Leader For Braided Line?

[thetank86]

Do you need a leader for braided line? If not is there a time where you should use a leader like fishing topwater or cranking?

[BasskingKeith]

Don't really need one for braided line; it floats. For crankbaits, you can use a leader if you want, why not? I don't personally use braided line for crankbaits. As for topwaters other than frogs - they get mono. Just me though. I like to use a flouro leader with braid when using other submersible baits, especially in clear water, though I've seen where it didn't matter at all. Biggest bass I seen was a 13.5 pounder my friend caught on 50 lb bright yellow braid (no leader) in clear water. Weird huh.....

[SirSnookalot]

I always use braid and always with a leader. If you want to take some time out of your fishing day try untangling braid from a foul hooked lure, especially if it's 10# like I use.

There are many people on this site that use straight braid in any water conditions and still catch bass, for me that knocks the notion of needing florocarbon leader for the purpose of presentation. I can think of some species that florcarbon leaders are beneficial, but overtime I found that to be hogwash too, fish production was the same with or without. I don't purchase it anymore.

[dodgeguy]

forget the leader.

[thetank86]

I've used a leader with braid befor. Do you tie it with a double uni knot. If so can you reel the knot into the eyes on the pole?

[Christian M]

Hi Tank,

I do a whole lot of bass fishing & I always use a leader for braided line. As far as topwater fishing, I think you'll find that you will have much more success just using mono as your main line, especially for walk the dog lures and poppers. In my opinion the stretch from the mono gives much better action to these types of baits and gives the fish more time to properly take the bait in before you set the hook without ripping it out of the fish's mouth. For throwing frogs you really don't have to worry about using a leader. You're throwing the lure into the thickest cover you can find which makes visibility of the line a non issue. Also you're usually using very heavy braided test line that floats anyway. Aside from that, I would recommend using a leader at all times, if you're using 10lb braided, go with 12lb flouro for crainkbaits, jerkbaits, rattletraps, and soft plastics (this is just my preference but its a good rule of thumb to go a couple pounds heavier with your leader when using braided line). I also always use a barrel swivel, Tsunami & Lazer make some really nice swivels that come in a variety of styles, sizes, and strength ratings. For example, when I fish 10lb power pro, I like to use a #6 - #10 swivel, to 12lb pure flouro (depending on the situation). Just remember flouro sinks so you don't want to use it for any top water applications, as it will impede the action of the bait, and braided line has no stretch so you may run into the same issue. I also find that mono helps keep the nose of the topwater bait up and tends to get tangled up in the hooks much less than braided line does....Thats just my opinion from my own personal experience, either way FISH ON!!! hope this helps,

CM

[MrSwimJig]

Its all personal preferrence, use it the way you feel most comfortable. I personally do not use leader on my braid setups.

[A-Rob]

I don't use leaders on my braid for largemouth.

I've never found I lost out on bites with a senko on 15# braid...it's such a small diameter is my guess.

I will tie a leader onto my spinning gear's braid when fishing for smallies tho

[Steve Moroney]

Thanks everyone for helping me out.

Steve

[gravestone]

I use mono or copoly as a leader. For top water if you want to use a leader i'd use mono or copoly cause it floats. For crankbaits you can use mono,copoly or flouro.

[Paul Peixoto]

No leader needed 

[Capt.Bob]

I have used Braid and Synthetics since they were introduced, and I always use a leader, Best of all worlds, when you run a lighter Pound Test leader you should never loose any braid, after a year or two, turn it around on your spool and you have brand new line, the cheapest line to use there is, only the leaders get lost or wore out!!

 

As far as running a UNI to UNI thru the eyes, I am sure it wont hurt anything, but I use an improved blood knot to join mine, it makes a taper from center of the knott out both ways, I ussually run 6 to 12 foot leaders when I tie them on, this allows me to retire many times before putting on a new leader!! THAT'S WORKED,,,,,,fir over 20 years for me.  

[skeletor6]

I would advise against using braid for topwater and cranking. Mono and fluoro are much better alternatives. A leader should be used on braid when abrasion resistance and invisibility is needed. Gin clear water and pressured lakes come to mind.

The best of both worlds is a fallacy. Adding a leader does not give the best attributes of each line otherwise everyone would be doing it.

[SirSnookalot]

I never use a leader. To me it defeats the purpose of the strong braid.

There are reasons to use braid other than strength, line management and many people claim there is a digging in issue with lighter braided lines.  For the most part 65# braided line that probably will break over 80# isn't needed for it's strength to haul a 10# fish, I personally never use over 15# braid for bass fishing or 20# for inshore.  Like Capt Bob I always use a leader, I do use a heavier leader than he does but it still breaks before the main line will.  Off the top of my head I can think of 2 reasons why I use a leader, I like fishing exposed hooks and getting braid tangled in the hooks can be a nightmare, leaders unravel easier.  Secondly, hooking on to a 40 or 50# fish using 15 or 20# braid is a fish that either may spool me or if I'm alone netting and lifting it is pretty hard, I'll just break the lure off with all my line intact.

[Capt.Bob]

I would advise against using braid for topwater and cranking. Mono and fluoro are much better alternatives. A leader should be used on braid when abrasion resistance and invisibility is needed. Gin clear water and pressured lakes come to mind.

The best of both worlds is a fallacy. Adding a leader does not give the best attributes of each line otherwise everyone would be doing it.

spoken like a true beginning veteran??????     experience son, years of it!! guiding and chartering, been there done that, more than a few times!!  from east to west and north to south, for many years, this would be a great place for you to listen and learn!!    maybe you would care to enlighten us as to the drawbacks??????

[skeletor6]

spoken like a true beginning veteran??????     experience son, years of it!! guiding and chartering, been there done that, more than a few times!!  from east to west and north to south, for many years, this would be a great place for you to listen and learn!!    maybe you would care to enlighten us as to the drawbacks??????

 

Could you be more condescending?

 

Claiming braid with a FC leader is "the best of both worlds" is absolutely wrong. What is sad is that you with your ungodly knowledge and experience that trumps anyone who has ever fished could not realize this.

 

If braid with a FC leader was "the best of both worlds" it would have the best properties of both lines. Instead, what occurs is that you retain almost all of the properties of the main line and the invisibility and abrasion resistance of the FC leader.

 

The "best of both worlds" would mean you would have a line that is both slack line sensitive and tight line sensitive, did not suffer from line dig or wind knots. Had the breaking strength of braid. Did not belly in the wind or in the water. Was invisible, abrasion resistant and had the knot strength of braid.

 

You can cross of slack line sensitivity, knot strength of braid, line dig, performance in windy conditions, wind knots, bellly and the additional connection knot. When you add a FC leader to a braided mainline you gain some things and you lose some things. You gain invisibility and abrasion resistance. You lose braids knot strength and its overall strength, because the weak point is now the FC line and the joining knot. There is a trade-off, if it were the "best of both worlds" there would be no trade-off. You would simply get the best attributes of each line.

[roadwarrior]

C'mon guys...

 

It's fishing, I don't think we need to take it down to personal insults.

I don't always like the tone of some peoples post, but grow a little

thicker skin and just let it go.

 

Regarding the original question: I have been experimenting with

and without a leader. My PERSONAL preference is using a leader. 

#1 is because I can break off a hang-up when I need to. To become

comfortable with the leader you need total confidence in your joining

knot. I tie an Alberto Knot, but on average it takes two attempts to

create the PERFECT knot. As for length, I have the connecting knot

just a few inches above the reel and the line about 6" over the tip.

This keeps the knot from coming into play.

[Capt.Bob]

You are right RW!! There is a lot of young anglers on any fishing forum that think they have everything figured out and throw insults out, without even knowing that there doing it,,,,, totally unintentional. I should be old enough to realize this!!!! I will do a better job of ignoring it in the future!

[skeletor6]

Unfortunately, ignorance and arrogance does not go away with age. Sorry captain. Every time you make condescending posts you are going to offend people. Your history on this site speaks for itself.

[Jolly Green]

Anyway........

 

I don't throw crankbaits at all, so I can't speak to that, but topwater lures like a popper, chugger, or Spook tend to get tangled up in braid because it's so limp and otherwise manageable.  Use a mono leader or straight mono for these types of baits.  I also use a mono leader for spinnerbaits; everything else that I drag through rocks and other nasty cover gets a fluoro leader.

[Teal]

Its a personal preference and it boils down to what you are comfortable with and if you do choose the leader; make dang sure your joining knot is secure.

Personally I use braid with almost everything except cranking,topwater, and jerks. I also use a FC leader wwithan Alberto knot. That said, this time of year when the vegetaion gets thick, ill forget the leader.

[derekxec]

ok ill probably upset some people but oh well....

 

firstly i use braid without a leader bass fishing and braid with a MONO leader saltwater fishing

 

the only reason i use the mono leader is because i want a thicker line at the end thats harder to cut on gill plates and such

 

if you use flouro leader you are just wasting your money and to prove it anyone can come fishing with me anytime (youll have to come here to south florida lol) and you can use flouro and ill use straight braid or braid/mono(salt) and show you that flouro is just overpriced junk

[SirSnookalot]

Regarding this topic I totally agree with Capt Bob, I may do it a bit different but the end game is the same.  There is a lot to be said for experience, anyone that's been fishing for 20-60 years just knows how to do it without all this over complication.  The hardest thing about bass fishing is catching the exceptionally large one, but that can be said for any species.  Any time an angler can go out and catch 20-50 fish in an outing kinda tells me there is just no wrong way to do it, everything works just stay in your own comfort zone.

[Skspacemonkey]

On 2013-08-17 at 11:17 AM, roadwarrior said:

C'mon guys...

 

It's fishing, I don't think we need to take it down to personal insults.

I don't always like the tone of some peoples post, but grow a little

thicker skin and just let it go.

 

Regarding the original question: I have been experimenting with

and without a leader. My PERSONAL preference is using a leader. 

#1 is because I can break off a hang-up when I need to. To become

comfortable with the leader you need total confidence in your joining

knot. I tie an Alberto Knot, but on average it takes two attempts to

create the PERFECT knot. As for length, I have the connecting knot

just a few inches above the reel and the line about 6" over the tip.

This keeps the knot from coming into play.

DO you use braid to a leader for spinnerbaits?

[xxRambo_21xx]

i used to use braid for cranking but i didnt like tearing up the fishes mouth