Leader

[AustinTaylor]

On 30-50 lbs braid what leader should I use mono floro or just strait braid?

[FishinBuck07]

Depending on what your water clarity is I would just fish straight braid!  The only reason I would use a leader on it would be water clarity where I could see all the way to the bottom in deeper water.  Just my opinion though.

[DitchPanda]

Depends on several things...what lures are you throwing? What type of cover are you fishing around? Also some guys think line color matters depending on water clarity...so in super clear water I'd go leader instead of straight braid

[Trox]

There are a ton of variables that go into this question but I am almost exclusively braid to floro leaders of various tests based on the conditions such as water clarity, etc... The only time I use straight braid is for topwater and HEAVY punching, but even then, depending on clarity, I'll use a leader (mostly just a confidence thing at that point though). Only time I use a mono leader is for carolina rigs, but will still use floro there as well depending on the action I am wanting out of my plastic.

[MN Fisher]

Depends:

If you're tossing in murky/stained water I wouldn't worry about a leader.

If there's rocks or other abrading, however, a FC leader might be a good idea.

Clear water (6'+ visibility for me), then a FC or lo-vis Mono leader.

 

[Smokinal]

I keep around 14 rods in my boat and every one of them is set up with braid/fluoro.

Keep in mind, the decision to use a fluoro leader does not lie in just water clarity and visibility.

Braid has zero abrasion resistance on rock and all I fish are rocky lakes in Maine.

Fluoro has good abrasion resistance but I can't stand the stretch and handling of it straight.

[gim]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If there's rocks or other abrading, however, a FC leader might be a good idea

 

This is what I do when in lakes that have zebra mussels.  Hard bottom structure is often covered in those things and the shells can be sharp.  Gotta have some abrasive resistance otherwise it'll slice right through the line.

[Choporoz]

Absolutely. 

[Team9nine]

3 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Absolutely. 

 

Agreed 

[BrianMDTX]

Point to consider...when you are snagged beyond repair, do you want to lose 6’-8’ of mono or fluoro leader, or braid? 

[jimmyjoe]

      ^^^  X3.  ^^^

 

 

 

 

[Bassin Bruce]

Question to all that use a leader, how long of a leader do you tie on. Do differing circumstances dictate different lengths.

 

Coming from a fly fishing perspective the leader holds a vital roll in the lay of the line and how interacts with the fly line. I always tied my own segmented leaders that tapered down to the length and thickness that the river, wind and fly dictated I use.

Is there that much consideration in the bass fishing realm or not so much. I read one person mention 6'-8' of leader, is that just a ball park figure, do you adjust from there or is it just a set it and forget it type of thing.

 

Sorry to the OP if I am hyjacking your thread, I thought maybe this would fall right inline with your question of leader thickness as well. 

[MN Fisher]

I usually start with 6'-8'...cutting off and replacing it when it's down to about 3' after enough lure changes.

[Lead Head]

I usually start my leaders just long enough to keep the knot out of the spool. When pitching I want my leader knot just outside the tip top. So its relative to the length of the rod, but usually around 6'. I will replace it if it gets down into the 3'-4' range. To answer your question, no its not an exact science in bass fishing (for me anyway).