Braid to stretchy leader

[Bandersnatch]

I'm a braid to leader guy. I tried to switch to floro and it felt like a rubber band. It has got me thinking, is there or would it make sense to use some sort of stretchy mono to use for shock absorbing. Think a chatterbait or jerkbait on heavier and faster rods than normal. What I'm really asking is, is there a abnormally stretchy mono or fluorocarbon that would be worth testing as a leader to braid in lieu of your standard floro leaders. I like to use a fast rod with braid to leader and sometime the rod unloads when I don't want it to. I want to know if there's a more stretchy leader that could help

[MN Fisher]

Jerkbaits I run straight 10#YZH on a M/F.

Chatters/Spinners/Jigs I run on a MH/F with 40# 832 and 6' of 12#YZH as a leader...for the shock absorption.

[JohnFromLisbon]

Definitely. On my braid-to-leader setups I'll use 2 to 3' of mono (12-14lb) if I'm using a stiffer rod than usual (let's say I wanted to beat the bank and didn't feel like carrying 4 or 5 rods, so I bring a 7' heavy casting rod and a lighter spinning one to cover most stuff). On moving baits especially I don't feel like I lose much sensitivity. Unless I'm around sharp rocks, then I go with heavier fluoro because I hate losing baits.

[FryDog62]

I posted a stretch test a few years ago and Berkley 100% fluoro came out the stretchiest of 21 tested lines. Second stretchiest was Seaguar Invizx.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Absolutely.  I prefer a rod with a little more backbone for rippin traps and bladed jigs.  A mono leader gives just enough of a delay from the stretch for the fish to be able to choke a bladed jig before he feels too much resistance.  Mono leaders are more forgiving so they work great with trebles.  Mono is also more buoyant then fluro, so a mono leader will cause a jerkbait or SB to run shallower compared to fluro.  The length of the mono leader determines the amount of stretch. Every line is different, some mono stretches more then others same is true with fluro.  

[jbsoonerfan]

I'm confused....You say fluoro felt like a rubberband but you want to switch to stretchy mono for shock absorbing??? I thought mono had more stretch than fluoro, no? 

 

I guess I don't follow the goal here.

[Bandersnatch]

2 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I'm confused....You say fluoro felt like a rubberband but you want to switch to stretchy mono for shock absorbing??? I thought mono had more stretch than fluoro, no? 

 

I guess I don't follow the goal here.

I've always run braid to leader. I switched two reels to straight 12lb tatsu and absolutely hated it. Everything felt really gummy to me on the tatus vs my normal 40lb smackdown to whatever leader I like. I guess that's what you get when you start on braid instead of fluorocarbon. 

[jbsoonerfan]

Oh, you switched to straight fluoro as a main line. I thought you meant a fluoro leader. I had the same experience when I made the switch to a lower lb test fluoro. Now it's 15 lb Tatsu on moving baits and 16 lb Sniper for bottom contact, with my braid still on some rigs as well. I am starting to get used to the fluoro and I like it a lot.

[Bandersnatch]

34 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Oh, you switched to straight fluoro as a main line. I thought you meant a fluoro leader. I had the same experience when I made the switch to a lower lb test fluoro. Now it's 15 lb Tatsu on moving baits and 16 lb Sniper for bottom contact, with my braid still on some rigs as well. I am starting to get used to the fluoro and I like it a lot.

Is the heavier fluorocarbon less stretchy? 

[Big Rick]

I love this stuff. I use it for jigs, Jackhammers, and the like. It is tough as nails yet has just the right amount of stretch that keeps fish pinned. It won't shatter on hard hook sets either. If it floated I'd use it for topwater as well. I pair it with 30-50 lb Power Pro with an FG knot. Awesome stuff. 

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

2 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

I love this stuff. I use it for jigs, Jackhammers, and the like. It is tough as nails yet has just the right amount of stretch that keeps fish pinned. It won't shatter on hard hook sets either. If it floated I'd use it for topwater as well. I pair it with 30-50 lb Power Pro with an FG knot. Awesome stuff. 

 

 

I use the same thing in 16 and 20lb. It's been pretty good to me 

[jbsoonerfan]

14 minutes ago, Chief250 said:

Is the heavier fluorocarbon less stretchy? 

In my opinion it is. I fish some pretty nasty stuff and braid seems to always find its way into the wood. Then it gets frayed or it is impossible to break so I have to cut it or straighten out a hook. I have found the larger/heavier test fluoro to be great. I even have some 18 lb Sniper that I use on heavy T-rigs and jigs and it works well for pitching. I bought some 20 lb Top Knot but haven't had the nerve to try it just yet. LOL

[Bandersnatch]

22 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

In my opinion it is. I fish some pretty nasty stuff and braid seems to always find its way into the wood. Then it gets frayed or it is impossible to break so I have to cut it or straighten out a hook. I have found the larger/heavier test fluoro to be great. I even have some 18 lb Sniper that I use on heavy T-rigs and jigs and it works well for pitching. I bought some 20 lb Top Knot but haven't had the nerve to try it just yet. LOL

Are you referring to straight line or using it as your leader? 

[jbsoonerfan]

Straight fluoro on 2 of my texas rigs and one of my jig rods. I only use them in the timber and CQB pitching. I still prefer straight braid for fishing a texas rig where I am skipping or roll casting in light cover.

[LCG]

I prefer a 6ft mono leader with braid main line. I find mono holds the knot better and is far cheaper. Been using BPS Tourney Tough for the last two years and it works well for me. 20lb braid to 6lb leader for spinning and 30lb braid to 14lb mono for casting and 10lb mono for my new light texas rig set up. 

 

I have found that I always end up breaking my leader just below the knot when I use a long Leader that goes into the spool of my baitcaster. It must be the uni to uni knot, but hate the fg knot with a passion.

 

I only use xf action rods, prefer the feel so I need some stretch between the xf action and the braid. Mono helps, but wouldn't mind using a longer leader for when the fish is close and make the last second runs. 

[Scud_Muffin]

Does mono as a shock absorber work well enough that a MH Extra Fast (like the JWR Loomis rods) could be made to work well for jerkbaits if you used either a long enough leader or straight fluoro/mono? 

[LCG]

12 hours ago, Scud_Mufffin said:

Does mono as a shock absorber work well enough that a MH Extra Fast (like the JWR Loomis rods) could be made to work well for jerkbaits if you used either a long enough leader or straight fluoro/mono? 

I don't use jerkbaits, but caught plenty of bass using treble hooked baits and don't have any issues. You do have to adjust your hooksets and lower your drag a bit while you fight the fish as there is far less stretch with a leader than straight mono or fluorocarbon.

 

I just prefer XF rod actions so I make adjustments to my drag and hooksets, keeps it simple for me. I also fish a lot from a kayak where you don't get the solid stance hooksets like when bank fishing or from a boat as you are floating in the water and easily moved by current, wind, or while fighting a fish.

 

FYI, I saw a video about  KVD himself using a 6'10" MH-F rod for jerkbait, but he also changes out the hooks for more stouter, stronger hooks. He also used the same rod for spinnerbaits. 

 

Everyone has their own personal preference, so what works well for one person, may not work well for another. 

[NHBull]

On 10/28/2020 at 4:55 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

Oh, you switched to straight fluoro as a main line. I thought you meant a fluoro leader. I had the same experience when I made the switch to a lower lb test fluoro. Now it's 15 lb Tatsu on moving baits and 16 lb Sniper for bottom contact, with my braid still on some rigs as well. I am starting to get used to the fluoro and I like it a lot.

I wish I could get there....when I was reborn to this sport I used a ton of braid and am having a hell of a time enjoying FC.   Tatsu is ok, but hard to make a full commitment to FC ?

[MN Fisher]

22 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I wish I could get there....when I was reborn to this sport I used a ton of braid and am having a hell of a time enjoying FC.   Tatsu is ok, but hard to make a full commitment to FC ?

I'm with you there, Bull. Tried three different FC lines, both as main and leader...two of them well respected here. Did not like it at all so gave up on FC totally.

 

I've gone YZH for mainline on 4 of my 10 rigs, and as leader on both my braid rigs. Some deride it, but with KVD, I've not had any issues with it.

[Teal]

40 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I'm with you there, Bull. Tried three different FC lines, both as main and leader...two of them well respected here. Did not like it at all so gave up on FC totally.

 

I've gone YZH for mainline on 4 of my 10 rigs, and as leader on both my braid rigs. Some deride it, but with KVD, I've not had any issues with it.

I just ordered a big spool of YZH from Amazon in 8#.   Gonna try that on my live bait rods and my bass spinning rods.  I live big game, but I'm looking for more of an edge when it comes to my spinning set ups.  I despise floro on a spinning set up... it's crazy, I can skip a dock with a baotcaster and floro, but i cannot get going with floro on a spinning set up.  

 

To the op, I am a braid to leader guy... mainly for cost effectiveness.  I have 2 casting rods that are bottom contact RIGS that are straight floro, the rest are braid to leader.  My 2 cranking rods are straight floro, and I currently have floro on my jerkbait rod.  I use mono leaders often.  Just buy a good quality line.

 

I run heavy mono for my a RIGS a swim bait rods, but I used to use braid to mono.

[MN Fisher]

35 minutes ago, Teal said:

I just ordered a big spool of YZH from Amazon in 8#. 

Don't forget the KVD. YZH is thicker than the same test of mono, but it's also stronger based on independent tests. It does have more memory than mono, but I've found that treating it with KVD removes most of that issue.

[Darth-Baiter]

There’s an equation. It basically says the longer the spring, the more stretch. 
 

6 feet of any leader isn’t gonna be the shock absorber you think it is.   Having said that, I run two rod lengths of leader at the beginning of the day. It gets shorter as a break off lures. 
 

right now I’m experimenting with 10lb power-pro  to a 10LB Seagar flouro leader.  My rod (med-fast)feels too stiff, but it’s holding up okay.  I’m running my drag a scooch on the losses end. 
 

there is  a small lake I hike to.  Smaller bass.  I use straight 4lb flouro because of the soft mouth and my own hammer fist.  It tempers my enthusiasm.  

[WRB]

Try tying your stretchy leader to something solid and have someone measure the leader while you pull back using your rod power. If a 6' 12 lb test mono leader stretches 1/4" I would be surprised.

Tom

[Westcoast]

I’ll often use maxima ultra green as a leader material with braid. It gives that bit of shock absorption, has great abrasion resistance and the best knot strength. 

[Vilas15]

On 10/30/2020 at 8:50 AM, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

There’s an equation. It basically says the longer the spring, the more stretch. 

The basic engineering equation is: stretch length = force*total length/(Cross-section area*modulus of elasticity). This is real basic and only for linear elastic materials so it may not apply well to fishing line, but the stretch is proportional to the length.

 

Anyways, I think the stretch for a mainline can make a real difference, but for a short section of leader the variation has got to be small. You're tying a 5' section of leader that maybe stretches a third of that at it's breaking strength. So on a hook set you're at some percentage of that force (also proportional to stretch)? Then you want to look at a difference between two different lines? Total stretch for the leader is under 10", so I'm thinking the difference in stretch between brands/lines has got to be a few inches at most, on a hook set where you are likely swinging the end of a 7' rod.

 

I guess I'm overanalyzing to argue that some people are overanalyzing. There's plenty of other reasons to use leaders in my opinion: abrasion resistance, easier to break off snags, line visibility, sinking fluoro vs floating mono but with a small length the stretch difference between different lines is probably negligible. We're not talking saltwater shock leaders here.

 

But what is bass fishing if not trying squeeze every miniscule advantage out of the gear to catch a fish that would probably eat a hot dog on a hook.

 

Another thought: the stretch is going to vary with the lb test line you choose. Try upsizing the fluoro/mono mainline for less stretch if it was too much like a rubber band, or downsizing your line and using longer your leaders if you want more stretch on a braid-to-leader setup. Maybe if you went to 10' leaders or more you could dial things in exactly where you want it.