Best Mono for braid to leader

[LionHeart]

Looking to for some really high quality monofilament to use for leader line.  I have been using Trilene big game for a while and for the price it's pretty good stuff.

 

However I was home taking a few fishing trips with my dad, and had more leader line problems in one trip than in nearly a whole season.

 

I had 2 FG knot failures, 4 leader breaks, and 4 leader to lure knot failures.  I know how to tie knots, and inspect leaders after a catch.  I also know sometimes knots fail and line breaks, but not like this.

 

The only thing I can fathom is that maybe I got a bad spool of line?  Every failure was from the same new spool of Big Game.

 

I'm very familiar with this brand, but since I plan to buy a new spool, I figured I'd see if there is something better since I haven't bought line in a while.  Thanks

[LrgmouthShad]

It is possible you got a bad spool

 

I personally have never gotten a bad one, and if I'm using mono for anything in the baitcasting or leader realm, it's big game. It's just what I'm going to recommend, sorry

[ironbjorn]

If you've been using BG for a long time and just now ran into problems, I would logically conclude that you got a bad spool. I never have, but I've heard of it with almost every mainstream line. I'd toss it and buy BG again from elsewhere. Never had a single problem with that line. I've brought up logs with straight 12lb.

[OG Crankster]

I recently got a bad spool of 8lb BG. Id tie a palomar knot.........test it and the line would break 8in above the knot. Happened several times........the line always broke, not the knot.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

BG has good knot strength and is pretty tough.  If it wasnt or left in the sun or exposed to something that degraded it, maybe its just a bad spool, it happens.  

[WRB]

Sunline Defier Armilo is a premium superior mono.

22# Armilo is the same diameter as 15# Big Game, .015D.

Tom

 

[softwateronly]

19 minutes ago, WRB said:

Sunline Defier Armilo is a premium superior mono.

22# Armilo is the same diameter as 15# Big Game, .015D.

Tom

 

Thanks to Tom, I've been using 11lb on an almost BFS rig this year, it is thin, strong, and sensitive.  My definite next mono purchase when I work through the maxima ultragreen I already own.

 

scott

[Woody B]

I've got a question.  I'm being serious (for once)   If you're going to use a mono leader why not just use mono?   

 

Regarding a bad spool.  Last year I got a bad spool of XL from the huge company named after the big river.   I wonder if it was counterfit.   The packaging and spool looked identical to what I buy at my local tackle shop but the line was different.   

[MickD]

I guess I'm lucky, never had a bad spool of anything exc the old Vanish.  I think "bad spools" are much rarer than what I hear about on forums. 

 

 I use fly tippet FC and hard mono leader material for my leaders.  I like them  for their stiffness which helps with lures like blade baits to keep them from tangling on the snap retrieves and I believe they are  tougher than line. 

 

I don't know why people don't use "leader" grade products for "leader."  Line is designed to be line; leader is designed to be leader.  People will pay $20 for a lure then put it on a piece of $5 line.

[LionHeart]

3 hours ago, Woody B said:

I've got a question.  I'm being serious (for once)   If you're going to use a mono leader why not just use mono?   

 

Regarding a bad spool.  Last year I got a bad spool of XL from the huge company named after the big river.   I wonder if it was counterfit.   The packaging and spool looked identical to what I buy at my local tackle shop but the line was different.   

Interesting point about about counterfeit line.  Never heard of it being done or really thought about it.  Can't imagine fake fishing line would be super lucrative, but then again my dad said he got it from Amazon at a good deal, so who knows.

 

As for using braid to leader, here's why I do it.  Braid doesn't stretch like mono, so hook set authority is roughly the same at all distances.

 

I generally backlash about 3-4 times per fishing trip.  Braid is infinitely easier to clear than mono.

 

Braid is way more sensitive.

 

Braid is easier to see.

 

Braid lasts must longer than mono. 

 

   As for why I use a leader instead of straight braid.  Some setups are straight braid, but for treble hook lures or bottom contact I use a leader.  Braid tends to wrap around treble hooks.  Also, I have convinced myself that fish can see braid and that they care.

 

I have been using braid to leader for years, and am fairly sold on it.

[casts_by_fly]

6 minutes ago, LionHeart said:

Interesting point about about counterfeit line.  Never heard of it being done or really thought about it.  Can't imagine fake fishing line would be super lucrative, but then again my dad said he got it from Amazon at a good deal, so who knows.

 

Not sure the vendor, but if it was a really cheap spool from a third party supplier then it could have been a clearance of old stock and who knows how it was stored.  You've had good luck with BG in the past as have lots of people.  Its cheap anyway.  I'd grab a new spool and pitch that one.

 

[WRB]

10 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Thanks to Tom, I've been using 11lb on an almost BFS rig this year, it is thin, strong, and sensitive.  My definite next mono purchase when I work through the maxima ultragreen I already own.

 

scott

I still use Max UG 5# /.008D for finesse spinning, if only Armilo came in smaller D’s.

Tom

[casts_by_fly]

Ultragreen was my go to leader material for building fly rod leaders for a long time.  Good stiffness, slick coating, ties a great knot.  For a braid to mono leader its a good choice.

[SpellCaster]

Randomly at a thrift store I found an unopened spool of 10# Sufix Tritanium mono for a couple bucks and it has been AWESOME for leader. It really takes a lot of abuse.

 

Other than that if you want to stick with Berkley and similar price there's Trilene XL Smooth Casting

 

[LCG]

Yo zuri hybrid has treated me well as both a leader and main line.

[gulfcaptain]

Use PLine CXX, Izorline,  being leaders as bass ackwards as this sounds I've had good luck with that cheaper mono from Wal-Mart.  Left all my leader line at home one trip to havasu and had to stop and buy line on a budget.  Of course I only use it in 15 and 20lb, and like you my 12lb I believe is PLine. Anything else is all fc. I have had my knot fail using an rp knot (alberto) when using heavier baits such as arigs and glides. So now when using those I put a small amount of superglue on the knot and I do mean a small amount. 

[FishTank]

I use to use Big Game, not for leader, but experienced the same thing with it over multiple spools and decided to move on years ago. My main issue with Big Game was, it was short lived at pretty much everything (knots, stretch, abrasion resistance, etc) but it starts out great. 

 

For a cheap alternative,  Sufix Siege is not bad. For a premium line, Sunline Defier Armilo. Great all around line and pretty tough. If you want to go FC, Seaguar Gold Label and Seaguar Grand Max (best I have used so far). 

[Creek Chub 1]

Agree with the above recommendation for Yozuri hybrid. It’s cheap, strong and tough. I personally like the smoke gray

[king fisher]

Maxima Ultra green.  I have used it for years for all my fresh water mono leaders, fly fishing, or spinning, bait casting, salmon, trout, bass.  I grew up in the Northwest, where it was popular, but I haven't found anything better for mono leader material, so I still use it.

[JackstrawIII]

I know it’s not technically “mono”, but I’ve been using YoZuri hybrid for years as leader material and I’ve always been extremely happy with it. 

[Alex from GA]

When I have a spool of line I haven't used in a long time and want to test it I tie an overhand knot and try to break it.  Sometimes only the top layers are bad.  That said I've been using BassPro Excell mono for years and like it. 

[ChrisD46]

Berkley Big Game and  Sufix Elite / Siege would be my choices as far as being good mono lines which are easy to find locally . 

[DogBone_384]

On 7/14/2023 at 6:02 AM, Woody B said:

If you're going to use a mono leader why not just use mono?   

I don't use one brand of mono.  I used Suffix Advance mono this year because it was on sale.  It worked well for me.

 

I use mono as a leader because it doesn't dull sensitivity enough for me to notice.  It's also cheap compared to fluorocarbon line and  serves as a shock absorber if I'm throwing treble hooks.