So I have 8# power pro braided line for finesse fishing(1/16 oz Ned rigs and 1/8 I believe). With a 6 pound fluro leader. Will this hold up. Or should I size up to 10# Power Pro. P.s. I saw a post on what line you should use with Ned Rigs, and everyone was using 10#. Just seeing if 8# will work. Thanks -Cole.

I don’t like using braid and leader, too many things have gone wrong for me so I just use straight 6# fluorocarbon and be done with it.

I used straight 6# last year and had too many breakoffs. This next year I'm going to 10# Sufix 832 Hi-Vis with a Lo-Vis leader.

10 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I used straight 6# last year and had too many breakoffs. This next year I'm going to 10# Sufix 832 Hi-Vis with a Lo-Vis leader.

6# braid? so you think 8 will be good?

Pay less attention to # test and pay more attention to line diameter.  Not all #10 test braids are equal.  One of the lines I like a lot for finesse fishing is Sufix NanoBraid.  It's a thin diameter, smooth casting for lighter applications and extremely manageable. And equally as important is that it holds a knot very well.  It's become my go to braid for all my finesse applications.   

 

For leaders, same is true with respect to line diameter, but the standard for me is 8 lb floro.   I lean Seaguar Tatsu and the new Gold Label.  And I go long leaders when finesse fishing, 15 to 20 feet to avoid having to retie braid to leader connections on the water.  

5 minutes ago, colefarrow_ said:

6# braid? so you think 8 will be good?

No - I was using 6# Mono - not braid. Going to braid-leader for the strength over the long-course...8'-10' leader.

 

 

I find 6 pound mono/FC to be too fragile so don't use anything less than 12.  For neds, since it is a very subtle finesse technique (or often is, with very light bites or no-feel bites) I use braid for max sensitivity.  Usually 15, which for my area with mostly open water, not dragging fish out of bushels of weeds, works fine.  I know many go lower for longer casts, but 15 casts fine.

 

I typically take one spinning setup I use for all things finesse, which for me is 90% ned rig. I've used straight 8 lb. mono for a couple seasons and 15 lb braid with 8 lb mono leader for a couple seasons too. Both worked well but the mono was at it's best with a faster action rod and sticking with jig heads with lighter wire hooks.

 

I'm testing out 10 lb braid to 8 or 10 lb mono leader. Won't be much more testing until spring but I definitely get more casting distance and it held up to a 4.5 pounder last month. So far so good.

Using 6lb FC. After watching Glen's video on Ned Rigs I may Co-poly instead of FC. His logic what FC does with a ned rig makes sense. 

My prefered ned rig line set up is 8lb power pro yellow, to 8lb Seaguar Red Label /InvizX leader.

8lb Seaguar is the same diameter as 6lb Trilene XL. It's a great combo of lines.

6 lb mono. 

5 lb / .008D Maximum Ultra Green no leader. I plan to try bright colored 20 lb / .007D Smackdown braid with 10 lb / .009D FC leader for 5” weightless Senko next outing.

The bright braid is used as a strike indicator and may be useful with a lightweight 1/16 oz Ned jig. 2 knots is always troublesome.

Tom

 

10# Power Pro yellow to 7# Sunline Sniper.

Right now I use either 6lb J-Braid/7lb Sniper or 6lb Supernatural Mono, depending on which combo I am using.  I am going to replace the 6lb braid with something a bit thicker once it needs replacing, it's so thin that it's annoying to tie a leader knot with it if there is much wind/my hands are cold. 

29 minutes ago, WRB said:

5 lb / .008D Maximum Ultra Green no leader. I plan to try bright colored 20 lb / .007D Smackdown braid with 10 lb / .009D FC leader for 5” weightless Senko next outing.

The bright braid is used as a strike indicator and may be useful with a lightweight 1/16 oz Ned jig. 2 knots is always troublesome.

Tom

 

With the diameters you are going to use there is no reason to use any other line to leader knot than the double uni, clearly the most reliable line to leader knot.  Will not be too big with your line/leader.  The double uni is almost impossible to screw up.

7 minutes ago, MickD said:

With the diameters you are going to use there is no reason to use any other line to leader knot than the double uni, clearly the most reliable line to leader knot.  Will not be too big with your line/leader.  The double uni is almost impossible to screw up.

That is what I use. Can’t detect any strength difference using the Alberto knot or whatever, they are all the same regarding knot strength.

Tom

Ned recommends 10# FC to slow the rate of fall

#10 PP Superslick v2 blue double uni to #8 Sunline Sniper.

15lb Hi viz Yellow PP to 6lb Fc leader cause that’s what I had around

1 hour ago, WRB said:

5 lb / .008D Maximum Ultra Green no leader. I plan to try bright colored 20 lb / .007D Smackdown braid with 10 lb / .009D FC leader for 5” weightless Senko next outing.

The bright braid is used as a strike indicator and may be useful with a lightweight 1/16 oz Ned jig. 2 knots is always troublesome.

Tom

 

Look at Tom with braid!!! It is truly a different world.. LOL (just having some fun with you tom)

22 minutes ago, APK62 said:

Look at Tom with braid!!! It is truly a different world.. LOL (just having some fun with you tom)

Agree it took getting my butt kicked slow learner! The bass were in brush and if you didn’t instantly set the hook couldn’t get them out.

Tom

For all ya folks thinking you need braid to increase breaking strength but you're slapping on a leader, your line is only as strong as the weak point.

 

The braid will increase your casting distance and up your sensitivity, but tying 10# braid to 6# fluorocarbon in no way increases your pop off point, or p.o.p.

I hate line twist more that beets.  Braid mitigates that so well it gets the nod.  The Ned rig is the truest finesse tactic I fish so 6 FC does the majority of the work.  We still don’t have zebra mussels so 6 does fine with the right rod and reel.

I prefer braid because it completely solves the occasional line twist issues. The line that I opt to go with is Sunline SX1 12#, which is as thick as most 15# braided line. It's been quite abrasion resistant for a lighter line.

 

For a leader, if I am going to be fishing a ned rig for most of the day I will use Seaguar Blue Label 6# but I have a spool of Berkley Trilene FC XL 6lb that I use a lot in situations where I may not be throwing it a lot or where I am less serious, perhaps shore fishing and just trying to get anything for example.

42 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

For all ya folks thinking you need braid to increase breaking strength but you're slapping on a leader, your line is only as strong as the weak point.

 

What braid does do is increase your hookset power. If you opt to go with a medium light rod, the reduced stretches keeps hooksets pretty effortless. Other than that, I agree with you completely. I don't know how many times I've lost my hook or sometimes my leader entirely when I've snagged a weed or a rock.

I use 10# 832 Ghost with 8# fluoro leader.