I'm mainly a jig fisherman and want to use a fluorocarbon leader to the jig for the "invisible" qualities of the line.  I'm thinking 40 lb braid to 20 lb fluorocarbon.  How long should I make the leader?

 

(Side story:  I was using a 12 inch leader for my 4 inch swim baits and then talking with Chris Zaldain he told me... NO.  An 8 foot leader.  I was way off.)

I like to use about 18" - 24"  or so, but if you are already convinced an 8' leader is necessary by a "pro" then by all means, take his advice.

I'll use as long a leader as possible, stopping just short of getting on the spool. Got tired of tearing my thumb up.

The 8 foot leader was for swim baiting.  I didn't ask him about jigs.

I use around an 8 foot leader for everything except frogs. 

I tend to like a longer leader just because it usually means less retying. Unless you’re fishing gin clear water where a fish can spot your bait from dozens of feet away, I don’t think an 8 foot leader would be much better that a 24” one. Im usually tying a 3-4 foot leader on my baitcasters. On my spinning rigs, I go up to 15 ft at times.

11 hours ago, Bartableman7 said:

I'm mainly a jig fisherman and want to use a fluorocarbon leader to the jig for the "invisible" qualities of the line.  I'm thinking 40 lb braid to 20 lb fluorocarbon.  How long should I make the leader?

 

(Side story:  I was using a 12 inch leader for my 4 inch swim baits and then talking with Chris Zaldain he told me... NO.  An 8 foot leader.  I was way off.)

It all depends on where and how you're fishing. For me there's zero point in using a leader when pitching a jig into pads or holes in heavy weed lines. The fish isn't inspecting the bait. It's almost always an instantaneous ambush or reaction strike. Same thing if I'm ripping through pad fields or heavy weeds. A valid argument for a leader in those situations would be that some stretch is desirable. You fish jigs, so you know a jig bite is tricky. But the breakoff rate with leaders, while rare, is too high for my stomach. I never breakoff on straight braid unless a huge pickerel is in the equation.

 

Nobody thinks 20 lb fluoro is invisible anymore. The data is out there. If you're fishing ultra clear water, or in a manner where they can inspect your jig, then go for it. Being able to break off, wood and rocks, have all been covered to death. Listen to Greenpig for the leader length. 

Fishing in the river where it's often very clear I start with about 15 ft of 12# fc on 20 or 30 # braid. My knots are small so there's no problem passing my thumb or guides.

 

I often use mono when fishing a jig. When skipping under overhangs in the river or docks I like mono. The line takes a beating but I can afford to change it. LOL

Just long enough to keep the knot out of the reel.

......for me it is about 8 ft.

I seldom use leader bigger that 12 lbs

2 hours ago, NHBull said:

Just long enough to keep the knot out of the reel.

......for me it is about 8 ft.

I seldom use leader bigger that 12 lbs

I'm almost the same but use this method, long enough so that when the lure/hook is on the rod keeper the leader knot does not make it to the tip of my rod.......so on a seven foot rod, probably around six foot of leader.

8 hours ago, GreenPig said:

I'll use as long a leader as possible, stopping just short of getting on the spool. Got tired of tearing my thumb up.

 Perfect!

 

I use a leader that is about 6 inches shorter than the rod I am using.  When it gets down to about 2 feet, I change it. 

When jig fishing, I like my leader to be as long as possible without entering the tip top of my rod when pitching. This usually means a few inches shy of 6'. 50lb 832 to 25lb sniper for jigs in clear water, or if the hook is too strong to bend out.

6'-8' to start. When it's down to 3' is when I change it out.

Looks like you got all the info you need on leader length.    One other thing I wanted to mention.   I try to have my leader and main line have a similar diameter.     

I like the leader short enough so that when I hook the bait on the hook keeper, the leader doesn't get into the first eye. That's because the leader is stiff. If it's bent there it will stay kinked. I doubt that matters one bit, but it's my preference. Lately, I've just gone with straight braid and it hasn't seemed to make any difference. Most of the time when I'm pitching a jig it's to a particular target. If there's a bass on it an I get a bite, it's usually on the first pitch. 

 

May I ask why you even want the reel spooled with braid? Is it for line memory?