Should I use a leader with braid?

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The only setup that I have with 50 pound braid is my frog setup.  50 pound braid on a spinning setup seems wildly overkill IMO

I'm with you - I have 50# on my flip/pitch rig and 40# on my frog rig...no braid on any other casting rigs.

 

Heaviest I go on spinning is 20# braid on my MH/F skipping rig.

 

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Its obvious that some of you don't fish around rocks with zebra mussles or in pike infested waters either.  Both of those will rip through braided line like butter.

They're not too easy on FC/Hybrid line either...but at least there's a better chance of the lure coming back with those than with braid.

[OkobojiEagle]

I fish with leaders because I love to tie knots in my fishing line and the adrenaline rush I get fighting what might be my next PB with line I've desecrated...

[VTFan]

I use 30# HI Viz yellow Power Pro braid with a 20# fluro leader on my spinning stuff. Thinking about dropping back to 17# leader. Anyway, I don't know if the bass can see that yellow braid or not. Some say yes, some say no.  Kinda like Ford vs Chevy. Personally I think I get more bites using a leader. Key word...'Think'. Like most guys, I use the Hi Viz so that I can see what my line is doing. JMHO.

[Backroad Angler]

I do not use leaders with braid. If I want to use mono or fluro, I just use straight.

[Jig Man]

I use braid with leader in clear water especially when finesse fishing.  I had my butt beat too many times until I finally added the leader.

[Dan N]

I also fish super clear water, so I use a leader. I have come to use straight braid for some lakes that are not so clear, without issue. I do however like braid to leader always on spinning equipment. I prefer to break at lure . Knot connecting braid to leader almost never breaks.

[wvhunt]

I haven't used braid in several years, but use to use it when float fishing.  The gurus at a smallmouth forum I use to hang out at all swore that smallmouth weren't line shy.  I used a leader mainly because it was easier to break my line off when hung up.  Since I was fishing in current, I didn't want to risk breaking a rod if I got hung up.  A leader let me break off intentionally when needed.   

 

I've been thinking about getting back into braid next year, but haven't fully thought out the leader vs no leader thing yet.

[dodgeguy]

obvious that some of you don't fish around rocks with zebra mussles or in pike infested waters either.  Both of those will rip through braided line like butter. 

I've fished with toothy fish all over and never had them cut my braid.I also fish with zebra mussels and haven't had much of an issue with that. I use 50 lb test.

[Brian11719]

I personally use 10lb braid for my spinning rods, 30lb braid for topwater and 50lb braid for my frog / punch setup. For the 10lb braid I use a 10lb invizx leader and for the 30lb braid I use a 10lb yo-zuri copoly leader. No leader for the 50lb braid. So my personal vote would be 'most of the time depending on what you are using it for.' For the knot I use the improved Alberto knot shown in this video. 

[Flushdraw]

5 hours ago, Brian11719 said:

I personally use 10lb braid for my spinning rods, 30lb braid for topwater and 50lb braid for my frog / punch setup. For the 10lb braid I use a 10lb invizx leader and for the 30lb braid I use a 10lb yo-zuri copoly leader. No leader for the 50lb braid. So my personal vote would be 'most of the time depending on what you are using it for.' For the knot I use the improved Alberto knot shown in this video. 

I recently switched to the Alberto knot. A vast improvement over the double uni, imo. I haven't tried the "improved" version, though. Great vid!

[woolleyfooley]

On 9/10/2024 at 8:25 AM, Zcoker said:

I'd say loose the leader and fish your heart away. I once leader'ed up out in the glades for whatever reason but not anymore. Glades is about as stained and full of grass as it gets. Not worth the trouble, imho. More knots to worry about. More prone to failure, espeically with floro! Strait braid for me. No difference in the amount of hits, either, even from trophy sized fish.

You fishing in south Florida? 

On 9/10/2024 at 11:57 AM, TOXIC said:

I knew there was a reason I liked you. 😂 

Am I missing something? 

On 9/10/2024 at 11:57 AM, TOXIC said:

I knew there was a reason I liked you. 😂 

Am I missing something? 

[TOXIC]

I was responding to Glen for agreeing with the no leader school of thought. 

[WRB]

Braid with a leader = 2 knots to fail.

The the 1st time I used braid was on my off shore 2 speed big game reel to increase the line capacity to 600 yds with 100 yard to shot. The braid was 65 lb Fins PRC recommended by friend with 50 lb Soft Steel Mono. Worked great.

I had about 200 yds extra and used straight braid to fish the Delta and Clear lake weed beds frogging and it worked great.

Now that I am a backwater I am experimenting using 10 lb Fins Spin5 braid with 7 lb Sniper FC on a spinning combo to reduce line twist, so far so good.

I still use straight 5 lb max UG for slip shot rig and fly lining live Shad.

Tom

PS, when I had my boat managing line twist was easy.

[gulfcaptain]

So I do both and fish both leaders and straight. Don't think I own 1 reel with straight mono or fc(btw hate fc on a reel for casting especially if it sits for a week or more due to memory). Now with that said I fish straight braid punching/heavy flip and pitching (not around wood or rock), and leader when need a more stealthy presentation or around rock and wood.  Also if you fish tungsten worm weights be aware tungsten will wear your knot out at the hook(experience) so put a bobber stop or snell that hook. 

[Dan N]

If you know how to tie a quality braid to leader knot, ( and there are many good ones) that knot is not a weak point. The leader line should always break first. 
my opinion anyways.

[fishhugger]

i'll sometimes use a leader, other times not.  but i figure a leader of say 6' --- i don't fret that much about loss of sensitivity.  it's 6', not 80' of whatever material the leader is made of.  and i use a double uni. the new fangled knots are too new fangled for me.  i ride the horse that got me here...uh, if that is the correct use of that saying.

[dodgeguy]

On 9/12/2024 at 10:55 AM, gimruis said:

Quite honestly I'm pretty shocked that there's a countable number of anglers out there using straight braid in 50+ pound test to bass fish.  The only setup that I have with 50 pound braid is my frog setup.  50 pound braid on a spinning setup seems wildly overkill IMO

 

Its obvious that some of you don't fish around rocks with zebra mussles or in pike infested waters either.  Both of those will rip through braided line like butter.

I don't fish spinning. Only had my line cut once by a zebra mussel and have never had a pike or. Pickeral bite through it and I've caught plenty of them.

[gimruis]

 

19 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

I don't fish spinning. Only had my line cut once by a zebra mussel and have never had a pike or. Pickeral bite through it and I've caught plenty of them.

 

I know.  I saw your response a week ago and ignored it already, smart ass.

[Zcoker]

On 9/20/2024 at 4:55 PM, woolleyfooley said:

You fishing in south Florida? 

 

Yes 

[woolleyfooley]

22 hours ago, Zcoker said:

Yes 

@Zcoker Cool! What coast? I’m in south Florida too. 

[Flushdraw]

After reading all the responses, I think I may stick to using a short leader (1-3ft) if for no other reason than to have an easier break-off point should my line get stuck. I'm not going to sweat it, though. I very well may go straight braid in some circumstances. I don't think it's a deal-breaker in stained water.

[Gera]

I guess it really depends where you fish, I use the leader not because fish will see the braid but because of pike infested waters.  I do prefer casting braid but switch most rigs now to straight fluorocarbon because of my laziness to maintain the leaders. I'm trying to simplify all aspects of me going fishing and this is one thing less to worry about. 

 

[Randy Price]

This topic get discussed a great deal and I do not know if there is a correct answer.  I tried both ways and can't say either way if I missed or caught fish because of it.  Currently I just fish straight braid.

[Subaqua Adinterim]

14 hours ago, Flushdraw said:

After reading all the responses, I think I may stick to using a short leader (1-3ft) if for no other reason than to have an easier break-off point should my line get stuck. I'm not going to sweat it, though. I very well may go straight braid in some circumstances. I don't think it's a deal-breaker in stained water.

This is what I do.  About 3 ft. of flouro leader. Using a quality #8 or #10 barrel swivel (see my more detailed description in Flouro line discussion started by Rev Ron on Aug 16). Cut about 1/8" of an anti tangle sleeve (anti tangle sleeve is a carp thing that I found useful for this application) and pull it down over the top half of the barrel swivel.  This will protect the tip top guide of your rod in case you aren't paying attention and reel up too far.

 

Doing this = 3 knots to fail; I know, but I'm good with that as I tie good knots and with proper drag setting, I've never had occasion for this to be a concern.

 

Good luck and have fun.

[Zcoker]

On 9/22/2024 at 5:17 PM, woolleyfooley said:

@Zcoker Cool! What coast? I’m in south Florida too. 

 

I’m on the east coast, west palm area 

On 9/22/2024 at 11:35 PM, Flushdraw said:

 if for no other reason than to have an easier break-off point should my line get stuck. 

 

Not a good reason, imho. The only way that I’m able to save most all lures when snagged is by having heavy strait braid. I fish the Glades cover all over the place and I can’t remember losing a fishing lure to a snag.