What's the shortest effective length for a fluoro leader for moving baits?

 

I ended up scoring a new to me reel on ebay. It has braid on it, and it has about 15" of fluoro leader. Is this useless, or is it enough length for me to test braid to leader? It appears to be an FG knot.

 

I'd probably use it for a crankbait. I would expect it wouldn't be long enough for something like a texas rig.

First thought, cut that leader off! You don't know if its been on there 2 weeks or 2 years. 

 

For baitcasters, I don't like having a leader knot on my spool, so I use one long enough to be outside the reel when casting and outside the tip top when pitching. That usually in the 5-6' range, depending on the rod. I replace it before it gets close to 2 or 3'. I personally don't like leaders shorter than 2'.

 

For spinning, I personally usually go by the same standard as above, but I think most people run closer to the 10-20' you are seeing on your reel. Having the leader knot on the spool of a spinning reel don't have the same potential complications as it does with casting. 

 

Not knowing the size/type of rod, reel, or braid you are working with I can't give any detailed suggestions. 

4 hours ago, Bazoo said:

What's the shortest effective length for a fluoro leader for moving baits?

 

I ended up scoring a new to me reel on ebay. It has braid on it, and it has about 15" of fluoro leader. Is this useless, or is it enough length for me to test braid to leader? It appears to be an FG knot.

 

I'd probably use it for a crankbait. I would expect it wouldn't be long enough for something like a texas rig.

Depends.  What is it that you want a leader to do...or not do?  

 Regardless, I agree with @Lead Head.  You know nothing about how long it has been tied, the skills of the tie-er, the test or type of line used for leader, etc.  

   Just start practicing tying your own.  May be daunting at first, but it is a valuable skill, even if you decide that you won't use leaders a lot.

5 to 6 feet spin and cast, out of the spool.  I see no reason for the really long leaders that some use.  Considering that some use none successfully indicates that bass aren't really that line shy anyway.  Especially with natural colored line which looks a lot like string algae.  I prefer the improved Alberto knot which is fairly small, easy to tie, and reliable when finished with two tightly set half hitches of the braid tag end against the knot.  

I fish leaders for shock tolerance, and don't consume leader.  

Leader tag gets a perfection loop, and I loop on paper clips, micro snaps, wire bite trace, etc.  

Linear contact in loop connection is stronger than any single-bend knot.  

This is an intentional long perfection loop, so I can also loop on a cigar cork dropper rig.  

I fish 18" leaders with microguides and 4' leaders with full size guides.  

Longer surf rods get 6' to 8' leaders.  

Improved Allbright knot.  

Video is for a spinning setup also this link goes back 2016 

 

 

I run really long leaders on my spinners, dang panfish here love to attack the connecting knots so I like to keep it out of the water whenever possible. Casting rods I run about a rods length, long but connecting knot is out of the reel on a cast.

The shorter, the better. The tip rod eye tends to snag it all day and annoy you. I eventually ditched the leader and never looked back. I didn't notice any dropoff in catches or size. 

Yes, cut that line off and tie on a new leader.

 

I Normally run 5-6 foot fluorocarbon leaders on all my spinning rods, and most of my casting rods. 

 

I used to run straight braid on my casting rods. Went with a fluoro leader on my t-rig set up...and seem to be catching more fish. 

 

Love fishing spinning rods with 10lb braid and fluoro leaders ranging from 10lb down to 6lb, depending on species, need, etc. 

 

I throw all my cranks on spinning rods with this set up...casts like a dream! 

I normally have 8’ leaders on my spinning rigs. Long enough that I’m not constantly tying on new leaders due to terminal tackle/bait changes but not so long that the leader knot gets buried in the spool. 
 

I will say that I change terminal tackle/baits much less frequently on my spinning rigs than my baitcasters. But I use all mono or all braid on those. No leaders. 

I rarely fish in clear water so 1m long leader is usually what i've been using for a while.

Like others have said, I would cut the current leader off and a few feet of the old braid. Put a new leader on and fish it. I usually make mine about 6 to 8 feet. 

 

Also, if you new to braid to leader and want to fish crankbaits, I would either pull all the line off and put mono or fluorocarbon on or fish some cheaper soft plastic until you are comfortable with the leader knots you are tying. 

I fish very long leaders on casting gear, 20-30 feet, but it's because I fish a zebra mussel covered rocky shelf from shore that is about 20' deep and need the abrasion resistance while landing fish, often cutting away 5-10 feet during just a few hours of fishing.  I've seen nothing but benefits and have moved all my rigs, including the ones that I don't shore fish with to 10-15 feet of leader.  If you reel the knot into the reel, I strongly recommend learning the fg knot.  If just going thru the guides, or tying on steel leader, I still really like the albright.

 

scott

moving baits like topwater.  I just use about 18" of some stiffer flouro leader.  I like how it helps prevents the trebles from tangling in the braid since it provides some separation and stiffness.

 

all bets are off if I do a helicopter cast.