A leader allows you to break-off when necessary. It is an absolute "must" if you fish rivers.

Abrasion resistance is another concern. I prefer a leader ALL of the time.

Okay, after all the opinions and a suggested article, I will be using a leader. Quite a few rocks in my lake. Final question, is a three ft. leader long enough?

Hootie

Is a leader absolutely necessary? The lake I fish is really stained. Can't ever see a white spinnerbait more than 10 inches deep. Also the lake is very snag infested. Lots of laydowns.

Hootie

I don't use a leader a ton. Only time I'm going to use one 100% is around rocks. I haven't had any issues that I can remember in wood. Like RW said though, breaking off is much easier with a leader.

Okay, after all the opinions and a suggested article, I will be using a leader. Quite a few rocks in my lake. Final question, is a three ft. leader long enough?

Hootie

I usually tie on a leader that is twice the length of the rod, so my leaders are anywhere from 12-16'. I like this because I can re-tie several times without having to change the leader.

 

I like to use fluorocarbon at roughly 2/3 the strength of the braid I'm tying to. This helps reduce the line diameter difference, and I can break it off if need be.

Where can I find it? I ran a Google search and can't find anyplace that sells it.

Hootie

Look at the right side of this page where the advertisers are.

TufLine might be a board sponsor so Ill thank them for that but after the free sample I tried Ill pass.

I switched to braid for EVERYTHING then switched back to copolymer for EVERYTHING. I found that I actually caught 1/2 the Amy of fish with braid as I do with other lines. I believe it has to do with the noise, vibration, and leader knot. Why would a fish eat a jig if there is a pale blob jumping next to it (when the fisherman is jigging the jig)? Also, there is a reason you see guys like Jason Christie and others on tour using mono/fluoro with their bottom baits and swim jigs.

I haven't talked much about this on here because I know I'd get blasted, but that's my experience with braid. Ill never use it again except for very heavy cover and possibly spinning reels since you can reel the leader knot up in the spool, therefore moving the leader knot farther away from your fish and allowing your leader to absorb some of the vibration and maybe even noise too.

I used to use braid for everything, now I use it for anything with a single hook, for trebles I prefer the forgiveness of mono. Also I don't believe that fishing without a leader deters the bite.