I was just wondering how well bass can see in say 20-30' of stained water. The reason I ask is I just bought a deep crankbait setup and it's time to spool it up. Conventional wisdom states I should use 12-14lb Fluro. That's all well and good and I may do that but these 10XD's ain't cheap! My home lake is known for some MONSTER pike and they'll cut thru fluro like it's butter. So I was thinking of adding a short steel leader to keep from getting cut off. At those depths, I'm thinking I shouldn't see much of a difference and hopefully the bass won't either. My fishing partner did mention that the leader may affect the action. He may be right. I have a friend who specifically fishes for pike using a a steel leader. He catches smallies all the time with his set up. What do you think?

I fish around Big Pike virtually every time I'm out on the water in very clear water.

I use knottable leader quite a bit. 

I have landed some respectable pike & muskie with and without a leader.

When I do not use it - sometimes I get bit off.

When I do use it, I never get bit off. 

Doesn't seem to affect my catch rate with green or brown bass.

I say use it if you're so inclined.

A-Jay

People say leaders effect the action of lures. That may be true but, who can say if the difference hurts or helps? I am not one that believes that bass are line shy. I also don't believe FC lines are actually invisible. If it were me, I'd use 10lb braid with the steel leader to gain extra depth on my  crankbait and not even consider the ability of a bass to reason that line might be a bad thing.

A few thoughts:

 

1) What is your visibility?  In my neck of the woods, "stained" water is 1-2 ft. of visibility.  I wouldn't expect to be catching anything in 20-30 ft of water.

2)  I'm not sure about the 10# braid as mainline on a 10xd.  I've had lipless cranks snap 30# braid on a backlash... I could see one of those big cranks snapping 10# on a good cast! 
3) Unless you're dragging a brick behind your 10XD, I wouldn't worry too much about it's action.

Knowone knows how well bass see in deep water, it's all speculation but they find crawdads, baitfish in water deeper than 60 with ease without the aid of light. I have caught bass as deep as 80' on 4" soft plastic Straight worms with 5 lb FC line, so I could feel the bottom and any strikes.

Make up a 20 lb Surflon knottable leader as A-Jay suggested and use Owners Hyper weld #2 snap, will not affect the deep divers action.

Tom

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I fish around Big Pike virtually every time I'm out on the water in very clear water.

I use knottable leader quite a bit. 

I have landed some respectable pike & muskie with and without a leader.

When I do not use it - sometimes I get bit off.

When I do use it, I never get bit off. 

Doesn't seem to affect my catch rate with green or brown bass.

I say use it if you're so inclined.

A-Jay

Never used knottable leader. I'l look into it. I was just thinking of using a pre-made leader. Only way to find out is to try. If people can catch em on a A-rig then I don't think a a leader will bother them especially at 25-30'.

 

 

19 minutes ago, 1simplemann said:

Never used knottable leader. I'l look into it. I was just thinking of using a pre-made leader. Only way to find out is to try. If people can catch em on a A-rig then I don't think a a leader will bother them especially at 25-30'.

 

This season this ^^^ worked for me on these fish.

A-Jay

Yep, those are some big toothy critters! I think I may have found my solution. thanks!