Braid: leader or no leader ?

[tracker01]

When fishing braid do you use a leader or no leader, and why.

[Grey Wolf]

No. Just something else to fail. JMHO

[Fishing Rhino]

Absolutely, without question.

Most of the places I fish are quite rocky.  Braid and rocks go together like butter and a hot knife.  Just touch a rock, with a nice fish, or maybe even a small fish sawing the line across a rock and pfffft, gonzo.

Twenty pound fluoro joined to the braid with a Modified Albright knot and no more problems.

Don't know if other obstructions such as logs or debris are a problem, but I would not take a chance.

[kikstand454]

all i know is... i have routinely caught 4ft  sand sharks on 15lb powerpro. no leader spanish mackeral too.

these are some toothy critters..

[Pantera61]

I haven't noticed too much of a difference either way.  I'm lazy so I generally go without a leader.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

I don't use a leader...when I use braid, I'm mainly looking for reaction bites or hand-to-hand combat. I started to use braid with soft swimbaits; however, most of the water I fish is usually stained so I think I can get away with it.

I also tend to agree with Bass-Brat...reduce single points of failure between you and the fish. Good luck.

[TimJ]

if the SM are on, braid direct to tube is ok with me. if its slow or Im dropping, I use a flouro leader with a small swivel...small enough to go through the tiptop guide. flouro leader for the c-rig too.

[J Francho]

Most of the waters I fish are infested with zebra and quagga mussels that make mince meat of braid.  When fishing rocks wood cover with bottom contact baits, and I'm using braid, I will use a leader.  If I'm pitching into heavy weeds, I tie direct.

For leaders, I prefer Fluorocarbon leader material, not reel filler.  this stuff is more dense, has less stretch, and much more abrasion resistant than reel filler line.  Triple Fish, Gamma, and my favorite, P-Line CFX all work well.

An Alberto connection doesn't fail when tied correctly.

[NewAngler]

I use a leader, usually mono (cheaper), out of simplicity. Its easier to break the mono with my teeth than it is braid.

[Fishing Rhino]

Most of the waters I fish are infested with zebra and quagga mussels that make mince meat of braid. When fishing rocks wood cover with bottom contact baits, and I'm using braid, I will use a leader. If I'm pitching into heavy weeds, I tie direct.

For leaders, I prefer Fluorocarbon leader material, not reel filler. this stuff is more dense, has less stretch, and much more abrasion resistant than reel filler line. Triple Fish, Gamma, and my favorite, P-Line CFX all work well.

An Alberto connection doesn't fail when tied correctly.

Braid is superb in lily pad beds.  If a big bass takes a sweeping run through the stems, it mows them down like a scythe.

I first experienced it when I caught a large pickerel in the middle of the bed.  I swear the fight cut down about 20% of the small bed.

[I.rar]

anyone use braid with cranks? leader?

[Wayne P.]

I use a leader of 20# fluorocarbon about 4'-5' in length occasionally for weightless presentations. I use it as weight to increase the fall rate since braid floats.

[Matt Kremers]

Clear water up here. I use a fluoro leader when im flippin/pitchin/CR. but frogs on top I just use straight braid.

[fishfordollars]

Never. Just another spot that can fail.

[Blade-Runner]

anyone use braid with cranks? leader?

50# PP w/ Redeye Shads, Rat-L-Traps.

No leader, PP to a small snap.

[jc450r]

I dont get the logic behind using 50 or 65lb braid, but then use a 20lb leader. It's just another knot that could fail and your line is still only 20lbs strong. To each his on I guess.....

[Fishing Rhino]

I dont get the logic behind using 50 or 65lb braid, but then use a 20lb leader. It's just another knot that could fail and your line is still only 20lbs strong. To each his on I guess.....

I must have missed it, even though I went back through the posts.  I did not see where anyone used 20 pound leader on 50 or 65 pound braid.

There was a post that mentioned 50 pound braid, but it was tied directly to the bait.

I don't get using 50 or 65 pound test line to catch fish that very rarely exceed ten pounds, but, as you say to each his own.  That's one of the many great things about fishing.  We can each do it our way.

Maybe in water where trees and brush are stacked like pickup sticks.  Or tournaments when fish are cranked into the boat as quickly as possible.

With line that heavy, and the drag cranked down, I would think you'd run the risk of breaking a rod.

Most of my braid fishing is done with ten or fifteen pound braid, with the 20 pound Invis X  fluro.   as a leader.  Never had a knot fail to date.  For mono and fluorocarbon fishing, I use six pound test.  If I need more beef I'll switch to the ten or fifteen pound braid.

I do have some spools filled with 20 pound test, and a Nitro Combo with 30 pound test.

[jc450r]

There isn't a specific post in this thread, but that was just an example I gave.

[Hammer 4]

Here's a goofy one for y'all..I use 55# braid with a 12# leader for my swimbaits...I use a uni to uni knot, never had a failure yet.

I like the braid, as it's VERY limp (samuri) and cast's a mile, also like the no stretch, I use a leader for the shock factor..

[K_Mac]

I dont get the logic behind using 50 or 65lb braid, but then use a 20lb leader. It's just another knot that could fail and your line is still only 20lbs strong. To each his on I guess.....

The higher strength braid has a large enough diameter to keep it from digging into the spool and causing other problems. The leader is less visible in clear water, and is more abrasion resistant.

[jb7725]

i use a 12lb flouro leader 90% of the time when fishing jigs and worms with braid the other 10% is when im fishing frogs in heavy weeds ill just tie direct