Using a leader to lose less line during snags? 2025
YoTone reply :
Ive been wondering if anyone uses a lighter line as a leader to save line during hang ups?
I use 30lbs braid and I hate it when i get snagged on a long cast and lose a ton of line. Sometimes with just 2 or 3 snags I need to respool. Do people who use a fluorocarbon leader line to braid find that you dont need to respool as often? And would size leader line would be ideal for 30lbs braid?
Yudo1 reply :
It's one of the main reasons I use a leader.
YoTone reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 9:43 AM, Yudo1 said:It's one of the main reasons I use a leader.
do you use braid as a main line? what size line and leader do you use?
Yudo1 reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 9:47 AM, YoTone said:do you use braid as a main line? what size line and leader do you use?
I use 30lb, 40lb and 50lb braid with mostly 12lb to 14lb fluoro.
Darren. reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 9:37 AM, YoTone said:Ive been wondering if anyone uses a lighter line as a leader to save line during hang ups?
I use 30lbs braid and I hate it when i get snagged on a long cast and lose a ton of line. Sometimes with just 2 or 3 snags I need to respool. Do people who use a fluorocarbon leader line to braid find that you dont need to respool as often? And would size leader line would be ideal for 30lbs braid?
A key reason for leader use among those of us who
want to save our braided line 
I have stated such in many threads on the topic of
"to leader or not". Straight braid clearly works for
many, but for me, I fish a lot of snaggy areas and
do not have to lose much braid when I'm snagged
thanks to a leader. It just saves braid!®
YoTone reply :
would 10lbs leader be too light for 30lbs braid?
saying this cos i see some seagar red label 10lbs for like $6.50
Darren. reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 10:19 AM, YoTone said:would 10lbs leader be too light for 30lbs braid?
saying this cos i see some seagar red label 10lbs for like $6.50
Red label makes a good leader. Just ask @ww2farmer, he likes it.
I would say it isn't too light, just tie a solid knot like the uni-to-uni
or the Modified Albright/Alberto. Well tied, they won't fail.
I use 4-15# leaders on 10# and 15# braid. Wouldn't have a problem
with 30# + 10.
RoLo reply :
Are you fishing from a boat?
It sounds to me like you're bank fishing.
Roger
YoTone reply :
yes from the bank mostly.
Fun4Me reply :
I mostly use 15# Big Game (on 50# braid), unless I really need to use Fluoro.
YoTone reply :
what would be the advantage with fluorocarbon over mono or vicea versa as a leader for braid?
Fun4Me reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 10:47 AM, YoTone said:what would be the advantage with fluorocarbon over mono or vicea versa as a leader for braid?
Really clear water, or if you want the line to sink vs. float. I don't do it anymore, but when I only fished one rod and reel I would use fluoro leaders for jerkbaits. I like the jerkbait to be slightly head down when it's sitting still, and I found that fluoro made that easier. Most of my leaders were/are mono or copoly now.
RoLo reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 10:35 AM, YoTone said:yes from the bank mostly.
Ah hah, now I understand.
Unfortunately, a breakaway rig is almost a necessity for bank fishing,
especially along brushy shorelines with poor access.
The main line and leader should have sufficiently different breaking tests,
because a frayed main line can quickly close the gap (if you get my drift).
I agree that a 10-lb leader would be just fine
With respect to leader material, most fellows on the forum would recommend a fluorocarbon leader.
As for me, I much prefer copolymer or nylon over flourocarbon, but that's personal opinion.
Roger
J Francho reply :
That's one of the top reasons to use a leader with braid, bank or not. I want to be able to break off cleanly and not disturb the spot.
TH-Outdoors reply :
how much do you guys spool on as a leader?
Fun4Me reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 11:47 AM, TH-Outdoors said:how much do you guys spool on as a leader?
I go with about 5' or so. I use Tatulas with the T-Wing and the knot doesn't go through them without manipulating the line.
Turkey sandwich reply :
I think braid to leader is the way to go at least 80% of the time. Bank fishing also helped me learn to fish T-rigs and light C-rigs because weedlessness was such a necessity (and they really, really work).
RoLo reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 11:25 AM, J Francho said:That's one of the top reasons to use a leader with braid, bank or not. I want to be able to break off cleanly and not disturb the spot.
Not me!
I've got plenty of spots to fish, but not plenty of $10 lures to lose on 3/8" twigs.
If any one spot meant that much to me, I'd come back an hour later.
Roger
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
I was gonna say, some time you can save you lure / plastic or weight with those thick braided line. The hook might be a bit bended or break but that easy fix with plier.
Anyway, I use leader to braid when fish mostly plastic.
J Francho reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 2:52 PM, RoLo said:
Not me!
I've got plenty of spots to fish, but not plenty of $10 lures to lose on 3/8" twigs.
If any one spot meant that much to me, I'd come back an hour later.
Roger
You're using the wrong jigs. Siebert's are less than $4, and if you pick the right style, they rarely hang up. 
But seriously, I usually go and get any lures stuck in the wood when I'm done fishing the spot. It works better for me than dragging the whole brush pile back to the boat.
Jaderose reply :
I use 12 lb Stren FluoroCast with 30 lb Power Pro for this exact reason. Works like a champ
roadwarrior reply :
There are at least three advantages to using a fluorocarbon leader with your braided line:
1. The ability to break-off
2. Abrasion resistance
3. Visibility
junyer357 reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 10:40 PM, roadwarrior said:There are at least three advantages to using a fluorocarbon leader with your braided line:
1. The ability to break-off
2. Abrasion resistance
3. Visibility
X2
The first 2 are why i use a leader. #3 isnt as big a deal for me in the waters i normally fish.
I do reccomend an actual leader material too, not regular flouro line. The dedicated leader jas been much better for me at abrasion resistance. I use the seaguar blue label and have it in 10, 15, and 20# test. Thicker, nastier, and rockier the cover the higher test i use.
Choporoz reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 10:58 PM, junyer357 said:The dedicated leader jas been much better for me at abrasion resistance.
Interesting. I have seen spools specifically labeled 'leader', but I assumed that it was either a gimmick, or superfluous. Seemed to me that fluoro or hybrid would suffice just fine for my leaders....and they have. Are you suggesting that xyz 20# fluorocarbon leader is somehow different than xyx 20# fluorocarbon line?
RoLo reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 9:43 PM, J Francho said:You're using the wrong jigs. Siebert's are less than $4, and if you pick the right style, they rarely hang up.
But seriously, I usually go and get any lures stuck in the wood when I'm done fishing the spot. It works better for me than dragging the whole brush pile back to the boat.
JIGS??
Where does it say jigs?
The bait monkey loves you
junyer357 reply :
On 3/7/2017 at 11:57 PM, Choporoz said:Interesting. I have seen spools specifically labeled 'leader', but I assumed that it was either a gimmick, or superfluous. Seemed to me that fluoro or hybrid would suffice just fine for my leaders....and they have. Are you suggesting that xyz 20# fluorocarbon leader is somehow different than xyx 20# fluorocarbon line?
Yes. I have seaguar 10# invisx and 10# blue label leader the leader is noticeably stiffer and better for abrasion, but worse to break if it gets bent hard.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
That's definitely high on my list of pros when it comes to using leaders. I find that more times than not, when I snag and break off I don't lose anything further up than the knot. So the only braid I lose is the amount it takes to tie the leaders. It's a huge plus!
Choporoz reply :
On 3/8/2017 at 12:17 AM, junyer357 said:Yes. I have seaguar 10# invisx and 10# blue label leader the leader is noticeably stiffer and better for abrasion, but worse to break if it gets bent hard.
I guess that makes me continue to question the practicality...one of my problems with using hybrid as a leader is how brittle it gets when 'creased' (or near creased.) It works well as a leader, BUT I have to be careful, particularly when using thinner diameter braids - because the leader knot can become a weak point -- sounds like your leader material might have a similar concern.
junyer357 reply :
Most of my knot failures come at the leader knot, not the hook knot. I use an improved alberto knot (but learning the fg knot now) to connect to braid, and the "shaw grigsby youtube" knot on all flouro hook knots
One thing i learned helping me on my hook knots is not tightening the dog snot out of it like i would mono. Doing so stretches and weakens it. I pull it snug and tight but dont over do it,then just leave 1/8-1/4 inch tag ends. If the didnt see the first 3ft of leader the extra tag end wont matter either.
I think most of my line to leader knot failres are partially from the same issue, as well as it getting beat on by line guides repeatedly.
I only use 3-5ft of leader at a time so its not reaching my spool, nor do i have a lot of places for it to get a hard enough bend to matter except for the knots.
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