Leader For Braid Setups - Topwater 2025
fezman reply :
Some like them, some don't, gonna try it out this year.
For topwater I use PP 6/20, what is a good leader match and #? Figure some mono in the 12# range should work?
gulfcaptain reply :
Sounds like you answered your own question.
5dollarsplash reply :
Depending on how you join the knots, the difference in diameter between mainline and leader isn't really important. That said, 12lb mono sounds good.
ironmike12 reply :
Does this matter at all for spinning versus casting reels? I am looking to do the same thing for my spinning tackle for river smallmouth. Would braid plus either a mono leader or fluro leader work with most techniques?
rawjuice reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 4:49 AM, ironmike12 said:Does this matter at all for spinning versus casting reels? I am looking to do the same thing for my spinning tackle for river smallmouth. Would braid plus either a mono leader or fluro leader work with most techniques?
For spinning i would use 20lb braid and 8lb fluoro leader, if you dont do any topwater on this rod, fluoro for sure, but you could also get away with 8-10lb mono if you want that option, 8lb is plenty strong in my eyes and for river smallies i think your good!
Teal reply :
No leader for topwater. I will use either braid or mono...
Maico1 reply :
Since my waters are blessed with Mr.Tooth I have been using vinyl coated.However I will be trying this out this year....
http://www.tygerleader.com/
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
No need for a leader unless you are fishing in super clear water or you have a lot of Pike/Muskie where you fish. If you really want one, 12 pound mono sounds good. Try Berkley Trilene Big Game mono, you won't be sorry.
fezman reply :
Anyone have issues using 20# Power pro on a baitcaster? Wondering if I need to step up to 30# to avoid the line digging in.
Love 20# on spinning setups.
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
I have seen several pros recently suggesting using flouro.
Bassin Bob reply :
I have used braid since it was introduced and never had a problem with it digging in (all test strengths). Spool it very tightly using a lot of pressure (hold the line with a leather glove as you spool it). Likewise, I have also tied the end to a tree and walked off the entire length, then tightly respooled.
Flippinhook reply :
I use braid no leader on spooks Sammy's and stuff like that and I use 15 lb mono on pop r's
Flippinhook reply :
I use 50lb power pro on baitcasters I spool up with a mono backing tho and just add enough braid for my longest cast plus 10 yds ... Why use 20 or 30 when u can use 50 or 65 ? Just the added confidence in knowing he ain't gonna break u off .On 3/28/2014 at 8:42 AM, fezman said:Anyone have issues using 20# Power pro on a baitcaster? Wondering if I need to step up to 30# to avoid the line digging in.
Love 20# on spinning setups.
conorsixtakc reply :
Straight mono on topwater. Simple and most effective.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 6:11 AM, Maico1 said:Since my waters are blessed with Mr.Tooth I have been using vinyl coated.However I will be trying this out this year....
http://www.tygerleader.com/
That tygerleader does sound interesting.
I use braid almost exclusively, always with leader and always on spinning tackle. Heaviest braid I use is 20#, do have some 30# for offshore, my leaders vary from 20-40#. I specifically target toothy fish, from experience both mine and others I shy away from wire because the strikes are fewer. I don't use a lure without considering I may get cut off, that's just part of fishing. Without exaggeration I got cut off well over 20 times in 3 weeks during the mullet run, but I caught a bunch. My rule is simple, don't use a lure unless you are prepared to lose it.
Jtd1216 reply :
I have kind of a follow-up question to this based on everyone's responses. I'm sort of new to this. If you're using 40-50lb braid with a 12lb mono leader, does that reduce the strength value when you have a fish on? If I'm using braid for strength in heavy cover, does the 12lb mono leader greatly reduce that overall line strength (and confidence of keeping that fish on) and make it counterproductive? Or do most line breaks happen further up towards the rod?
5dollarsplash reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 7:50 PM, Jtd1216 said:I have kind of a follow-up question to this based on everyone's responses. I'm sort of new to this. If you're using 40-50lb braid with a 12lb mono leader, does that reduce the strength value when you have a fish on? If I'm using braid for strength in heavy cover, does the 12lb mono leader greatly reduce that overall line strength (and confidence of keeping that fish on) and make it counterproductive? Or do most line breaks happen further up towards the rod?
The weakest point is what gives. Usually the knot connecting the leader to the mainline will give first. If not that, then the leader itself will stretch and give out.
frogflogger reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 7:50 PM, Jtd1216 said:I have kind of a follow-up question to this based on everyone's responses. I'm sort of new to this. If you're using 40-50lb braid with a 12lb mono leader, does that reduce the strength value when you have a fish on? If I'm using braid for strength in heavy cover, does the 12lb mono leader greatly reduce that overall line strength (and confidence of keeping that fish on) and make it counterproductive? Or do most line breaks happen further up towards the rod?
The strength of your line is its weakest link - 12# - no problem the 40-50 is about dia. more than strength (in my humble opinion)
frogflogger reply :
please excuse double post - not sure what happened -
Dave Hull reply :
if topwater i would not use any floro since it sinks and will likely impair the action your trying to impart to your lure. I go with straight braid. Sometimes long casts are in order when I fish Heddon spooks so the hookups are more solid with the braid. No need for a leader as fast as I generally fish spooks. If your fishing something slower and you are worried about the fish seeing the braid then the 12lb mono leader is a good choice.
Jtd1216 reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 9:47 PM, 5dollarsplash said:The weakest point is what gives. Usually the knot connecting the leader to the mainline will give first. If not that, then the leader itself will stretch and give out.
That being said. What's the point of using braid for strength if your 12lb mono lead is going to break anyways at it's breaking point? Why not just use all 12lb mono in this case??
5dollarsplash reply :
On 3/29/2014 at 12:40 AM, Jtd1216 said:That being said. What's the point of using braid for strength if your 12lb mono lead is going to break anyways at it's breaking point? Why not just use all 12lb mono in this case??
Ease of use. Braid doesn't have memory like mono or fluoro. Why not all braid then? Well some think you get more bites as its less noticeable. Some prefer the abraison resistance of mono or fluoro to braid.
I'm by no means saying you have to use leaders, but if its something that gives you confidence, I'm all for it.
doyle8218 reply :
Straight braid - no leader for topwater,
NathanW reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 8:42 AM, fezman said:Anyone have issues using 20# Power pro on a baitcaster? Wondering if I need to step up to 30# to avoid the line digging in.
Love 20# on spinning setups.
20# is the lowest I have gone without regretting it completely. I do keep one setup with tuffline hevi-core in 20# test with a fluoro leader for stickbaits/soft jerkbaits. Its not the easiest fishing setup but the braid will stick more fish, no question, especially on long casts.
If you havent spooled up yet, I would recommend the 30# or better.
But my topwaters are either straight mono or 40# braid with a 15# Mono leader.
I use a Mono leader because thats what I am used to using.
Brent Ehler uses a braid mainline with short fluoro leader with Sammy's. So I wouldnt think that a couple feet of sinking line is going to make a difference.
NathanW reply :
On 3/29/2014 at 12:40 AM, Jtd1216 said:That being said. What's the point of using braid for strength if your 12lb mono lead is going to break anyways at it's breaking point? Why not just use all 12lb mono in this case??
As said ease of use, no stretch AND it doesn't have to be re-spooled often. The strength of the braid is just a welcomed bonus when talking about topwater baits with trebles. The leader is so it does not tangle on the front hook. For topwaters I am not worried about visibility much but I dont have to think about it because I use a leader for other reasons.
Jtd1216 reply :
Now what about using this setup for a jig? Would you need a leader for less visibility? Then again, if you're fishing heavy cover, the 12lb mono might not suffice. Right? Again I'm new to this so just learning.
Snakehead Whisperer reply :
On 3/29/2014 at 12:40 AM, Jtd1216 said:That being said. What's the point of using braid for strength if your 12lb mono lead is going to break anyways at it's breaking point? Why not just use all 12lb mono in this case??
The point is sensitivity. Jigging with mono is like having a 50' rubber band between you and your jig. You will not feel strikes in time to set the hook. Mono tied to braid will only stretch the length of the leader and give you far better feel. Fluoro tied to braid is slightly better for this.
This is also especially helpful if fishing in areas where snags are inevitable. The light leader allows me to break off easily if I can't retrieve my lure.
On 3/29/2014 at 5:15 AM, Jtd1216 said:Now what about using this setup for a jig? Would you need a leader for less visibility? Then again, if you're fishing heavy cover, the 12lb mono might not suffice. Right? Again I'm new to this so just learning.
I use a fluoro leader tied onto braid on a majority of my setups. With that said, I usually use a leader with approximately half the lb. test strength of my braid main line. For river smallies I use a 10-15lb. braid main line with a 6-8lb. fluoro leader. For Potomac snakeheads in heavier cover I will use 30-40lb. braid with a 15-20lb. fluoro leader.
A lot of folks will tell you to tie on 65lb. braid or something heavy like that (which will work,) but you will sacrifice casting distance if you go heavy with your line. For flipping and pitching into heavy cover (punching for instance) this is a sound strategy. For casting walking topwaters (where you want to make long casts to cover water) it makes more sense to fish lighter line to cover more water. I usually top out at 30lb. for frogging too, as I have yet to meet a patch of lillies or hydrilla that exceed 30lbs. (even with a 10-15lb. snakehead hooked to them.)That's what the drag on your reel is for. Tournament fishers may disagree with this statement.
For jigging specifically I will usually tie on a fluoro leader with a modified albright knot. There are exceptions to this (heavy vegetation/punching being a major one.)
normmcclean reply :
Hard to beat seaguar premier fluoro leader material. This is a saltwater special on the west coast long range fishing fleet. Use it for wahoo and giant tuna but they also make it in 12 15 &20lb test. Best strength for its diameter and lies softly on the water. Uni to uni is the smallest connection knot if your diameters are far from one another just double up the spectra side of the uni knot. I have noticed much larger fish coming on my top water lures since I have gotten away from straight spectra just 3ft oof mono or fluoro has meant bigger fish. Numbers were always good but the older fish seem Leary of spectra.
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