Anyone go leaderless?

[Scrapiron]

I've been using braid with with either a mono or FC leader for the last few years. Spooled up some Tatsu this past weekend on a baitcaster and wow- long smooth casts; quiet. I think I'm going to try FC for my baitcasters. May get some Gamma or Shooter 12# for larger bottom contact and use the Tatsu 8# for small cranks, chatterbaits, jigs, etc. 

 

 

I'll probably stick with braid/leader on my spinning setups- tried FC and bleh. Of course I may try again- maybe use a swivel. 

[roadwarrior]

Not me.  I only have ten fingers.

 

[Joshua Vandamm]

When I have to yea but bites definitely decline. I think they sense the vibrations from it. 

 

Finesse it works fine. 

[bwjay]

I use braid to FC or copoly leader on all setups besides frogging or heavy cover jigging, where I use straight braid. I'm out to catch big fish and I'm not going to take the time to find out if big ones will or won't care about braid. It's not something I want to worry about. I just make sure to wet the crap out of my connection knot (double uni) which I also make sure looks right as I cinch it down.

 

Actually I just remembered, I've been trying some Yo-Zuri Hybrid 10lb on one of my baitcasters as it got pretty low on braid and I decided to try some non-braid on a baitcaster again to see if I have a horrific experience like I did when I tried Sniper. My casting skills have improved and so far it's been OK. I may use straight copoly/FC on lighter pitching setups or for cranking, but braid is still my go-to because of its sensitivity and almost lack of stretch and lack of memory. Yeah, it takes a few minutes to tie on a new leader, which sucks since it's time not spent fishing, but it's worth the peace of mind (not spooking a big one) to me.

[Joshua Vandamm]

1 hour ago, bwjay said:

I use braid to FC or copoly leader on all setups besides frogging or heavy cover jigging, where I use straight braid. I'm out to catch big fish and I'm not going to take the time to find out if big ones will or won't care about braid. It's not something I want to worry about. I just make sure to wet the crap out of my connection knot (double uni) which I also make sure looks right as I cinch it down.

 

Actually I just remembered, I've been trying some Yo-Zuri Hybrid 10lb on one of my baitcasters as it got pretty low on braid and I decided to try some non-braid on a baitcaster again to see if I have a horrific experience like I did when I tried Sniper. My casting skills have improved and so far it's been OK. I may use straight copoly/FC on lighter pitching setups or for cranking, but braid is still my go-to because of its sensitivity and almost lack of stretch and lack of memory. Yeah, it takes a few minutes to tie on a new leader, which sucks since it's time not spent fishing, but it's worth the peace of mind (not spooking a big one) to me.

If you know how to cast right braid is harder to prevent backlash’s with than anything else

[GeekOutdoors]

I only use leader on finesse rigs (dropshot/ned rig on ML rods)

[bwjay]

32 minutes ago, Joshua Vandamm said:

If you know how to cast right braid is harder to prevent backlash’s with than anything else

Why's that? Braid has been very good to me in terms of preventing backlashes and overruns. And it's easier than anything else to actually fix the backlash. I found FC and copoly love to bite down on themselves and it makes it challenging to undo a backlash. Braid slips nicely and I've had almost no backlash problems with it. My casting isn't "wrong" per se, but I do keep spool tension tighter than maybe I should. But other than that it fluffs up a lot less than FC and copoly in my experience, due to no memory I think. 

[Mike L]

6 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Congratulations?  Or sympathy? 

Thanks Pal!

Sometimes I'm not sure!

?

[OkobojiEagle]

I've been waiting for someone else to expound upon how a mono-filament leader can help control speed/depth of your presentation, especially light soft baits.  Mono-filament leaders will also smooth out your retrieve (reducing the jerkiness of the bait many anglers have trouble controlling).

 

oe

[Team9nine]

17 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I've been waiting for someone else to expound upon how a mono-filament leader can help control speed/depth of your presentation, especially light soft baits.  Mono-filament leaders will also smooth out your retrieve (reducing the jerkiness of the bait many anglers have trouble controlling).

 

oe

A lot of baits definitely present differently on nylon/FC compared to braid; even between FC and nylon to some degree....sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, and sometimes no difference at all (vs. bites). Very overlooked concept.

[Joshua Vandamm]

8 hours ago, Team9nine said:

A lot of baits definitely present differently on nylon/FC compared to braid; even between FC and nylon to some degree....sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, and sometimes no difference at all (vs. bites). Very overlooked concept.

Yep. Because it’s hard to describe. Most experienced fisherman just say they hate braid and leave it at that. LOL. 

 

But what pro uses braid leader for anything but spinning and Topwater? Not a single one 

On 8/15/2019 at 5:53 PM, bwjay said:

Why's that? Braid has been very good to me in terms of preventing backlashes and overruns. And it's easier than anything else to actually fix the backlash. I found FC and copoly love to bite down on themselves and it makes it challenging to undo a backlash. Braid slips nicely and I've had almost no backlash problems with it. My casting isn't "wrong" per se, but I do keep spool tension tighter than maybe I should. But other than that it fluffs up a lot less than FC and copoly in my experience, due to no memory I think. 

By wrong I mean using brakes not thumbing. Most high level angles don’t use breaks at all. 

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Joshua Vandamm said:

 

But what pro uses braid leader for anything but spinning and Topwater? Not a single one 

Exactly, hence my first response in this thread back on page 1...

[Bigassbass]

I've never used a leader, why use braid if you're going to tie on a piece of mono or fluorocarbon, makes no sense just use mono and forget it!  One line tied straight onto the bait, no weak spots to break.  If you need to have the stretch feel on braid then you really aren't in love with it.  My opinion.

[Choporoz]

32 minutes ago, Bigassbass said:

I've never used a leader, why use braid if you're going to tie on a piece of mono or fluorocarbon, makes no sense just use mono and forget it!  One line tied straight onto the bait, no weak spots to break.  If you need to have the stretch feel on braid then you really aren't in love with it.  My opinion.

 

On 8/13/2019 at 8:52 AM, Choporoz said:

....

There are other reasons to use a leader.  Abrasion resistance, ....@Scott F  Being able to break off is another.  Saving braid on te-ties, and when changing lures is also a good reason.

 

[Siebert Outdoors]

I rarely fish a leader on braid.

[Scuba Steve]

I typically tend to use leaders only on my main spinning rig. I use 10# high vis yellow power pro with usually 6’ of 8# mono. The alberto knot is a piece of cake to tie once you get the muscle memory down for the wraps and it’s super strong. I know by definition it is, but I’d hardly call it a weak point. I honestly don’t view the leader as as inconvenience. I usually don’t tie leaders on my couple rods that have low vis green power pro. 

[fvogel67]

I use straight braid on all my river setups,If I get hung up I wrap the braid around a small wooden dowel and pull my lure  free.

[LionHeart]

I'll just admit it,  I'm afraid bass are line shy

[fvogel67]

This one wasn’t 

[NathanDLTH]

It depends where I’m fishing and the structure. There’s maybe three reels I’ll go braid to leader one being my spinning. Other than that, it’s straight braid or flouro. 

[billmac]

I wouldn't use a mono leader because mono is cheap.  I use a fluoro leader on my spinning rod not because of strategic reasons but economic ones.

[fishwizzard]

I use leaders on spinning reels because I prefer small reels and braid is unfortunately the best option for them.   On casting reels I only use braid when I want a strong and manageable line, so a leader would defeat the purpose.  

[Shif29]

I used leaders in my braid until I hooked into the biggest largemouth of my life and snap goes my leader. Some will probably say it was my fault for tying a bad knot and it could have been. A lot of guys use a leader to often break off if need be until it breaks when you don’t want it to. Leaders are another point of failure that’s just my opinion, but then again leaders are very tough and some huge fish have been caught with them so your choice. 

[Glenn]

1 hour ago, Shif29 said:

Leaders are another point of failure

^^  This ^^   After decades of bass fishing, I haven't yet found a reason to use leader.  But I've found reasons NOT to use leaders, this being the main one.

[billmac]

 

 

47 minutes ago, Glenn said:

After decades of bass fishing, I haven't yet found a reason to use leader. 

Glenn, I know from your videos that you use fluoro.  I assume this means you simply spool the whole reel with fluoro?