Braid leader or not?

[iceintheveins]

Always use a leader unless it's murky water, or with frogs. Use a mono leader for frogs and fluoro for everything else. Connected with back to back uni knots and make sure to lube the knots well.

[heathen]

I use a fluorocarbon leader with bottom contact presentations. Not because of the visibility factor though. My local lake is very rocky bottom, so I use it for abrasion resistance.

Normally connected with a back/back uni knot, but have been experimenting with the albright knot.

[Josh Bassman]

Another benefit of using braid/fluoro leader is braid absorbs line twist very well.

Fluorocarbon on your spinning reel can be a pain after a few days of dropshotting. If you fish your dropshot fast, you will get line twist. Braid will solve that problem.

[BobP]

If you're going to color green braid with a black Sharpie, do it in an intermittent pattern, not solid black all the way.  The idea is that the different colors will break up the linear look of the line, like camouflage.

I fish clear water and only use braid in heavy grass where the fish can't get a look at the line before they see the bait.  Don't much care for throwing braid with a FC leader knot in it, so I just use FC except when I think I'll be cutting through vegetation.

[MMan16]

I went fishing yesterday and tried both ways. Shaded black(camo) and about 4 feet of straight black. They both seem to make the line less visible I think the patrially colored would be good around vegetation and the solid black in deep water or stained. But the both break up the outline of the braid nicely.

[J Francho]

I use a leader to solve two issues, neither is related to visibility, and I don't use a leader all the time.  Contact baits + zebe/quagga mussel infested water = sliced up braid, no matter the brand.  When fishing lighter baits wth braid, I like a long leader of fluoro leader material, not reel fill, to get the bait down.

[num3erz]

I'm a fishing newbie and just got my first baitcaster. Still practicing how to cast it so I have the free bass pro shops bulk line, but I'm going to switch to braided once I stop making a birds nest. My question is how long do you guys make your leaders? I saw some people saying they use 10'.

[MMan16]

Depends on situation. Anywhere from 0-10 max. In my opinion. I would say just use 5ft. Its a happy medium and it gives you room to make a few reties without comprimising leader length. Just make sure you practice your leader cnnection knot before you get on the water that's probably the most important thing.

[MMan16]

Also make sure you back your baitcaster before you spool the braid.

[heathen]

I generally start out around 6ft for the leader. I tie on a new leader when I get around 3 to 4 feet left.

[num3erz]

Also make sure you back your baitcaster before you spool the braid.

What do you mean by this? I was just planning on doing an arbor knot and spooling the line on.

[chromedog]

I have braid on 7 rods on my rod locker right now, and at least 4 of them have 10' flouro leaders.

It completely depends on the type of presentation, water conditions, and the mood of the fish.

With reaction baits, fishing in thick weeds, or in murky water a dark color braid tied directly to the bait is fine but anyone who thinks they will get as many bites drop shotting or tossing bottom contact baits on straight braid without a leader in clear water with sparse or no cover is the kind of person I like to fish against in tournaments.

Sure you will still get fish throwing 100% straight braid but why not optimize your presentation?

X2

[MMan16]

Before you spool on whatever braid you use you need to put a layer of line (backing) on the spool then tie braid to it and spool the braid. Some people use tape its whatever your prefer.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Before you spool on whatever braid you use you need to put a layer of line (backing) on the spool then tie braid to it and spool the braid. Some people use tape its whatever your prefer.

Let me clarify this a little more for you Num3erz.  Basically, you put a few yards of cheap mono on the empty spool.  Then you tie the braid to that mono and wind the braid on.  Your other option is to use some arbor tape.  Basically all that is is some thin foam tape that you put on the empty spool so the braid has something to bite on.

If you don't, the braid will slip on the spool and you'll never hook a fish with it.

[APK62]

I only use a leader for two Applications, Drop Shot and if I am fishing on rocks. Otherwise its all braid.