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Straight florocarbon vs Braided with Florocarbon leader

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I'm thinking to switching to braid since i have been fishing thick vegetation with 12lb mono (snapping traps out of  grass, punching matts, and pulling things like chatter baits and stick baits though it) with no problem but am really scared of breaking off when i use frogs. Therefore, i plan on making this switch soon but I want to know how does the action of a lure, let's say a senko be affected by a leader vs straight braid? Also, can  a  monofilament  leader be used? What is the easiest knot to learn  and what is the strongest knot to use when conncecting braid to floro?

I use nothing but braid, in regards to your frog question do not use a leader while frog fishing. personally I use straight braid with no leader (the one and only time I will consider a leader is with certain topwaters) I find the action is better/the same but the sensitivity is much better in comparison to other types of line.

RE: I personally use the FG knot when tying braid to any sort of leader.

  • Super User

Double uni knot fan here....and I use all braid with fluro leaders...not as heavy as most...but it's all personnel choices and many articles written on this site about it.  It will all boil down to how you like your applications to fish.

Myself.....cranking....15 PP....12# leader

Spin...10 PP....6 to 12# leaders

Pitchin.....30PP .....20# leader

Hardly ever go over 30

Tight Lines

Like EastNCbassin said , I don't use anything else but braid. I never have a problem with "spooking" the fish or getting bad hook sets. Or any other factor with braid. I usually go with anything between 15 pound and 30 pound braid. If I go into some real slop I know I'll be getting 10 pounds of weeds I'll go to 50 but still even then I try not to. I feel like if you tie a leader on that's just another weak spot in he line that could break. And I tie everything with the Palomar knot. Hasn't fails yet 

A lot of guys are moving to all braid with a fluoro leader when low observability might be an issue, no leader when fishing heavy cover like grass.  The FG knot is the smallest braid to fluoro leader knot but it is rather complicated to tie well.  The modified Albright is almost as small and easier to tie.  You can use mono or fluoro as a leader, your choice.  

  • Super User

I started using FC line in the early 90's with Sunlne Shooter for jig and worms bottom contact lures. That is about 25 years of fighting knot failures for the misguided belief FC line helps to detect strikes. I didn't have any problem detecting strikes before switching to FC line using mono. 

I learned to bass fish in the 50's using braid and was happy when reliable monofilament line came ot in the 60's. Today I only use braid for heavy cover/aquatic weed fishing without any leader. 

I decided to scrap using FC line. My finesse spinning reels use 5 lb Maxiuma Ultragreen today. My jig rods/worm and crank bait rods now have Sunline 11 lb Defier Shooter Nylon line, swimbaits use 25 lb. Good bye FC!

Tom

PS, use a mono leader, improves knot strength.

I have started using braid to a copolymer leader. My breakoffs have decreased and landed fish have stayed the same Or gotten better. 

18 hours ago, BobP said:

The modified Albright is almost as small and easier to tie.

I ageee with Bob. The modified Albright is pretty skinny and easier to tie. I find it really strong to be honest. Never came undone or broke. The fluoro leader breaks first and I always retrieve the some fluoro still attached to the knot.

  • Super User

Braid goes well with salad.....

  • Global Moderator

I'd just use straight braid in those situations with all the baits you mentioned. 

For frogs and pitching/flipping heavy veggies I use 12# mono with a 75 yard 50# braid leader. 

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