Braid to mono leader?

[rboat]

This summer I want to try fishing braid to mono leader. My question for those who use this, how long of leader do you normally use and what connection knot do you tie? Any other tips? Thanks guys.

[MN Fisher]

Braid to mono/FC/hybrid

Length - what ever you're comfortable with. I usually go 6'-8' when I use them - others go 15'-20' or more.

Knot - which ever one you can learn - most popular line/leader knots are Alberto, Albright and FG - I use the FG as it's the one I learned first.

[BrianMDTX]

6’-7’ mono leader. Lefty Kreh braid-to-leader knot. 

[LrgmouthShad]

When I did it, I measured my leader from tip of rod to the reel. I just don't want my knot on the reel itself when casting. Braid to mono is a powerful combination. I grew to favor straight mono, but braid to mono gives powerful hooksets and a little stretch at the end. I always tie an fg knot when connecting lines.

[MickD]

About 6 feet, mono or FC. Easiest, most reliable knot, IMHO, is the double uni, easy to tie, hard to screw up, but it's a little on the large side so may not clear guides well with heavy leaders or really small guides.

 

I use the Alberto with the braid tag tied tightly onto the end of the finished tightly set knot with two overhand knots to prevent unravelling.  Quite small and very reliable, not difficult to tie with a little practice.  

 

I think that really long lengths of leader don't make a lot of sense.  If one is going that long why not just use mono or FC for the main line?

 

The FG is clearly the smallest knot, and tied correctly, can be very strong, but many have trouble learning it and tying it reliably.  Some suspect that some braid coatings can affect the knot.  I have used it, but had too many "phantom failures."  

[king fisher]

Alberto knot.  I start with 5' of leader, change to new leader when length gets less than 2 feet.

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

... I measured my leader from tip of rod to the reel. I just don't want my knot on the reel itself when casting. 

                                      

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

When I did it, I measured my leader from tip of rod to the reel. I just don't want my knot on the reel itself when casting.

I have to say, so far, I haven’t had any issues with the knot being wound back on the reel, either with spinning or baitcasting. But that’s probably a smart move in the long run. 

[LrgmouthShad]

20 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I have to say, so far, I haven’t had any issues with the knot being wound back on the reel, either with spinning or baitcasting. But that’s probably a smart move in the long run. 

It was just annoying to me and, like you, I figured there’d be something wrong with doing it consistently. Maybe wrong, but having the knot go through the reel made me uncomfortable when I tried it. Tried it for a few days, went right back to cutting the leader short of the reel

[Happybeerbuzz]

I use an FG Knot with a length of 3-5 slacky wingspans because I am whimsical like that.  

[Maggiesmaster]

I use just enough leader to let the knot stay above the reel spool. I tried green braid, but wasn’t able to see the line clearly. Switched to yellow braid with a leader and seems a lot better. I use a Shin knot, as it’s a bit slimmer than an Alberto; haven’t attempted the FG knot!

[Deleted account]

18 minutes ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

I use an FG Knot with a length of 3-5 slacky wingspans because I am whimsical like that.  

LOL. Slacky wingspans is how we measure when making striped bass trolling tandem rigs with 60 lb mono. 3 and 6, or 6 and 12, heavy jig head on the short, light on the long tied to a 3 way swivel, going Thursday, but the season has sucked so far in the bay.

[Bankc]

I often go with about one rod's length of leader.  I hate feeling the knot on the spool of my baitcaster with my thumb.  So I like to rig it up so that the knot stays just outside the reel when I cast.  With spinning reels, I'll usually go a little longer.  Maybe up to two rod lengths.  

 

I like longer leaders because I have to retie them less often.  However, if you leader is going to be really long, then why use a leader at all?  I'll usually retie a new leader once I'm left with under a foot of leader.