Just curious. How long do you make your leaders when connecting to braid on spinning gear? I've heard some anglers say no more than a rods length to keep the knot from going through the bale. Then some say it doesn't matter and use 8+ feet of leader and let the knot go through the bale. Just curious what you guys think. Oh...and I use either the FG or Albright knot. Thanks in advance.

I use long leaders on rods with full-size guides (rod-length+ on surf rods), 6' on bass rods.

On microguides, I use an 18" fluoro shock leader. Generally, I don't consumer leaders.

I put a perfection loop on the terminal end and loop on micro-swivel snap, which should be fished on spinning tackle, anyway. (titanium-wire micro-swivel bite trace for toothy salt fish, paper clip on b/c)

All my spinning gear is braid to FC or Mono leader and has been for many years.

During that time my leader length preference has evolved.

I started with 10-12 ft and that was OK, mostly.

Casting, hooksets, fighting & landing fish. Baits are working 'properly.

Then I started using 15-18 feet and that was a bit better in all respects.

The one factor that I was missing is that I did not care for the connection knot

to be running in & out of the guide train once a bigger bass got close to the boat

and was making her patterned dashes for freedom.

Finally, I figured out how to overcome that.

Leaders of 25 - 30 ft.

In all other respects my fishing remained unchanged.

Except now, that connection knot gets onto the reel (and more importantly, stays on the reel)

long before a potential trophy gets anywhere near the boat.

Done Deal.

Good Luck

A-Jay

I also run 20-30' of leader and reel right it in with an fg knot. I got there mostly because of a deep, current filled, zebra covered breakwater that I fish from, where my 10lb shooter leader has significant abrasion resistance compared to my pe 1. But I also see benefits working finesse bottom contact with a longer neutral density leader and much appreciate the situation @A-Jay describes where my connection knot is well inside my reel as I try to lip or net decent sized smallies in their last gasp for freedom.

scott

Braid-leader on all my spinning setups as well. I run shorter leaders - 10'-12' normally, Alberto knot in the spool when ready to cast again.

I have tried longer leaders but went back to a 6 foot leader because, during the cast, line would hang up on that knot on the spool and shorten the casts. For me, long casts are important because I fish clear water. If I were fishing close targets, I would go back to longer leaders. This happens even with the best and smallest of knots.

38 minutes ago, Reel said:

I have tried longer leaders but went back to a 6 foot leader because, during the cast, line would hang up on that knot on the spool and shorten the casts. For me, long casts are important because I fish clear water. If I were fishing close targets, I would go back to longer leaders. This happens even with the best and smallest of knots.

I fish clear & often shallow water; distance casting is required.

Never had the connection knot hang up on the cast with long leaders lengths.

I use a uni-uni knot exclusively.

Don't believe the type knot has anything to do with it, at least for me.

A-Jay

Long leader on spinning, 25-30ft.

I keep mine pretty close to 10' which is long enough to clip the bait and tie on a drop-shot hook "on the fly".

I usually run about 10’ of leader and will use it until it gets to about 3’ before tying a new one on.

FG knot, 18 to 24 foot leader to braid

On 3/20/2026 at 9:11 AM, A-Jay said:

I fish clear & often shallow water; distance casting is required.

Never had the connection knot hang up on the cast with long leaders lengths.

I use a uni-uni knot exclusively.

Don't believe the type knot has anything to do with it, at least for me.

A-Jay

@A-Jay How long would your leader be ? I'm kind of surprised that you use uni-uni knots. I started out with that then switch over to Alberto knots (5 loops) with average of 10 feet leader since i fish from the shore. I'm considering going back to uni-uni as I have never had a line break (knocking on wood) yet.

2 hours ago, Falkus said:

@A-Jay How long would your leader be ? I'm kind of surprised that you use uni-uni knots. I started out with that then switch over to Alberto knots (5 loops) with average of 10 feet leader since i fish from the shore. I'm considering going back to uni-uni as I have never had a line break (knocking on wood) yet. something

My leader length is 5 full pull arms length across my chest, plus a half for good luck.

Uni to uni works for me and has been for a long time. I let the performance dictate when I change not an article by Dr Knot. Bass in the Frabil tells the story for me. Btw, how does the knot know you're fishing from shore ?

🤔

A-Jay

Twice the length of the rod.

on a spinning rod what I do is stretch out 3 times my wingspan and them cut the line a foot or two past that. I don't know why I do it that way, I just always have.

Seems there is a sizable variance on this one.

I've always wondered if I should be increasing my leader length. I usually start with about 10-12 feet and then when I get down to about half that, I start a new one.

Great subject! It is good to revisit ideas that one believes he or she has already resolved. Years ago, I decided on approximately 6 to 7 feet between my knot and my lure on braid to leader combinations. It has worked for me. I have never had a breakoff at the braid to leader knot with a big fish. However, I am a stickler for checking the knot and when it looks like it might be getting frayed I retie. I started out years ago with a uni to uni but switched to the alberto knot about 15 years ago because it was easier and from what I can tell, I get the same results. Reading this thread has led me to consider that I should try a 20 or 30 foot leader just for grins.

With the short leader I use, the cutting off of frayed line near the lure shortens my leader much quicker leading to having to add another 6 to 7 foot leader sooner. I suspect this is why I have never experienced an issue with the braid to leader knot because it is replaced much sooner than it would be with a long leader.

1 hour ago, senile1 said:

Great subject! It is good to revisit ideas that one believes he or she has already resolved. Years ago, I decided on approximately 6 to 7 feet between my knot and my lure on braid to leader combinations. It has worked for me. I have never had a breakoff at the braid to leader knot with a big fish. However, I am a stickler for checking the knot and when it looks like it might be getting frayed I retie. I started out years ago with a uni to uni but switched to the alberto knot about 15 years ago because it was easier and from what I can tell, I get the same results. Reading this thread has led me to consider that I should try a 20 or 30 foot leader just for grins.

With the short leader I use, the cutting off of frayed line near the lure shortens my leader much quicker leading to having to add another 6 to 7 foot leader sooner. I suspect this is why I have never experienced an issue with the braid to leader knot because it is replaced much sooner than it would be with a long leader.

A long leader experiences the same forces that a shorter leader does. So while I like the long one for the reasons listed. I still change the whole thing often.

Waiting for it to get short before changing, could result in knot failure on the cast due to repeated and or excessive launch damage suffered by said knot.

Something to consider perhaps.

A-Jay

Length of rod, casting or spinning, before I tie on the lure using an FG knot for braid to leader and Palomar to the lure.

I can see pros and cons of long and short leaders, but I've been using leaders around 6' or so, but may try a little longer this spring for some of the reason others have given.

Does anyone use a Dbl-Uni knot for braid to Floro on a rod with micro guides? Specifically the Dobyns Sierra Micro Series 704C. i can tie a dbl-uni in the dark and thats all i ever use for connecting braid to floro, but this is my first rod with micro guides.