Leader question

[pauldconyers]

Had a quick question about using a leader. Do you use some spare FC or mono (that somewhat matches both line diameters) or do you use line that is specifically labeled as leader line?

[Michigander]

Both. The leader specific stuff is a more pure fluorocarbon than the regular stuff, with the most pure going to fly tippetts. However, I also keep normal FC spools for making leaders to save money because of how many I go through in a year. Really, I  make my decision based on what properties of the leader line I want.

[islandbass]

Use the spare line you have. Once you cut it to size, it magically becomes leader material. Really, lol. 
 

Michigander pretty much laid it out as why one might consider buying leader material. Someone ought to see if price per length is the same, cheaper or more expensive of a line sold as a filler spool and leader spool. Hmmm. Such a though only crosses the mind of someone who lives where winter shuts bass fishing down.  

[Bluebasser86]

I use spare line, usually save spools that don't have enough left to spool another reel up. I should probably try some leader material to see how it holds up to zebra mussels though.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Anybody use Yo-Zuri Hybrid for leader material?

 

[Mbirdsley]

My leaders come off the same spool of line that I use to spool my reels.  Only time I buy line for leaders is when I buy a full spool (150-300 yds) of stren flouro. Making Leaders is the only thing that I have found stren useful for. 

[waymont]

Your leader material should be of a higher diameter than your braided line diameter for best knot strength when using the FG knot. Not sure what you tie, but regardless of material (mono or fluoro), both work equally as well.

 

[Boomstick]

18 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

Had a quick question about using a leader. Do you use some spare FC or mono (that somewhat matches both line diameters) or do you use line that is specifically labeled as leader line?

I do both. I use Seaguar blue label frequently, but I currently have enough extra line that I've been using that.

8 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Anybody use Yo-Zuri Hybrid for leader material?

 

I have before, although not regularly.

[FryDog62]

11 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Anybody use Yo-Zuri Hybrid for leader material?

 

A lot.  Whenever I need a really strong leader line for flipping (12 lb) or abrasion resistance (8-10 lb) when skipping under docks I use Yo-Zuri Hybrid. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I think I'm gonna order some and use 10lb Yo-zuri leader. Never know till you try right?

[Team9nine]

Just spare spools of line here, not leader specific line. Could see where certain specific situations might lend themselves to leader line, but most everything I fish around here doesn’t. Saves you lots of money, too.

[ckherring92]

I've always used leftovers from other flouro spools I've had from mainline.  Never messed around with the dedicated "leader" material as it is awfully pricey for what i feel is likely the same material.  

 

As far as diameter goes.  I don't put to much stock in it, i primary base it off approx lb test that i want for whatever application I'm doing.  For example I have a UL setup with 8lb braid and 6lb flouro.  Or another I have 12lb braid to 10lb flouro 

 

Ideally my leader line is the week point. That way if I break on a long cast it's only a few feet instead of 30

[Born 2 fish]

On 2/16/2020 at 12:35 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Anybody use Yo-Zuri Hybrid for leader material?

 

Yes all the time on my spinning rod I use with jerkbaits. 

[soflabasser]

Berkley big game mono is a good line for a leader. It has very good abrasion resistance and is cheap so you can replace it often.

[MickD]

I mostly use FC, mono for surface when I need a leader, and I use leader material or fly tippet.  Leader material is stiffer than line, and I believe more resistant to damage, although that is debatable.  One thing for sure is that the stiffness is an advantage when fishing blade baits as it helps prevent the leader from tangling with the hooks.  It also sinks (mono is about neutral buoyancy while FC's density is higher than water, about 1.5) so makes sense for bottom finesse techniques.  

[Jermination]

if you havent used fc leader line, just do it. pline shinsei is the best stuff i've used, once i started using it my breakoffs & bad spot reties went down to virtually zero. just ask @TnRiver46 about some of the massive logs i reeled in last sunday 

 

[TnRiver46]

30 minutes ago, Jermination said:

if you havent used fc leader line, just do it. pline shinsei is the best stuff i've used, once i started using it my breakoffs & bad spot reties went down to virtually zero. just ask @TnRiver46 about some of the massive logs i reeled in last sunday 

 

Logs and he reeled in a floating dock by the steel cable ! It was no match for the Fluoro and fairy wand 

[Jermination]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Logs and he reeled in a floating dock by the steel cable ! It was no match for the Fluoro and fairy wand 

ugh i was going to leave the 2nd part of that out, no need to bring up the dock winch LOL

[J Francho]

When I can, I use Seaguar Blue Label Leader.

[WRB]

No reason to use leaders for bass because they are not line shy fish or microscopic sight feeders like trout. Leaders are mainly used for bass to give the angler confidence or used as a weaker link to break off when snagged. Some anglers believe FC or mono gives them a shock absorber and stretches, your rod is the shock absorber and reel drag prevents high impact pulling forces, not you leader. FC is less abrasion resistant then premium mono like Big Game or Ultra Green.

If buying confidence is your goal use Sunline FC100 leader material, otherwise use whatever left over FC or mono of choice.

I never use leaders for bass, always tie 1 knot direct to my lures or snaps.

Tom

PS, leader are made from pure FC? 100% FC is pure FC.

[Jermination]

11 minutes ago, WRB said:

No reason to use leaders for bass because they are not line shy fish or microscopic sight feeders like trout. Leaders are mainly used for bass to give the angler confidence or used as a weaker link to break off when snagged. Some anglers believe FC or mono gives them a shock absorber and stretches, your rod is the shock absorber and reel drag prevents high impact pulling forces, not you leader. FC is less abrasion resistant then premium mono like Big Game or Ultra Green.

If buying confidence is your goal use Sunline FC100 leader material, otherwise use whatever left over FC or mono of choice.

I never use leaders for bass, always tie 1 knot direct to my lures or snaps.

Tom

PS, leader are made from pure FC? 100% FC is pure FC.

I completely disagree with everything about fish not being line shy. I have taken guys out before using the exact same shaky head & worm, one tied directly to braid, the other to a FC leader and the leader setup outfished the direct braid tie 4:1. I've tried this 3-4 times and it is always the same result. 

[WRB]

Braid with a leader using spinning reels reduces line twist, forgot to include that.

If you are using 8 lb test braid tied direct to a shaky head jig/worm rig vs 8 lb test mono/FC/Copoly line direct it performs equally if you can keep in contact with the lure to detect strikes. Braid requires nearly tight line with minimum slack to detect strikes where mono/FC/Copoly line controlled slack is a lot easier for strike detection watching line movements. Braid floats when when slack lined and difficult to see line movements. To improve braid line movement detection anglers have learned to highly visible line colors.

Tom

[Jermination]

48 minutes ago, WRB said:

Braid with a leader using spinning reels reduces line twist, forgot to include that.

If you are using 8 lb test braid tied direct to a shaky head jig/worm rig vs 8 lb test mono/FC/Copoly line direct it performs equally if you can keep in contact with the lure to detect strikes. Braid requires nearly tight line with minimum slack to detect strikes where mono/FC/Copoly line controlled slack is a lot easier for strike detection watching line movements. Braid floats when when slack lined and difficult to see line movements. To improve braid line movement detection anglers have learned to highly visible line colors.

Tom

we will agree to disagree. They will perform equally, but they do not produce results equally. Maybe it's just east TN where everyone i know has a bass boat and fishes. I have no problem detecting strikes on any of the line, and typically fish them on slack line. It's a visual matter. If i can see the line in the water beside the boat, you can darn well bet the fish can see it. I'm yet to see a pro throw 65 lb braid on any of the clear lakes in this area

[NHBull]

16 minutes ago, Jermination said:

we will agree to disagree. They will perform equally, but they do not produce results equally. Maybe it's just east TN where everyone i know has a bass boat and fishes. I have no problem detecting strikes on any of the line, and typically fish them on slack line. It's a visual matter. If i can see the line in the water beside the boat, you can darn well bet the fish can see it. I'm yet to see a pro throw 65 lb braid on any of the clear lakes in this area

That also implies that if fish see it, they have the ability to process that information which I believe is a bridge to far.  I believe John Mark Warren addressed something  lime that in his book Destroying Bass Fishing Myths

[Jermination]

1 minute ago, NHBull said:

That also implies that if fish see it, they have the ability to process that information which I believe is a bridge to far.  I believe John Mark Warren addressed something  lime that in his book Destroying Bass Fishing Myths

screw myths. if they see it and it looks unnatural they are less likely to instinctively eat it.