Leader Line use?

[artdav]

Hey guys, i have a question curious to see what and why do you have to use a leader line when using 30lb braid. Is it a bad thing to just run braid? Sorry for this basic question. Just wondering what must of you guys do and the reason for it. Thanks for any suggestions and comments. P.S. I use a baitcaster and rod with micro eyelets.

[Glaucus]

Micro guides and leaders do not go hand in hand. You can use straight braid. The question is what do you use it for.

[artdav]

@kicker my texas rigs

[Turkey sandwich]

I fish braid to leader on all of my casting gear. Most of it uses some variety of microguides and i rarely have problems.  Getting good at a doublu uni, albright, or blood knot pays huge dividends.  This by far allows me the most versatility without having to buy and swap out reels for most conditions. 

[NHBull]

You can definitely run straight braid if you wish.

for connection knots I tie. PR if I am on the dock, FG in rough conditions. No problems with either going through micros

[Deleted account]

I run a leader with braid when using treble hook lures, when I need abrasion resistance or tooth guard, when I want to float the lure higher, or want to add a bit of stretch/shock absorption. 

[FishingGeekTX]

I don't use a leader when fishing braid.

 

For nearly any instance I would not want to use a leader, I would prefer to just spool up that line and not braid in the first place.  For people with spinning gear, from what I understand, the lack of memory for braid and the better action while twisted, may may spooling braid, with a leader, sort of "best of both worlds" in the way they fish.  But I rarely use spinning gear so maybe they can best answer that.

 

So if I needed abrasion resistance, I would likely just fish mono.

If I wanted stretch, I would fish mono.

If I want it to sink, I would fish mono or fc.

etc.

 

 

[Choporoz]

Braid to leader has other pros and cons not listed above.

I use it on some rigs, not just for abrasion resistance, but also:

-so I can break off, if I need to

-I don't consume braid every time I retie

 

A big con for many is the inclusion of a possible failure point -- or even reduction in overall line strength.

 

I typically use leaders on most of my rigs.  Yesterday, I was fishing straight 40# braid on a t-rig.  Two examples from yesterday alone:

1.  I got the rig wedged bad in some rocks on a somewhat deep ledge, and couldn't work it out.  I couldn't break it and had to cut the braid just below the surface of the water.  If I'd had leader, I could have left a LOT less line in the water.

2.  I hooked a 19 inch LMB in serious wood.  I don't think there's any way I could have worked her out if I'd had a leader.  With straight braid, I horsed her through and got her in the yak.

[Deleted account]

36 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Braid to leader has other pros and cons not listed above.

I use it on some rigs, not just for abrasion resistance, but also:

-so I can break off, if I need to

A dowel, 9" or so (hard wood with a piece of bicycle tube stretched over it if you've got OCD like me) makes short work of breaking off (or more likely straightening hooks) any size braid. We hang up in 50-200 feet of water in the salt a lot, and cutting line just doesn't make sense. 30 lb and below, I just point the rod and pull (don't blame me if you bend the shaft on your Ultrainum light JDM 5 oz gem. My reels work for a living...

[Shimano_1]

I'll use a leader with braid on all my spinning gear. I think they just handle way better with braid and I don't replace the braid nearly as often as I would any other line. I'll use it on casting gear as well if I'm in a situation where the rod I'm using has braid and I think the water is a little too clear for braid I'll use a leader. If I were fishing stained to muddy water or heavy vegetation I'd go straight braid. 

[matbellon3]

I don't see using straight braid as an issue but for me using a leader is more of a confidence thing. As a connection knot i use the PR when pre tying and the fg if i need a new leader on the water. Never had an issue with these knots going through micro-guides.