Braid With Leaders - Pros/cons

[bassh8er]

It seems like I've heard a lot more about using braid with mono and flouro leaders A LOT more lately. I like the idea of being able to change out leaders and being able to reuse the braid year after year, but I've got a few questions that I'd like your input, and any other disadvantages about this setup that I may have missed.

1) Are there any techniques where this setup is not a good idea? (Cranking, topwaters, etc...)

2) How long of a leader do you use?

This seems like a great idea in theory, but I am still hesitant to put another know between the fish and me, and I just know that the first time the knot breaks, I'll be back to straight flouro or mono.

[dodgeguy]

^{leaders are totally not needed.}

[zip pow]

I have braid on my spinning rod with a five foot flourcarbon leader just for my shaky head some guys are using a short leader on there trap rods I haven't had a knot fail with the leader set up but I'm using 4 lb leader so I retie often it improved my catch rate for what that worth maybe I helped some

[SirSnookalot]

I see no negative in using a leader, I always do. My set up is not as popular, but I encounter zero problems. I'm a spinning man with braid, and I use a leader less than 20" attached with a swivel ( swivel just big enough as not to get hung up in the tip eye), I use a duolock for easy lure change. I do not tie leader to line except for certain species, I don't catch those fish in freshwater.

[LgMouthGambler]

I tie straight braid to all my baits, no problems, treble hooks or not.

[0119]

I throw topwaters in pockets in dense brush alot. Braids good for yanking the occasional hang up but its coarse texture gets caught easily in wood. The smooth leader slides easily and actually get hung up less when Im coaxing a spook to flip over a limb. Contrary to 'experts' braid has lousy abrasion resistance, ask its manufacturers.

[Jig Man]

I prefer to use braid without a leader. However, I have found that in shallow clear water like we have here in the late fall to spring rains I have more action with a leader. I also like a leader when fishing rocky places.

I sometimes use mono and sometimes fluro. I haven't seen much difference but we have done some experiments and the straight braid loses most of the time unless we are fishing deeper than 20'.

I use the Alberto's knot to join the two.

[A-Rob]

I will use a leader on my spinning gear for smallmouth and open water largemouth (ie drop shot, wacky senko) and I use light hooksets

I use straight fluoro or braid otherwise.

I tried flipping with braid/fluoro leader....broke that off

Reaction baits I use straight fluoro

Frog/Jigs/punching plastics I use straight braid

[A-Jay]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/fishing-line-system.html

^^^^^

This may help ~

A-Jay

[TimJ]

I am with SirSnookalot. I use a small swivel (goes through the top guide) between my braid and flouro when drop shotting and on tougher days with tubes, etc for smallies. For flipping or all my other braid uses, I tie direct.

[jignfule]

I use a 5' leader most of the time, makes me feel better.

[bassin is addicting]

i use straight braid for flipping and pitching or with a scrounger head and other single hook swimbait types as well as frogs. i use yozuri US for all other applications..crankbaits, etc.

the leader thing has me perplexed...when it comes to overall strength...

if you use 30lb braid and 10lb leader....with it being only as strong as the "weakest link"....aren't you actually using 10lb line? and if there is no stretch in the braid....when you hookset...aren't you putting more stress on the leader...thus reducing its actaul lb strength???

am i missing something??

[aumdb487]

I use braid with leaders... all spinning tackle has 8/30 all casting has 12/50... my leaders are 6-12 pound fluro or mono just depending on the application.

To answer the "if you use 30lb braid and 10lb leader....with it being only as strong as the "weakest link"....aren't you actually using 10lb line? and if there is no stretch in the braid....when you hookset...aren't you putting more stress on the leader...thus reducing its actaul lb strength???

am i missing something??"

I'm using the leader for two reason. First I like the idea the bass don't see mono/fluoro as well as braid. Second, if I get hung in a place you can't break the braid then you are stuck cutting the line.

I'm using braid as a main line for one simple reason, line management. It's not necessary about the braid "strength" as it is the easy of which it comes off the reel, especially spinning tackle. Now the strength does come into play when I'm flipping, throwing a frog, or the A-rig all of those I tie direct to the bait.

[bassin is addicting]

^{ok. i can see/understand your point. i use braid primarily for the strength and the manageability is just a bonus.}

^{i would definitely agree that if a leader is used it is an easier break off and saves the braid.}

[ww2farmer]

^{leaders are totally not needed.}

I agree..............for the most part. I will not drop shot with straight braid, aways use a leader, the hook stands out better on the stiffer fluorocarbon IMHO. I will tie a leader on when I am cranking very abrasive hard cover, like zebra mussle incrusted rocks, that stuff cuts braid up bad.

[craww]

^{ok. i can see/understand your point. i use braid primarily for the strength and the manageability is just a bonus.}

^{i would definitely agree that if a leader is used it is an easier break off and saves the braid.}

My reason for using a leader. I save a ton of $ on line. All other benifits are icing on the cake.

[msolorio]

i have mixed feelings about using a leader with braid. i have used it before and liked it but just couldnt get over the fact that there was another knot between the fish and i. second i didnt really see a reason to use a leader due to the fact that ive caught a lot of fish in gin clear water using straight braid so like i said, i have mixed feelings about it.

[ww2farmer]

i have mixed feelings about using a leader with braid. i have used it before and liked it but just couldnt get over the fact that there was another knot between the fish and i. second i didnt really see a reason to use a leader due to the fact that ive caught a lot of fish in gin clear water using straight braid so like i said, i have mixed feelings about it.

That was the same concern I had, the " extra" knot. But I can not thing of one time I have broke that knot, the leader breaks first, usually because it was all knicked up and I didn't retie. I have hauled 5lb + fish out of heavy cover flipping, aftrer a hard hookset without breaking that knot, have landed 10+ lb pike without breaking that knot, and landed many hard fighting 3-5lb smallies on lighter line (10lb braid w/6 or 8lb leader) without breaking that knot. I use the alberto knot.

[dwtaylor]

I totally argue the point here that fish are not line shy by tying straight braid. After taking a summer worth of statistics, I found that I would get more bites with a lure tied to fluorocarbon. I have experimented with the leaders and I like them for the most part. I, however, would not recommend nanofil. That stuff slips so easily that I don't think its worth the extra casting distance and manageability. I will spool up with powerpro or spiderwire and tie 7ft leaders from now on. The braid will last longer on a reel and won't develop memory like straight fluoro will. Also, 50lb braid is tough to break, so adding a lighter leader helps save your rods and reels for another day.

[hotrod]

A drop of crazy glue on my leader/line knot gives me piece of mind even though it isnt necessary.

[rubba bubba]

There are benefits to using a leader other than line visibility which Dodgeguy can't seem to grasp. Like all the other tools we fish with, braid leader benefits are situational - there is no "1 setup is best for all" rule.