new to fishing braid - question about leader type: I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type?

haroldkerr

I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type? Flourocarbon or mono? What lb. test? I've heard that fluorocarbon is more sensitive but can break with a sudden shock at the boat. I'm fishing in Ohio and would probably use it for bass fishing and also trolling.

Thanks in advance!

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

haroldkerr wrote:

I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type? Flourocarbon or mono? What lb. test? I've heard that fluorocarbon is more sensitive but can break with a sudden shock at the boat. I'm fishing in Ohio and would probably use it for bass fishing and also trolling.

Thanks in advance!

Fluorocarbon is my go to. 20 lb seems to hold up well, but that all depends on what you are fishing for. As far as sensitive, I can not say I ever had a problem with it and it last longer than Mono.

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

My only leader is for fly's and toothy critters.

DVTracker Loc: Harrisburg, PA.

haroldkerr wrote:

I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type? Flourocarbon or mono? What lb. test? I've heard that fluorocarbon is more sensitive but can break with a sudden shock at the boat. I'm fishing in Ohio and would probably use it for bass fishing and also trolling.

Thanks in advance!

I would recommend fluorocarbon. I use 20# mono or braid mainline (depends on the capacity of line per reel size) to 20# fluorocarbon leader. I had no break problems, could feel bites with fluorocarbon and caught many fish both small-large from shore-boats. I used 20# crystal braid leader in the past but tried fluorocarbon and the bite has increased. For toothy fish like muskies, etc. I use 50# fluorocarbon leader instead of steal leader.

I usually fish for larger fish in both freshwater and salt, some fishermen use less lb. test around 10#s for smaller fish.

Hope this helps.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

haroldkerr wrote:

I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type? Flourocarbon or mono? What lb. test? I've heard that fluorocarbon is more sensitive but can break with a sudden shock at the boat. I'm fishing in Ohio and would probably use it for bass fishing and also trolling.

Thanks in advance!

My preference is fluorocarbon leaders,
30lb braid = 20lb leader,
15lb braid = 10lb leader,
10lb braid = 8lb leader,
8lb braid = 8lb leader,
6lb braid = 6lb leader,
I like to use a weaker leader because if I have to break off and lose a lure I don’t want to lose a chunk of my main line, the 8lb and 6lb I match because I’m more comfortable with it that way

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

How does the word pound equal lb? Maybe I should just use # ,
Never thought of that until now

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

haroldkerr wrote:

I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type? Flourocarbon or mono? What lb. test? I've heard that fluorocarbon is more sensitive but can break with a sudden shock at the boat. I'm fishing in Ohio and would probably use it for bass fishing and also trolling.

Thanks in advance!

One thing to keep in mind is which type of lures you are usin. Mono floats and Fluorocarbon sinks.
SO, if you are goin to be throwin top water lures you would want to use Mono.
If you are usin divers you want to use Floro.
At least that's what I would recommend. HOWEVER, I don't use leaders much anymore because I'm fishin for Stripers, the water is stained anyway and they aren't line shy to begin with.
BUT, for fresh water bass/fish, the above is what I would use. That's JMO though.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

For fresh water bass and hybrids, cats, etc I spool the reels with 39# braid with about 4 feet of fluorocarbon leader tied on with an Albright style knot. It guess through the guides easily and I put the stress of the cast on the leader rather than the braid which is more subject to abrasion. For salt, I use about 24 feet of 40 # mono as a shock tip against the stress of the cast.

Snaggedagaintoobad1 Loc: Georgia

Braid to various mono depending on what I'm doing. I've done 10 to 8 fishing Flukes. I've doubled both in laydowns and around snags etc. My biggest challenge was getting the two types of line connected effectively. Look up and run through the FG Knot. It's an effective way to join the two together and effective to drive you bonkers until you get it right. It's worth putting in the time. Look into it for the pros and cons...

Smallyguy Loc: OH

I fish Ohio for bass only and don't use braid on my baitcasters but use my spinning reels for smallmouth. I spoil 10lb braid with a 8lb pure floro leader . It's the best setup I've ever had. All my baitcasters are 100 floro.

Smallyguy Loc: OH

It will land the big girls no problem.

Retrieverman390

Florcarbon is waht I use most of the time. If I’m fishing at night or in moderately stained water I will use mono. I like to use a long leader so that if I eerie often I don’t have to add another leader. I attach with a Alberto Knot. My preference but there are many other good ones. You can find them on uRube. For 10-15# braid I wish fo with a 20# leader.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

haroldkerr wrote:

I'm trying braid for the first time and I'm not sure what type of leader to use. Can anyone share personal preference of leader type? Flourocarbon or mono? What lb. test? I've heard that fluorocarbon is more sensitive but can break with a sudden shock at the boat. I'm fishing in Ohio and would probably use it for bass fishing and also trolling.

Thanks in advance!

I use braid for main line and mono for all leaders. Pound test depends on what I am fishing for. Some knots don't work well with braid I use only two, Uni knot and the Palomar knot. Tight lines

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Uncle_T wrote:

How does the word pound equal lb? Maybe I should just use # ,
Never thought of that until now

All three will work on here,

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Smallyguy wrote:

It will land the big girls no problem.

Those are big small mouth