Leader for bass?

[Just David]

The highest visual acuity in a fish is still only about half as sharp as a human being says Caves. And braided line almost always breaks at the knot. And I’ve never caught a bass with big teeth. So why add a piece of line and an extra knot to any main line that you couldn’t see five feet down on a bright sunny day? 

[roadwarrior]

Some guys (me) think visibility is an issue, but there are a couple of others: abrasion resistance 

and the ability to break-off when you need to.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, roadwarrior said:

Some guys (me) think visibility is an issue, but there are a couple of others: abrasion resistance 

and the ability to break-off when you need to.

And shock absorption in my case. Straight braid on a treble lure you can either rip it from the bass' mouth or straighten the hooks on a hard set. With a mono/flouro/hybrid leader, there's a bit of stretch to reduce the shock factor.

[throttleplate]

in august i had to start using 80 lb seguer leader fluorocarbon coming off of 20 lb braid on some of my lures such as hollow body frogs, jigs, TR, all crankbaits, spinners, some shorter top water lures.

 

Why? because when throwing a spinner, frogs, jigs, .... in one of my favorite wading lakes every other fish i caught was a pike, fun as heck to catch the good sized ones but had to dig into my shoulder pouch and retie or put on a new lure because they bit me off or put on new 20 lb flouro leader which takes time especially when in chest high water and you have to walk back shallower to do the rerig.

 

So i made a bunch of 80 lb leaders 1.5 ft long some tied directly onto specific lures such as jigs and TR and other leaders made up to just clip onto lure and clip into snap on my braid end. The shorter the bait the bigger the problem such as jigs as pike get it pretty deep in the mouth and chew the 80 lb leader up so i just put on another pre tied jig or clip on a new pre made leader.

 

I have no problem walking the dog with 80 lb leader hooked on for top water but do have a problem when using suspending jerk baits as the clip and fluoro tend to make the lure nose heavy and point down.

[BigAngus752]

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

the ability to break-off when you need to.

 

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

And shock absorption

These two things are important enough to me that I frequently use fluoro or mono leaders with my braid.  I really don't care about the "can fish see it" debate because these two things are enough for me to do it.  If you showed me a study proving unequivocally that bass can't see fishing line and showed me a poll of every fisherman on Earth who agreed with the study I would still tie a leader on my braid when fishing a football jig on rip rap-covered causeway (or many other examples).    

[soflabasser]

It is a good idea to add a monofilament leader when you need extra abrasion resistance. Braid gets cut easily when fishing near concrete structures and rocky areas.

[Big Hands]

On 10/29/2020 at 4:18 PM, throttleplate said:

I have no problem walking the dog with 80 lb leader hooked on for top water but do have a problem when using suspending jerk baits as the clip and fluoro tend to make the lure nose heavy and point down.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

[The Bassman]

I've struggled with this for a good while. Most of my fishing is with spinning tackle. Other than tangling issues with treble hook baits I find that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. I fish in ponds with very little hard structure. My line is very thin so I really don't think visibility is an issue. Also, the thin diameter doesn't really slow sink rate that much when finesse fishing. I fish a lot in cold weather. It's nice to not have to re-tie all the time in sub 40* weather. Braid knots don't fatigue like mono.

[GaryH]

There's times that I use a leader and then there's times I don't. Lily pads and certain other cover, and for sensitivity straight braid. Clear water and around trees, docks and sumerged brush floro leader. Makes it easier to brake off when really snagged and gives some abrasion resistance and stretch.

[MickD]

I don't think I saw this mentioned, but another advantage of using a leader is that when you cut off or break off, you are not losing braid, which can last for years.

 

Also, knots are easier with leaders than with braid.

 

I agree with all the other comments.

[GTN-NY]

2 hours ago, GaryH said:

There's times that I use a leader and then there's times I don't. Lily pads and certain other cover, and for sensitivity straight braid. Clear water and around trees, docks and sumerged brush floro leader. Makes it easier to brake off when really snagged and gives some abrasion resistance and stretch.

Would you say 8lb braid for dropshot is ok for straight braid? It’s not crystal clear water

[GaryH]

22 minutes ago, GTN said:

Would you say 8lb braid for dropshot is ok for straight braid? It’s not crystal clear water

Sure is. Good choice.  

[5by3]

I use leaders mostly for abrasion resistance. Braid + rocks = trouble. 
 

If I’m fishing a presentation in clear water where the fish has more than a few seconds to stare at my bait, then I like a fluoro leader. I’ve seen this make a difference on a local body of water with 10+ feet of visibility.
 

If I’m fishing heavy grass or pads I tie straight to the braid.

[Bluebasser86]

Sink rate is another reason to use a leader. Braid floats and will cause a parachute effect with a light enough bait like a Ned Rig or weightless plastic.

[ww2farmer]

I just get more bites with a leader....I don't know why, but I do.  I don't know if it's a visibility thing...sometimes I think it is. But I also think, just like braid transmits feel back to you better...it's a two way street. I believe it to be fact that braid makes a lot more sound coming over wood, dock posts/supports, and other hard cover. It might be "white noise" to a bass, but maybe not. I just feel more confident getting that sound...even if it's just a couple feet away from my bait, gets me more bites. And that right there might be why I catch more with braid to leader....confidence in the system. I just don't have the problems that other people have with it either. The Alberto knot has been bulletproof for me for 10+ years now. I have boat flipped 6lbers on leaders, cracked them hard in deep heavy cover with big rods, skillfully guided 6lb insane smallmouth out from under docks on light line, and a host of other pucker up moments without issue.

 

PLUS, I hate using fluorocarbon, or mono as main line, so braid to leader is perfect for me. The only time I don't use it is frogging.

 

I used to go straight braid for punching, but in the last 2-3 years started doing it with heavy 20lb leaders and have gotten more bites than with the straight braid, and even with the big rods, stout hooks, heavy cover, and powerful hook sets, it's given me ZERO issues. No broken leaders, knots, etc..... Works for me, but not for some. Only you'll know what works for you through trial and error.

[roadwarrior]

[ATA]

On 10/29/2020 at 2:16 PM, Just David said:

The highest visual acuity in a fish is still only about half as sharp as a human being says Caves. And braided line almost always breaks at the knot. And I’ve never caught a bass with big teeth. So why add a piece of line and an extra knot to any main line that you couldn’t see five feet down on a bright sunny day? 

using leader for me not all about visibility(which I believe is a factor), It is also about little give or stretch by using mono or specific fluoro.

about the knot, Honestly since I do FG knot for leader I never seen someone say it breaks at any point.