break off at the knot when trying to get unsnagged but that's just operator error. Anyone know where to get some 1/10 oz heads with some sort of weedless hook? An EWG would be amazing... Heard they're out there but not the easiest to find. 

[moguy1973]

Listening to Brandon Palaniuk the past few years at fishing shows I've gone with his method and haven't lost a fish while using a leader.  He uses leaders that are two rod lengths long and he uses an alberto not so it passes through the guides well.  He uses a long leader like that so that when he is fighting a fish at the boat the knot is in the reel and that's one less thing he has to worry about.

[fishwizzard]

37 minutes ago, IndyQ said:

Well ran 10# powerpro to 8# fluoro yesterday and hooked up first cast, solid 15" chunky fella. Leader and knot did just fine. I have a habit of tossing ned rigs into the thick stuff and did break off at the knot when trying to get unsnagged but that's just operator error. Anyone know where to get some 1/10 oz heads with some sort of weedless hook? An EWG would be amazing... Heard they're out there but not the easiest to find. 

Look up the Owner Ultra Head and the Decoy Nailbomb heads.  Both work well with zman plastics but both give worse hook up ratios as compaired to a #2 open hooked head.  They are the best weedless-Ned solutions that I have found.  I know someone one here uses Slider Heads for this application as well. 

[Choporoz]

8 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

Listening to Brandon Palaniuk the past few years at fishing shows I've gone with his method and haven't lost a fish while using a leader.  He uses leaders that are two rod lengths long and he uses an alberto not so it passes through the guides well.  He uses a long leader like that so that when he is fighting a fish at the boat the knot is in the reel and that's one less thing he has to worry about.

Makes a little sense....but I probably won't adopt for two reasons - I have had leader knots fail on rare occasions, but never with fish at the boat, that I can recall...second is that by my nature, I'm somewhat inattentive and lazy regarding my knots, so having a shorter leader knot forces me to re-tie more often than I might otherwise

[LxVE Bassin]

My leaders are usually 7 to 8 feet long. For my spinning set ups I am about to start using an even longer leader Maybe 15 feet due to having re-tie my drop shots.