FC Leader Length to Hi Viz Braid.....??

[Crow Horse]

I'm going to try 832 Hi Viz braid and was curious as what leader length folks prefer. I have been using 24" to 32" FC leader and haven't had any issues using standard braid. What's the general consensus?

[fin]

I wouldn't go shorter than 24", and no longer than the length from your reel to the end of the rod, so the knot doesn't pass through the line guide if you're using a baitcaster. For spinning, the longest I usually go is about 6 feet. I can't remember why I settled on that length, I remember there's some downside to using too long of a leader. Curl, I think.

[Darren.]

It all depends on you. There's a video out there in which Gary Yamamoto

discusses a leader long enough (like 20 feet) to get the leader knot on the

reel while fighting the fish to the boat.

 

Personally, I typically stretch my arms wide one time, maybe two. There is

no set rule to the length, though common sense will give you some rules

of the minimum  And my arm stretch is gonna be vastly different from 

say, The Greek Freak (NBA)  

[Russ E]

I personally prefer about 6 foot on spinning rods. I don't want the knot on the reel.

I usually do not use leaders on casting gear.

[LCG]

I like to use a long leader for a couple of reasons. Stretch, visibility, less leaders to tie on the water. I usually tie about 10 ft. I also use extra fast action rods do it helps with the fight when the fish gets closer, allows more stretch for those last surges. 

 

 

[gilkeybr]

I like the leader to be around 5-6ft as well.  This allows me to re-tie many times without having to put on a new leader.  The other thing is it avoids having to pass the leader knot through the levelwind.  On some of my reels, namely my Daiwa T3 reels, the opening to the levelwind is quite small and the knot (even a FG knot) will not pass through well.

 

Once the leader gets down to 24" or so i'm usually cutting it off and tying on a new one.

[Jcj90]

Mine are usually 3-4’ I just eyeball it.

[waymont]

5'-10' for me. I don't have any issues with my knot going into the spool (casting or spinning)

I only use an FG knot, and it will come off the spool or through the line guide on a casting reel just fine if I'm using a longer leader. I have two T-Wing Daiwa but I haven't tried the knot going into those yet. All my Lew's and Shimano reels are no problem.

[Bluebasser86]

I don't change the leader length, usually 3-4 feet regardless of braid color. I only use it on spinning gear, casting gear is straight braid 100% of the time if I'm using braid regardless of braid color. 

[Crow Horse]

It appears the many when using casting gear tie direct and when using spinning gear they use a leader of varying lengths. Why the difference?

[fin]

14 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

It appears the many when using casting gear tie direct and when using spinning gear they use a leader of varying lengths. Why the difference?

I'm guessing the difference is the line guide/level wind.

[Crow Horse]

If I'm understanding this correctly, from the bass's perspective, the hi viz line doesn't make a difference?

[fin]

3 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

If I'm understanding this correctly, from the bass's perspective, the hi viz line doesn't make a difference?

That seems to be the consensus around here. A few years ago, that wasn't the case. 

 

The thinking is that the bass can obviously see the line, but they don't have enough sense to know what it is or what danger it represents.

[MickD]

One time fishing pads I had to put a leader onto 15 pound white nanofil to get LM to bite a super fluke dragged across the pads.  My son was doing much better than I using the same lure, but he had a leader.  Surprised me, but it seemed very clear that the leader made the difference.

[Russ E]

59 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

It appears the many when using casting gear tie direct and when using spinning gear they use a leader of varying lengths. Why the difference?

I personally only use braid on casting gear for topwater. Otherwise it is flouro or copoly.

Most of my casting rods have micro guides and the leader knot would interfere with the cast.

[LionHeart]

About 10 feet.  The FG knot goes through the guides and level wind every cast and every retrieve.  With high vis yellow, I have convinced myself that bass see it and care.  

 

May not be a shred of truth to that but who knows for sure?

[custer]

Depends on application. If your fighting tuna, you want the knot on the reel,  bass fishing,  much less a concern. I use crystal braid and 14-24" leader. 

[Jason Sheroan]

What kind of line is best for lures such as the Shad Rap 5 or 7? I use 20# braid on my Baitcaster, but I'm considering switching to Mono or Flouro. I can't decide what is best. I plan on fishing rivers for smallmouth. I've caught fish with both a Flouro leader and just straight braid. I tie mono backing to my spool but I'm wondering if less lines joined the better? I use a Uni-Uni knot to connect my lines. FG knot seems like a royal PITN to tie quickly. I've got mono on my spinning reels... however, I ran out of line and I either need to take all the perfectly good line off and start over, or add more to it. I think I'll be ok adding more line to my spool, I don't know. Any advise?

[Choporoz]

I use a leader for all braid fishing.

I don't want the knot on the reel for either baitcasting, nor spinning.  Don't want line catching knot or tag ends on the way out, and I dont' like to feel it with my thumb.

I have never concerned myself much with bass caring about seeing line.  I use leader for other reasons:

-so I can cut/retie without losing braid, unless there's 'damage'

-so I can break off if plug knockers fail me

-so that I can have better abrasion resistance in those final few feet of line

[Jason Sheroan]

Yes, I've discovered that I don't like the knot passing through my guides, so I shorten up my leader.

[Trox]

I've always guaged my leader length by having the knot just at the reel, then the end of the leader going through the guides, then back to the knot. I just got tired of retieing leaders all the time so I started doing it that way to give me more room to cut off and retie different baits... Guess it's around 12ft or so. Never had an issue with the FG knot going through the guides or the reel.

[Yumeya]

I go from the reel to the tip.

 

Just the tip I promise....

 

[gilkeybr]

On 5/6/2019 at 12:47 PM, Jason Sheroan said:

I use a Uni-Uni knot to connect my lines. FG knot seems like a royal PITN to tie quickly. 

With some practice I can tie a FG knot in nearly the same time it takes to tie a double Uni.  The slowest part is the half-hitches at the end, depending on how many you tie.  

 

The narrowness and strength of the FG knot is well worth the slight increase in tying time for me.

[Jason Sheroan]

Hmm... well perhaps i should consider learning how to tie it then. I do like the idea of a narrow knot. It's almost impossible to not have your leader knot pass through some of the guides, so narrow would be better.

 

Thank you!