How much am I missing out by not using a leader? I am on the Mid East Coast, so am in tidal rivers targeting speckled trout, redfish and striped bass with light tackle and lures. I try...

FS Digest

I am on the Mid East Coast, so am in tidal rivers targeting speckled trout, redfish and striped bass with light tackle and lures.

I try to generally cut down on how much I buy and use. I don’t normally use leaders. I just tie the lures directly to my line.

Am I really screwing up?

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by Rtstevie

dryb Loc: Sharon CT

FS Digest wrote:

I am on the Mid East Coast, so am in tidal rivers targeting speckled trout, redfish and striped bass with light tackle and lures.

I try to generally cut down on how much I buy and use. I don’t normally use leaders. I just tie the lures directly to my line.

Am I really screwing up?

--
by Rtstevie

It won’t be a srewup until you lose a big fish the reason for a leader is to prevent line snap when they thrash around or have sharp teeth

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Here on the Texas portion of the Gulf Coast I have never seen any difference in using a special leader, unless I am fising or Spanish Mackeral. They had enough sharp teeth to cut you off. Now I am speaking of bay fishing for reds, trout and flounder.

Offshore it is a different game and you don't know what might hit next! Just Sayin...RJS

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

FS Digest wrote:

I am on the Mid East Coast, so am in tidal rivers targeting speckled trout, redfish and striped bass with light tackle and lures.

I try to generally cut down on how much I buy and use. I don’t normally use leaders. I just tie the lures directly to my line.

Am I really screwing up?

--
by Rtstevie

For the species you’re targeting you definitely don’t need a wire leader, but if you’re running braided line I would prefer to run a mono or fluorocarbon leader.

Don Fischer

Line heavier than the leader so you don't lose a bunch of line on a break off. Set the drag for the leader. Now guy's fishing for big cats use heavier leader than line usually. They claim the heavy leader is easier on abrasion than their braid!

DaveDave Loc: Northern Arizona

FS Digest wrote:

I am on the Mid East Coast, so am in tidal rivers targeting speckled trout, redfish and striped bass with light tackle and lures.

I try to generally cut down on how much I buy and use. I don’t normally use leaders. I just tie the lures directly to my line.

Am I really screwing up?

--
by Rtstevie

Hey bud, by simply learning the "Surgeons Uni knot" tying the main line to a lighter lb. leader, can adjust the leader quickly to changing conditions in no time, my opinion produces more fish in the pan.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

I went out 3 nights in a row with same person. Same lure but I used 20 lb Seagur fluoro leader, out fished him by about 30% over 3 evenings.

Alaska Charlie

DaveDave wrote:

Hey bud, by simply learning the "Surgeons Uni knot" tying the main line to a lighter lb. leader, can adjust the leader quickly to changing conditions in no time, my opinion produces more fish in the pan.

I know what a surgeons knot is and what a uni knot is, but what is a Surgeons Uni knot?

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

Leaders work best for braided line. If you are using mono you could just tie your lures directly to the line. I use braid for my main line and then attach an inline weight to that and then a fluorocarbon leader to the lure. If I am bobber fishing the braided line helps to save your bobber and weight most of the time.

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

I have went with leaders and without them depending on what I'm fishing for. Some fish like to twist your line which can snap your line or twist himself off. The leaders I use on catfishing gets my circle hook a little deeper in their mouth into a boney area and swivels help against twists offs. For artificial baits some work great with a leader and others like jigs and flies work fine using a fishermen's knot.

Don Fischer

USAF Major wrote:

I went out 3 nights in a row with same person. Same lure but I used 20 lb Seagur fluoro leader, out fished him by about 30% over 3 evenings.

Do you believe the reason was your leader?

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Don Fischer wrote:

Do you believe the reason was your leader?

Absolutely! Can't conceive of any other reason.

Don Fischer

:-)