For those that use a spinning setup what mainline and/ leader do you use if any for your smallmouth fishing?

 

Hey Otter, we are in the same area. The DuPage River is just a few minutes from my home. I use 8-10lb braid on my spinning reels, with no leaders.

Most of my spinning set ups are 20lb braid to whatever leader fits the conditions. I'll run 6-10lb mono/FC/Hybrid.  If I'm dropshotting or fishing a Ned rig, I've come to love Sniper and InvisX. 

My lines are my leaders on my spinning reels. I have mono, flouro, and copolomar on my spinning setups. 6#-8# test. 

 

My baitcasters are setup slightly different. 

20lb brad with 8lb florocarbon leader

10 lb Braid and FC adjusted as needed.

I always have one with 8 lb tied on for wacky rig for quest

Straight 6 pound mono. No leader.

15 lb braid to a 20-30 ft leader of invisix FC 6-12 lb depending on what I’m doing.  Mostly it’s an 8lb leader.   I like a long leader so the knot is solidly on the spool when the bass is close to the boat.  Long leaders also result in less frequent reties of the leader. 

1 hour ago, Jleebesaw said:

Straight 6 pound mono. No leader.

Meeeeeee too!! Quicker that way 

15 lb braid to 8 or 10 lb mono.

8-10 lb braid with a 8 lb FC leader.

 

The 8-10 lb braid will cast something light like a Ned rig farther than the 20 lb braid I used to use.  

 

I also use straight 7 lb Gamma Touch fluorocarbon on one of my reels.  That is some fantastic line with its blend of castability and strength.    Going to use that for more application this year other than swimbaits.  

20 hours ago, Scott F said:

Hey Otter, we are in the same area. The DuPage River is just a few minutes from my home. I use 8-10lb braid on my spinning reels, with no leaders.

Awesome man!!! And Thankyou so much. What stretch you fish?

1 hour ago, Otter17 said:

Awesome man!!! And Thankyou so much. What stretch you fish?

I want to get on the Dupage this year with my kayak.  Used to wade the Kank a lot but got away from it.  If any of you guys have a nice entry spot for the Dupage, I'd really appreciate it.  

I know there is one in downtown Plainfield. There’s one near the d**n in Shorewood, then there is another spot in Channahon near the river rd. Bridge before it turns into the frontage rd. I know there is a bunch more, I just am around those ones a lot, so I know about them.

Oops, I forgot, there is also one in north plainfield.

20 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

Most of my spinning set ups are 20lb braid to whatever leader fits the conditions. I'll run 6-10lb mono/FC/Hybrid.  If I'm dropshotting or fishing a Ned rig, I've come to love Sniper and InvisX. 

Question for you, what is the benefit to using hybrid as leader? I've seen you mention a lot that you use Yo-Zuri Hybrid as a leader frequently. Just wondering the benefit over the other 2.

37 minutes ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Question for you, what is the benefit to using hybrid as leader? I've seen you mention a lot that you use Yo-Zuri Hybrid as a leader frequently. Just wondering the benefit over the other 2.

 

I love it! It's super abrasion resistant, tests way above rating in strength, and keeps most of the general characteristics of FC.  I fish a lot of boulder strewn rivers and the stuff is close to indestructible. 

It's all about conditions. If the water is super clear and I need to contend with really finicky fish and need to coax a ton of subtle action out of the finessey stuff, Sniper and InvisX are great. Both really low vis and super supple. Hybrid is great around the nasty stuff.  I like mono sometimes to keep baits up higher in the water column or floating. They all sorta have a place. Or so I convince myself, lol. 

21 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

 

I love it! It's super abrasion resistant, tests way above rating in strength, and keeps most of the general characteristics of FC.  I fish a lot of boulder strewn rivers and the stuff is close to indestructible. 

I've used it as a main line for a couple years now on some of my reels and have enjoyed it a lot. May have to try it as a leader too. I also fish a lot of rocky waters.

3 hours ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

I've used it as a main line for a couple years now on some of my reels and have enjoyed it a lot. May have to try it as a leader too. I also fish a lot of rocky waters.

I hated it's memory as a main line, but it really shines (IMHO) as a leader. 

Straight 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid, no leader.

10lb braid with a 10, 12 or 15lb mono leader. 

All of my spinning gear is 10-15 pound braid.  Just tie on a leader.  The length and test of the leader for me is going to depend on how clear the water is and how finicky the fish are.  Clear water and I will drop all the down to 8lbs test leader at maybe 3 or 4 feet long.  Muddy/low visibility and leader length and test really do not matter. The only spinning setup that I dont use braid on are my two 6'6 light and ultra light rods for panfish.  Those are both 6lbs mono.