Braid to fluoro on casting rod

[padon]

anybody using braid to fluoro leader on your bottom contact casting rods? id like to be able to vary my pound test on the leader for different lakes with different water clarities.

[FrankN209]

On all of my rods I use braid to fluorocarbon with a fg knot. 

[Team9nine]

Never - but you'll get a lot of responses from those that do 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Never - but you'll get a lot of responses from those that do 

I'm with Brian - my bottom contact rig is straight FC

 

And again, there are a number who go the braid/leader route.

[FryDog62]

I did braid to fluoro for many years but have gravitated to all fluoro for bottom contact and T-Rigs. Pitching/Flippin in the grass/milfoil - all braid. 

Life is easier and just as effective... JMO

 

 

[softwateronly]

1 hour ago, padon said:

anybody using braid to fluoro leader on your bottom contact casting rods? id like to be able to vary my pound test on the leader for different lakes with different water clarities.

 

I do until the heart of summer; 40lb or 65lb power pro, fg knot, 16lb sunline shock leader or 10lb mono depending on what I'm throwing and where.  Summer, when the weeds are the thickest, straight braid.  

 

scott

[CrashVector]

Nope.  I never use leaders.

[HaydenS]

Straight FC on casting or Straight braid

Spinning straight mono or Braid to Fluoro

 

I was watching a Bassmaster video from ten years ago, and they were river fishing.  The Bassmaster pro's were throwing 50-65 pound braid, to 20 pound fluoro, for spinnerbaits and jigs.   

1 hour ago, padon said:

anybody using braid to fluoro leader on your bottom contact casting rods? id like to be able to vary my pound test on the leader for different lakes with different water clarities.

12-15 pound Fluoro should be perfect for for anywhere you’re wanting to fish bottom contact baits.  15 pound fluoro can fish T-rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and even squarebills.   My jig rod and do it all Medium Heavy/fast both have 15 FC.  IMO, the best line choice for bottom contact.  

If you’re using 3/4 ounce+ baits, I’d go 20 pound fluoro.  If you’re fishing heavy, heavy grass and punching/frogging, I’d go 65 pound braid.   

 

If your fishing rock/wood/sparse grass I'd go straight 15 pound fluorocarbon. 

[Maggiesmaster]

I use a 6’ fluro leader with my 30 lb braid, attached with a shin knot.  The reason I use a leader is I can’t see green braid, so I use yellow.  For surface lures, crankbaits & spinnerbaits I still use mono.

[Bird]

Always use leaders in the VERY clear water I fish. 15lb braid to 8lb Sunline sniper via an Alberto. 

Straight braid on moving baits. 

[Mike L]

Never…

 

 

 

 

Mike

[LrgmouthShad]

I used braid to fluoro or braid to mono for my first couple years of fishing baitcasters and liked it. Few issues. But after switching to straight mono and re-learning to set the hook, I’m not looking back at going to using braid and leaders. I like the forgiveness (elasticity, abrasion resistance, shock absorbance, great knot strength) of mono. Nothing wrong with using braid to leader though. You could, for instance, get away with using a more flexible rod with braid.

 

only exception to me using mono is straight braid when talking heavy cover frogging, punching, whatever

[bulldog1935]

Improved Allbright knot.  The guide above is the 2nd-smallest-size micro-guide on the rod. 

 

[padon]

I use braid to leader on all of my spinning rods and used to use it on casting rods. been using straight fluoro on casting rods the past few years. It just wants to be unruly sometimes though especially when its been on there a while just seems like you get more backlashes. i guess ill have to stop being lazy and change it more often. i tried it in the yard this weekend with an fg knot and it cast fine etc, and behaved better than the fluoro was but i like the simplicity of straight fluoro.

[Deleted account]

No fluoro for me, and I only use a mono leader with a spinning rod sometimes, and frogs where pike and snakeheads live.

[Big Rick]

Always with an FG Knot. I've really dialed in that knot and have never had it fail. I use Loon Knot Sense glue to seal the deal and keep things smooth. Works like a charm.  I also use Tatula T-Wing reels. Those reels have a very narrow channel on the line guide and I never have an issue reeling the FG Knot into the reel. I use 30# Power Pro with 25# Shock Leader. 

[FrankN209]

27 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

Always with an FG Knot. I've really dialed in that knot and have never had it fail. I use Loon Knot Sense glue to seal the deal and keep things smooth. Works like a charm.  I also use Tatula T-Wing reels. Those reels have a very narrow channel on the line guide and I never have an issue reeling the FG Knot into the reel. I use 30# Power Pro with 25# Shock Leader. 

Good to know about that Loon Glue. I've always used a small dab of super glue to keep that fray down on the knot. 

[Big Rick]

11 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

Good to know about that Loon Glue. I've always used a small dab of super glue to keep that fray down on the knot. 

The Loon Glue is an UV glue that is always a bit flexible. It doesn't harden stiff like super glue. I do suggest getting a small UV light for when you are rigging up indoors or lowlight conditions. This glue lasts a long time and a little goes a long way. 

[Boomstick]

On 12/26/2021 at 9:25 PM, padon said:

anybody using braid to fluoro leader on your bottom contact casting rods? id like to be able to vary my pound test on the leader for different lakes with different water clarities.

I have used braid to fluoro or sometimes mono in the past, mainly for the ability to change my leader length. I didn't have any real issues with it and the only real downside was having to take the time to tie on a leader.

 

Since my rod and reel arsenal has increased, I have a few more reels than the rods I normally carry with me so I can usually find a reel with the appropriate line on it for the job.

 

I still run braid to leader on spinning gear mainly because I find it handles better and on my M/F spinning rod, I sometimes change out the leader between 6 and 8lb line as well.

 

Both lines have their pros and cons:

 

Pros for braid:

- Better sensitivity on tight line.

- Thinner diameter makes up for more visible line and makes for better casting distance

 

Pros for straight fluorocarbon:

- Maintains some sensitivity on slack line

- More invisible in the water

- It's quicker, just tie on a bait and go!

 

I definitely have caught more fish on straight fluorocarbon, but I've also learned a lot on from the time I was using braid and can chalk the vast majority of the difference up to that.