What is the best/most seamless way to attach a heavy (40-80 lb) fluoro or stainless steel leader to mono/braid, end to end or using snaps/swivels?

[Ohioguy25]

I have determined from my other thread that ultimately a steel leader is the only real way to truly guarantee protection from break offs to toothy fish on my glide bait setup, but that strong fluoro will impart less influence on the action and be less visible, is this correct? What about just using a heavier piece of big game as leader, like 50-80 lb wouldn’t that be less prone to breakage than fluoro?

 

In either case, what is the cleanest way to attach these two leaders - end to end or via snaps/swivels? It seems that single strand stainless leader is only available in spools whereas fluro comes in both spools and pre-made leaders with swivels/snaps, although the better fluro is only available in rolls as well. 
 

How do I go about taking a strand of steel or fluoro leader material and fashioning it into a leader that I can attach to 20 lb big game, or should I use braid? Thank you! 🙏🏼

[casts_by_fly]

tieable wire.  Use a loop knot at the lure end and be done with it.

 

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/master-class-monday-attach-bite-tippet-leader

[A-Jay]

I use a uni to uni

Watch this clip.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

tieable wire.  Use a loop knot at the lure end and be done with it.

 

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/master-class-monday-attach-bite-tippet-leader

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I use a uni to uni

Watch this clip.

A-Jay

 

 

 

What about just using a heavier piece of big game as leader, like 50-80 lb wouldn’t that be less prone to breakage than fluoro? Would connecting this the main line via swivel work?

[A-Jay]

48 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 

What about just using a heavier piece of big game as leader, like 50-80 lb wouldn’t that be less prone to breakage than fluoro? Would connecting this the main line via swivel work?

Have you ever actually fished the 80 lb mono  ?

I have but not in any bass fishing applications.

All my experience with big mono comes from fishing in saltwater

for fish that are SEVERAL TIMES larger than any bass.

It's GIGANTIC diameter is just foolish to use for bass fishing.

It's hard to tie and the knots are beyond bulbous when compared to average bass line.

 

Why not use what works ?

I have been using that AFW for YEARS - and it works fine.

There 's nothing else I can add here.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[casts_by_fly]

What AJ said. Use your regular mainline and add a 12-18” piece of tieable wire. It’s bite proof and flexible. You should see no impact on action. If you really want to make it faster and removable then tie the wire to a snap swivel on one end and a swivel on the other while you’re at home.

 

i dont know if you’ve ever felt 80# mono but its weed wacker cord. 

[Ohioguy25]

4 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

What AJ said. Use your regular mainline and add a 12-18” piece of tieable wire. It’s bite proof and flexible. You should see no impact on action. If you really want to make it faster and removable then tie the wire to a snap swivel on one end and a swivel on the other while you’re at home.

 

i dont know if you’ve ever felt 80# mono but its weed wacker cord. 

Is 80 lb fluoro absurd as well? What about 40-60?

 

How difficult is it to tie a steel leader? Is there any line shy risk with it?

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Have you ever actually fished the 80 lb mono  ?

I have but not in any bass fishing applications.

All my experience with big mono comes from fishing in saltwater

for fish that are SEVERAL TIMES larger than any bass.

It's GIGANTIC diameter is just foolish to use for bass fishing.

It's hard to tie and the knots are beyond bulbous when compared to average bass line.

 

Why not use what works ?

I have been using that AFW for YEARS - and it works fine.

There 's nothing else I can add here.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

Is that any different than this - 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000AXZCS?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

What AJ said. Use your regular mainline and add a 12-18” piece of tieable wire. It’s bite proof and flexible. You should see no impact on action. If you really want to make it faster and removable then tie the wire to a snap swivel on one end and a swivel on the other while you’re at home.

 

i dont know if you’ve ever felt 80# mono but its weed wacker cord. 

 

 I used 80 lb braid & a 60lb mono leader for this one. 

Just under 40 lbs I think. 

A-Jay

[PaulVE64]

The wire is alot easier to tie than 40# mono or fluoro. It's the way to go.

If you're at all concerned about wire leader to main line then add a swivel.

[Buzzbaiter]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

It's GIGANTIC diameter is just foolish to use for bass fishing.

It's hard to tie and the knots are beyond bulbous when compared to average bass line.

 

I second this. I tried using 80lb mono for bite leader when I started fishing for snook. The knots are so big it’s almost comical. You can’t tie that line to 20lb mono main leader in a way that inspires confidence. I’ll stick to 40

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Is 80 lb fluoro absurd as well? What about 40-60?

 

How difficult is it to tie a steel leader? Is there any line shy risk with it?

Is there any different than this - 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000AXZCS?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

yes it’s absurd. The diameter for fluoro and mono won’t be remarkably different. 80 lb big game is .035”. Big game fluoro leader is 0.036”. 
 

i use 20 lb big game on my big bass rod. I have 25/30/50# mono downstairs for rigging saltwater leaders and rigs.  Also useful for some specialist fly leader applications. The 30# and 25# are handy for abrasion leaders and on a fly rod just fine for bite leader.  I’m also not so concerned if I get bit off because I’ll just tie another one when I get home. if you’re around bluefish or barracuda then they are like pike and musky and you have to have wire. 
 

tieable wire is harder to tie than 6# mono but easier then 80# mono. 
 

 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

 I used 80 lb braid & a 60lb mono leader for this one. 

Just under 40 lbs I think. 

A-Jay

very nice. Cape mays days I assume?  You and those round reels…

[A-Jay]

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

yes it’s absurd. The diameter for fluoro and mono won’t be remarkably different. 80 lb big game is .035”. Big game fluoro leader is 0.036”. 
 

i use 20 lb big game on my big bass rod. I have 25/30/50# mono downstairs for rigging saltwater leaders and rigs.  Also useful for some specialist fly leader applications. The 30# and 25# are handy for abrasion leaders and on a fly rod just fine for bite leader.  I’m also not so concerned if I get bit off because I’ll just tie another one when I get home. if you’re around bluefish or barracuda then they are like pike and musky and you have to have wire. 
 

tieable wire is harder to tie than 6# mono but easier then 80# mono. 
 

 

 

very nice. Cape mays days I assume?  You and those round reels…

Yup.

I lived on the end of that north jetty.

November new moon nights were dream like. 

A-Jay

 

[Reel]

Surflon Micro Supreme is about the best.  The steel materal from Amazon is too stiff and will impact the action of your swim bait.  Remember, most of the pike that cut you off are the small ones.  There teeth are close together and will cut anything, especially the bigger diameter stuff.  The larger pike have teeth that are farther apart and a lot of time, regular line ( braid, mono or fluoro ) will settle between the teeth and not be cut.  

[Aaron_H]

14 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Have you ever actually fished the 80 lb mono  ?

I have but not in any bass fishing applications.

All my experience with big mono comes from fishing in saltwater

for fish that are SEVERAL TIMES larger than any bass.

It's GIGANTIC diameter is just foolish to use for bass fishing.

It's hard to tie and the knots are beyond bulbous when compared to average bass line.

 

Why not use what works ?

I have been using that AFW for YEARS - and it works fine.

There 's nothing else I can add here.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

I have, for grouper! 😂 I could not imagine ever using it in freshwater applications with how thick and unmanageable it is, even just as a shorter leader.