Until recently, I always fished braided line for soft plastics-tied directly to the bait. That is until several trips with a friend convinced me of the error of my ways. The story begins about 3 trips back when a buddy and I were fishing from a boat on a favorite lake. While I caught a few bass (not many), my friend caught probably 3 times as many. While admitedly he beat me to some good spots, we generally fished the same waters with identical baits. I tried to emulate his every move but to no avail. He just plain bested me. During the next trip out, he pulled to a substantial lead once again. Fearing a repeat performance of the previous outing, I asked myself, what was different? What was he doing that I wasn't? Then it occurred to me that all his reels were spooled with either mono or flourocarbon whereas I'd been using braided line exclusively. I bummed some flourocarbon from him and tied about a 3 foot leader onto my line. Almost immediately, I began catching bass. It was as if a light switch had been flipped. Both on the lake and in my head. For the rest of the day, my buddy and I pretty much stayed neck and neck .

Then, the last time we were out, I experienced something akin to deja vu. We were fishing a deep ditch with crankbaits and I was doing fine with my "beloved" braided line. But that bite dried up so we changed tactics and began casting into and amongst submerged trees with soft plastics. He caught 8 bass while I was still looking for my first. Initially, I attributed his success (and my failure) to the gulp worm (which he was using and I wasn't). But finally, after I'd had enough of a working over, I tied on a flourocarbon leader. Immediately, I caught a fish, and then, in quick succession, two more! And they weren't caught on gulp worms, either! It was the leader that made the difference! I actually wound up catching the big fish of the day. Something, I'm convinced, wouldn't have happened at all had I persisted in using just braid.

Now I can't say with certainty why the leader worked better. Probably the fish could see the braid and it turned them off. Or perhaps the braid caused the bait fall slower. I think it was the former. Regardless, it did! Looking back, I wonder how many more fish I might've caught had I used some kind've clear leader. I still like braid because it's strong, has no line memory, and doesn't stretch. But especially on days when the bass aren't jumping into the boat, I'm switching to a mono or flourocarbon leader on the business end of my braid! If, like me, you can't depart from braid, you do the same. Just be sure to use a good connecting knot (such as a double uni-knot) and test it before you use it! And since the knot is likely to rub your guides after each retrieve, retie often.

I'm thinking an 18 inch leader is plenty.

I think you make a good point, particularly for us braid-crazy Florida guys. It reminded me that several years back, I won two tournaments in row using a flourocarbon leader tied to braid for t-rigged and wacky rigged senkos. No one else was doing it, conditions were tough and it seemed to make a difference for me as I don't usually win tournaments. But then, conditions got easier and everybody was catching them up using whatever and I got lazy. Plus, I'm not the most confident leader tier so I don't look to do it. However, this is a good reminder of a good idea so thanks.

I do agree with the previous post that 18" will do it, particularly in stained or tannic waters.

I think you make a good point, particularly for us braid-crazy Florida guys. It reminded me that several years back, I won two tournaments in row using a flourocarbon leader tied to braid for t-rigged and wacky rigged senkos. No one else was doing it, conditions were tough and it seemed to make a difference for me as I don't usually win tournaments. But then, conditions got easier and everybody was catching them up using whatever and I got lazy. Plus, I'm not the most confident leader tier so I don't look to do it. However, this is a good reminder of a good idea so thanks.

I do agree with the previous post that 18" will do it, particularly in stained or tannic waters.

I don't like tying leaders either (they slow me down and weaken the link between me and the bait) and I definately test them before I use them.

I agree, 18 inches of leader is probably plenty.

My fishing buddy ( Farmpond1 ) just learned this same exact lesson about a week ago & just like you twice in fact.

I imeediately tied leaders on all my reels.

I haven't noticed the difference yet but I'm not going back.

Nicely done way to use the old head. I'm not sure that I would have thought of it. I would just have chalked it up to luck or him being a better fisherman.

FFI - AKA Matt C