Switch to Braid + Leader?

[CC268]

I've wanted to try Braid + Leader for a long time, but I've always been pretty overwhelmed by the idea of it (especially tying the knots which seems overly complicated).

 

I've only got two setups:

1. 6'8" Medium Light - Fast Action rod, Shimano Solstace 2500 spinning reel; this is ONLY used for dropshot and maybe wacky rig on occasion. I have 8lb Seaguar InvizX on it.

 

2. 6'9" Medium Heavy rod, Daiwa AirD baitcaster. This is my "everything else" rod. I have 12 lb Seaguar InvizX on it.

 

So...my questions:

 

1. Would it be appropriate to put braid + mono or flouro leader on either of these setups?

2. If so, is PowerPro the place to start? Yellow color?

3. What pound test? I was thinking 15 lb braid + 8 lb flouro on the dropshot rig and 40-50 lb braid + 15 lb mono or flouro leader on the "everything" rig. 

4. How many feet of leader would I use? 

 

Thanks for the help!

[FishTank]

When I have used leader in the past it was on casting gear.  I used 50lb Green Power Pro with whatever I had left over from a filler spool of 12 or 15 lb line.   My favorite leader though, Abrazx 15lb.  It seemed like it was made for this task.  

 

But here lately, I have been using straight braid.  I use it only for topwater.  In your case, I like what you are currently using.  If I had to pick, maybe the spinning set up.  My thing with braid is that the pros and cons of using it never seem to push me away from using FC. 

 

With all that said, I just order a 600 yard spool of 16lb Sunline Xplasma for my jig and worm spinning set up.  I told myself I would not do it again but here I am.

[Chris Carey]

I like to use braid to leader because I feel like it gives me versatility. I can always go straight braid if I’m fishing thick cover or top water. My setups are 30lb power pro on my mh casting rod in moss green with a 12 lb sunline sniper leader. my heavier rods I use 50lb power pro and 15-20 lb leader, either sunline or seguar abrazx. On my finesse setups I run 15 lb seguar smack down braid in high vis with a 7lb fc leader. 

[RoLo]

 

When working a 'moving' bait, a leader isn't necessary, where straight braid may be used.

Nonetheless, some anglers feel uncomfortable without a leader; those anglers should use a leader

 

You admit to being apprehensive about joining braided polyethylene to fluorocarbon monofilament.

I don't blame you. The best way to dispel that fear is to replace fluorocarbon with copolymer.

 

Roger

[plawren53202]

Coming from a flyfishing background, where knots joining leader to fly line are required, for the longest time I resisted trying braid, simply because I did not want to have to tie a knot to a leader. That was by far my least favorite part of flyfishing and at all costs I tried to get leaders and fly line with the pre-tied loops that would join up rather than have to tie my own knot.

 

I finally gave in, and it was one of the best fishing decisions I have made. Braid + leader on my spinning setups has completely changed the game for me. The added sensitivity and reduced stretch has totally changed my opinion of using spinning combos. Similarly I heard one of the commentators on the MLF live stream today (where everyone was using spinning gear to drop shot for smallies) said that braid completely changed the perception of spinning gear on the pro tours.

 

I tried Power Pro but landed on Sufix 832 as my favorite, after getting many recommendations here to try it. I briefly tried fluoro leaders but found that I like copolymer, specifically Sufix Advance, a lot better. It combines the best of mono (soft, forgiving on knots) with the best of fluoro (sensitive, low stretch). I have 15# braid/8# leader on my M spinning rod and 10# braid/6# leader on my ML rod.

 

For leader length, I usually use the length of the rod as a guide. I want the leader as long as possible to minimize needing to retie as it gets shorter from break offs or changing lures. But I quickly found out that no matter how well you tie your braid to leader knot, I did not want it going on the spool when I cast because it would sometimes grab line off the spool during the cast. Making the leader just shorter than the length of the rod should keep it just off the spool when ready to cast.

 

You'll get a lot of opinions about braid to leader knot. I landed on the double uni knot; I know the FG and the Alberto have a lot of fans. I think (this is just my opinion) more important that which of these knots you use is just picking one and getting very proficient at tying it. I was already familiar with the double uni from flyfishing so it came easiest to me. I feel most confident in my ability to tie a good knot, and most competent when I have to retie one on the water. Knock on wood, the only ones that have failed me for some time are when I'm hung on something solid and pulling as hard as I can on the line to try to break free (I recognize that as I type that, the next time out I'll have a fish pull my leader knot out). 

[Dens228]

All my reels are spooled with braid.  All of them except my frogging and punching rod have leaders.  Does it help, I don't know.  The main reasons I use a leader are:

For cranks and other treble hooked baits the short mono leader is a bit stiffer than braid and doesn't foul the hooks as often as straight braid. I use snaps on these so retying isn't really an issue. 

 

For jigs, single hook, plastics, etc I use a leader to save on braid.  I don't use snaps and tie directly to the lure. I fish a lot and retying with a leader keeps me from having to respool.  When the leader gets shorter than I like I just cut it off and tie another one on.   A 300 yard spool of mono that I use for leader should last me a LONGGGG time. 

 

This is the first year I'm doing this.  I fish a lot of clear water quarries and lakes, does the mono leader lead to more bass due to being less visible?  I don't know, but I will say I'm catching more very large bass this year.  Probably as many this year already as the past two or three years combined.  But that could also be because I'm getting better at deeper structure in the warmer months. 

 

 

[Team9nine]

11 hours ago, CC268 said:

 

So...my questions:

 

1. Would it be appropriate to put braid + mono or flouro leader on either of these setups?

2. If so, is PowerPro the place to start? Yellow color?

3. What pound test? I was thinking 15 lb braid + 8 lb flouro on the dropshot rig and 40-50 lb braid + 15 lb mono or flouro leader on the "everything" rig. 

4. How many feet of leader would I use? 

 

Thanks for the help!

1. Yes, the spinning outfit

2. Yes, yes

3. 15/8 would be a good starting point

4. Likely 5-6 ft., usually having the leader knot somewhere just outside the spool to start.

 

Suggestion: Start with just the spinning outfit first and see how you like it before moving on. It’s the easiest and more amenable of the two setups.

[CC268]

Thanks guys. Very helpful. I think I'm going to start with 15 lb braid and 8lb leader for the dropshot setup. Will the braid prevent the dropshot from sinking though? Even with a 6 foot leader or so, it seems like that braid might affect that?

 

I will get some 50 lb braid and 15 lb leader for my baitcaster.

 

Does color matter? Thinking about just getting high vis yellow or lime

[Dens228]

16 minutes ago, CC268 said:

Thanks guys. Very helpful. I think I'm going to start with 15 lb braid and 8lb leader for the dropshot setup. Will the braid prevent the dropshot from sinking though? Even with a 6 foot leader or so, it seems like that braid might affect that?

 

I will get some 50 lb braid and 15 lb leader for my baitcaster.

 

Does color matter? Thinking about just getting high vis yellow or lime

You'll be fine.  If you feel it does just go up a size in weight.

 

[RoLo]

Quote

Does color matter? Thinking about just getting high vis yellow or lime

Line color will only matter is you change your mind about using a leader.

Fluorescent Yellow is fine in conjunction with a leader.

If you decide to go leaderless, you might be sorry you selected Fluorescent Yellow.

 

Roger

[CC268]

 

2 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Line color will only matter is you change your mind about using a leader.

Fluorescent yellow is fine in conjunction with a leader.

If you decide to go leaderless, you'll be sorry you selected fluoriescent yellow.

 

Roger

To be honest, if I did a lot of top water fishing where I was tying directly to braid, I would just buy a separate rod and reel for that.

 

 

Would you guys say 40lb or 50lb braid for the baitcaster? Think I am going to go for Sufix 832. I really like the Lime Green color lol.

[Lmsmbassaddict]

I love straight FC and braid to FC. You just need to build up and work on a good knot that you can tie easily. The red Phillips is super easy, the Alberto is stronger and a little more involved but still pretty easy and the FG I find be the strongest but it'll take practice to tie it. 

 

Don't mess around with any other knots than these ones. Believe me, I've tried and these three options are as good as they come. 

 

I love power pro myself. It just works. I use 50 on my casting and much lighter on spinning. I typically always have a FC leader.

[browne762]

I use yellow or lime line on all but two reels and I only use a leader maybe 10%-20% of the time. I still catch fish without a leader. My normal like has about 8-10 feet of visibility. 

 

IMO I would skip lime and just get yellow. Lime washes out pretty quick.

 

I have 30lb on almost all baitcasers. A couple with 50lb. 

[RoLo]

11 minutes ago, CC268 said:

Kind of against the grain, but...don't have to worry about burning the fluoro.

 

Against the grain?

What would fluorocarbon offer you that nylon would not?

 

Roger

[CC268]

1 minute ago, RoLo said:

 

Against the grain?

What would fluorocarbon offer you that nylon would not?

 

Roger

Hey I'm new to all this...what do I know...