FS Digest

I'm sure this topic has been beat like a dead horse but I'm new to it all and setting up my new gear is confusing. On the one hand you hear guys that clearly know what they are doing like the guys from tactical bassin saying 90 percent of the time they go braid to leader. Then you have tournament pros like randy blaukat saying to only use flouro and knots break all the time. But anyway here are some questions to take a shot at. What baits do you fish braid to leader. How much leader length is needed. Does the knot effect casting? Do you find it increases sensitivity? I donno I'm all over the place here. Give me all you're knowledge I've gotta really study up for spring and feel kinda lost.

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by thadiousblynn

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

If fishing really heavy cover down south while pitching or flipping heavy jigs I believe most go with straight braid. Where I fish, (mostly Lake Ontario and Pa.) I tend to use braid with either a fluorocarbon or mono leader about 6-7 feet long. Mono if it’s on a top water rod and fluro for everything else. I’ve read that the FG knot is preferred for the connection to braid but I have difficulty tying it. (I’ve got hotdog fingers) I’ve had good success with the J knot and double uni which are both quite easy to tie and they have served me well. No trouble with them obstructing the guides and much more efficient(at least for me) when re-tying after getting torn off by pike or normal abrasion.

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

Freshwater double uni knot works fine! Very quick and easy to tie ! Salt I prefer to use reverse Albright correct really big fish HC spliced to a leader !
Uni knot more then enough for your use !

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

Freshwater double uni knot works fine! Very quick and easy to tie ! Salt I prefer to use reverse Albright correct really big fish HC spliced to a leader !
Uni knot more then enough for your use !

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Almost 100% braid to flouro .
Exception being top water where I tie direct to braid
FG knot or Alberto knot . Uni to uni is also a good knot but is larger diameter. I tie the FG at home and Alberto on the water. For me FG is too complex to try to tie while trying to manage a boat on water
I tie mine 6” shorter than rod length . I don’t like getting the knot in the spool . Never had a problem with knot in spool but it’s just one of my many quirks
No affect on casting with FG or Alberto Even with micro guides
Tip. Cost completed knot with Loon Knot sense. It is a UV cure glue that really smooths out the knot. Don’t try to use the glue in direct sunlight. It will cure before you are done. Shade it with your body.
Do Not use super glue on knots. I think it can damage flouro

BillDing

If you are worried about if the knot will flow through the eyes of your rod , have your leader the length from the tip of your rod to however much line you need to cast. That way, there will not be an issue of your line catching on the eyelets.

TerryB Loc: Florida

Albright or Blood knot

javman69 Loc: wilkes barre,pa

tip i picked up from roand martin braid no leader colr the first 2 foot of the braid with a black magic marker nearly invisible in the water myself iuse both ways straight braid and briad and flourocarbon strictically berkely vanish in 14 lb test , works for me i can remeber the old dacron lines and shakespeare had a woven momoway back when they came out with the wondercast reel which i still have one and it works , i had an old plueger baitcaster with the black dacron line on it my uncle gave it to me wish i still had it for the memories caught my first bass on it when i was 3 that was 67 years ago

Trophy Walleye Hunter Loc: lower Western Michigan

I have always used super glue and never had a problem. I use a toothpick to dab it in the tag end and the very end of the knot. I will also use a smell BB swivel between the line and the leader if I am worried about line twist.Using jigs I will use a short fluorocarbon leader on braid to eliminate knots.