How much leader do you guys tie on your braid on spinning tackle? 2025

jdw174 reply :

I've used braid before on my spinning tackle and didn't much care for it, but I'm thinking of giving it another shot. Leaning towards 15lb Fireline with a leader to be used for shakey/dropshotting on one rig and small jigs/worms/senkos on another. If you use a leader, how long do you usually make it?

Sherlock 60 reply :

I use 20# PowerPro for Senkos and soft plastics with a MH spinning rod.

Over the last several years I have used a 12"-18" mono leader with lots of success, but am going to try a 6' fluoro leader this season.

One day last year my leader broke off so I tied directly to the 3/0 EWG hook, and stayed with that set up for the rest of the season to see how it worked. I still caught some bass but the bite seemed to be a bit slower (but that was the case for the entire season).

Tin reply :

How about just going with straight braid and no leader?I keep one of my Sahara's spooled with 30 pound Power Pro (8/10 pound diameter), I use it for finesse fishing around brush, overhangs, and skipping small frogs. I'm sure you could go with 15 pound because it has the diameter of 6 pound or so and it would be pretty sweet. I like as few knots in between the fish and I as possible so I'm not a big fan of leaders.

breakyourrod reply :

I dont use a leader with braid.

I rarely fish clear enough water to make it a concern.

And when I do fish clear water I still never use a leader.

midnighthrasher reply :

2olb power pro with a 3-5ft seaguar invisx 10lb leader.

Fishes in trees reply :

I use 2' or so of fluorocarbon leader material - not just fluorocarbon line. It is much more abrasion resistant I think. I'd go shorter, but I like to be able to change baits several times before I tie a new leader on.

RandySBreth reply :

I have used superlines with a leader for about 20 years now. I fish the super-clear waters of Table Rock/Beaver Lake. I usually use an 8' or so leader of fluorocarbon leader. It works.

Redsyn reply :

about 3'. short enough to benefit from the sensitivity of braid, long enugh where during an outing I can change baits and not tie on another leader.

I dont really know if the fish sees the braid and wont bite. I use a leader because if the bait/lures get snagged, I can break off the fluro.

Just try out what you think is good for you and try it and see which method you like more.

PondHunter reply :

I also like to use 3' of flouro leader for all the reasons that others have already mentioned. You can retie a few times without putting a new leader on, and its enough to keep the braid out of the line of sight of the fish.

BassThumb reply :

I like to use a leader thats just shorter than the length of the rod, so that there won't be a kink in the fluorocarbon when I put the lure on the hook keeper and store it.

IwillChooseFreeWill reply :

none, I found that tying the braid directly to the lure makes no difference on catch rates, plus any extra knots or extra "links" between you and the lure can potentially be a weak spot and lose the fish or lure.

Otherwise anything fluro or copoly

J Francho reply :

12' of fluorocarbon leader or P-line CXX. Fish may not care about seeing the line, but fluoro sinks, and zebra/quagga mussels make mince meat of braid.

RoLo reply :

I use spinning gear and Fireline tracer braid for nearly everything.

In the past, I've used fluorocarbon leaders and copolymer leaders,

but the past few years I've been tying everything directly to the braid (zero leader).

The leader hassle has been eliminated without a noticeable change in catch-rate.

Roger

SirSnookalot reply :

10# braid and 15 for a bit more lifting power from high banked canals. 12-18 inch mono leader(20#) and using duo lock clips, haven't changed a leader in months, except for saltwater, gave up on fluro leaders years ago, saw no difference in catch rate.

fishfordollars reply :

Straight braid here. Never a leader when fishing it unless, of course, I'm throwing a c-rig.

Fishing Rhino reply :

I always use a leader with braid. I fish in some very rocky places, and have lost a few nice fish because they dragged the braid over a rock.

The braid popped like it was sewing thread.

In vegetation, braid by itself is fine.

To answer your question. I make the leader as long as possible without making casting difficult, when using a swivel for drop shotting.

The extra length allows you to change lures or retie several times, when the line near the hook is damaged.

When tying directly to the braid, I use an Albright special know which passes nicely through the eyes.

When line twist may be a problem, I use a swivel. When twisting is not likely, I tie directly.

Iowa Matt reply :

I'm not a pro or anything, but I do fish spinning/braid almost all the time and have since modern braids became available. I honestly don't know why folks use such heavy line on spinning tackle. Seems like most are using 15-30lb braid. I can't imagine needing or wanting to use more than 10lb. I only have 10lb on one rod........all the rest have 8lb Powerpro. I normally use about 4' of 10lb flouro leader on all the outfits unless I'm fishing a super clear pit and then I'll use 6lb or 8lb flouro. I might use up to 10' of leader in these situations as well. If I'm using a natural colored braid (as opposed to red or yellow) I will often omit the leader completely for shakey heads, swimbaits, small TX rigs, etc.

Maybe someone can enlighten me on the need for 15-30lb line? I am honestly curious, because I feel like a do a lot of fishing and am reasonably good at it and have never felt the need for more on spinning tackle.

Matt

Fishing Rhino reply :

I use 15 pound braid, with 20 pound fluoro for jigging in the rocks. Ten pound braid with fluoro leader, but most of the time late last summer and into the fall, I used 6 pound mono or fluoro, with a swivel, and 20 pound fluoro leader, for the occasional large pickerel that came along.

There weren't a lot of places where even a big fish could take you around a hang.

bassnleo reply :

Quote
I'm not a pro or anything, but I do fish spinning/braid almost all the time and have since modern braids became available. I honestly don't know why folks use such heavy line on spinning tackle. Seems like most are using 15-30lb braid. I can't imagine needing or wanting to use more than 10lb. I only have 10lb on one rod........all the rest have 8lb Powerpro. I normally use about 4' of 10lb flouro leader on all the outfits unless I'm fishing a super clear pit and then I'll use 6lb or 8lb flouro. I might use up to 10' of leader in these situations as well. If I'm using a natural colored braid (as opposed to red or yellow) I will often omit the leader completely for shakey heads, swimbaits, small TX rigs, etc.
Maybe someone can enlighten me on the need for 15-30lb line? I am honestly curious, because I feel like a do a lot of fishing and am reasonably good at it and have never felt the need for more on spinning tackle.

Matt

8 or 10 lb braid won't hold up around docks or if a fish is wrapped in brush, that's where the 15-30 lb braid shines. For other open water applications, lighter braid is just fine.

Sherlock 60 reply :

Quote
I'm not a pro or anything, but I do fish spinning/braid almost all the time and have since modern braids became available. I honestly don't know why folks use such heavy line on spinning tackle. Seems like most are using 15-30lb braid. I can't imagine needing or wanting to use more than 10lb. I only have 10lb on one rod........all the rest have 8lb Powerpro. I normally use about 4' of 10lb flouro leader on all the outfits unless I'm fishing a super clear pit and then I'll use 6lb or 8lb flouro. I might use up to 10' of leader in these situations as well. If I'm using a natural colored braid (as opposed to red or yellow) I will often omit the leader completely for shakey heads, swimbaits, small TX rigs, etc.
Maybe someone can enlighten me on the need for 15-30lb line? I am honestly curious, because I feel like a do a lot of fishing and am reasonably good at it and have never felt the need for more on spinning tackle.

Matt

Braid can be difficult to manage when the diameter is under what 6 pound mono would be. 20 pound PowerPro is about the same diameter as 6 pound mono, so that is what I use.

ROCbass reply :

I start out with a 5-6 foot leader and replace it once it gets down to 12-18 inches left, but I usually only use a leader when fishing around rocks or in really clear water.

6pointbuck2003 reply :

This may be an ignorant question and im sure it has been on here before. but what kind of knot do you use to tie the Floro and braid together?

jignfule reply :

double uni

BassThumb reply :

Quote
double uni

Yep. Easy to tie, but it's not small.

Fishing Doug reply :

no leader works for me.

Dr. Perf reply :

I have been using braid with a fluorocarbon leader on all of my spinning and most of my baitcasting setups since last summer. After some experimentation, all of the leaders are the length of the rod plus a few inches to ensure the main line/leader knot is not on the spool and is between the spool/first line guide when casting.

Initially, I used a uni/uni knot for the main line/leader, but my experience was that the knot was too large, especially for smaller guides, and did not provide consistent knot strength. The knot that I used after that was the Stren knot (uni/improved clinch), which results in a much smaller knot and retains close to 100% of its strength.

Another knot I have been experimenting with for the past few weeks is this version of the Improved Albright. The knot is just as small as the uni/improved clinch and appears to retain 100% of its strength consistently. Last weekend I got snagged a couple of times and straightened the hook when getting free using 16# braid/12# fluorocarbon leader. That experience has me changing all of the my leader knots to that version of the Improved Albright.

Doc

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How much leader do you guys tie on your braid on spinning tackle? 2025

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