Now this may be a stupid question but here goes any way. 

 

If you spool your reel with braid why do you put a regular line  leader on it? 

Superstition

I never do.

Because braid is expensive, using a leader line means you don't cut off as much braid when you need to retie. Among other reasons. That's enough for me.

I use flourocarbon leader all the time with braid. Floro is less visible to the fish than straight braid.

The line will only be as strong as it's weakest link, the leader is the weakest link.. Braid is supposed to be strong. So if you tie a plastic leader on, isn't this defeating the purpose of using braid?

The line will only be as strong as it's weakest link, the leader is the weakest link.. Braid is supposed to be strong. So if you tie a plastic leader on, isn't this defeating the purpose of using braid?

 

I don't think it's the strength of braid lot of people like but the zero memory and zero stretch of braid.

I'd like to know specifically from some of the bank fisherman how they break off braid? I've stated this before I cannot for the life of me break off straight braid in 10 pound test without slicing my hand open. If I had to cut the braid at the rod tip I'd loss 100 plus feet a trip.

I don't know how you like to fish Mac but I spend a lot of time dragging tubes and football jig around chunk rock. This leads to many snagged lures. The leader serves two purposes for me abrasion resistance and easy of break off or freeing the lure. Many times I'll bend the hook on a tube jig or grub and be able to free the lure and bend the hook back into place. This is with 10lb braid and 6-10lb mono

I fish exclusively with braid, never thought about or needed a leader. My fishing style doesn't really call for it though(top water, swimbaits, and texas rigged creature baits).

Superstition

A few reasons for me

 

I fish mainly from the bank and it's a lot easier to break off 30# braid with a 14# FC leader than it would be straight braid if I get snagged, It's a confidence thing in clear water, fishing from the bank I usually only have 2 combos with me so I retie a lot which can really eat away at my mainline if I'm not using a leader, braid isn't very abrasion resistant and the leader solves that problem.

I mainly fish from the bank, using 10-20# braid with 6-10# fluoro leaders. For a two-week period last year I tried to go straight braid. I was able to catch fish, but I lost so much braid each time I snagged. I had to respool after a few trips and went back to leaders after.

As for breaking off line, I reel in the line until it's pretty taut. Then I wrap the line a few times around my Boga Grips and pull. One time I tried to pull it by hand and cut myself.

Only time this technique doesn't work is if I'm in a kayak and snag on a high tree branch that bends a lot. Then I have to cut it.