leaders? 2025
Fisher Guy reply :
do i really need a transparent leader with my braided line? I'm not great at knots and therefore i worry
Darren. reply :
In my opinion, yes, but not necessarily why you think.
Braid is expensive and I prefer to not keep cutting down
on it retying hooks and such during an outing. So a
leader allows you to save braid.
That said, two knots are really all you need: uni-to-uni,
and the Albright Special/Alberto.
There are YouTube tutorials that make tying really easy
with practice. I am 100% confident in my leader knots.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 7:59 AM, Darren. said:In my opinion, yes, but not necessarily why you think.
Braid is expensive and I prefer to not keep cutting down
on it retying hooks and such during an outing. So a
leader allows you to save braid.
So what applications to you use braid, but use a leader to "save" the braid? That has me scratching my head. I only see 2 reasons to use braid, for strength and to float. So if you aren't using a leader for transparency issues, what's the point in using braid at all?
Darren. reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 8:03 AM, gardnerjigman said:So what applications to you use braid, but use a leader to "save" the braid? That has me scratching my head. I only see 2 reasons to use braid, for strength and to float. So if you aren't using a leader for transparency issues, what's the point in using braid at all?
Line management. In my experience, it is far better than
using straight fluoro, mono, etc.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 8:04 AM, Darren. said:Line management. In my experience, it is far better than
using straight fluoro, mono, etc.
As far as line memory? That makes way more sense.
PennBass reply :
I've seen no difference between fluoro leader vs. straight braid, and I guess the fish don't either. But because braid is so limp, I sometimes tie a fluoro leader when using jerks or treble hook baits so the hooks don't get fouled up. I found the FG Knot works best for me, but it's a bit complicated to tie at first.
d-camarena reply :
The main reasons i use leaders are-
1. Sometimes when you set the hook on a biggin the line can snap because of the lack of stretch, this goes for smaller braid like 10 or 15 lb.
2. Because when you get snagged, something has got to give. Braid will not break.
Scott F reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 8:03 AM, gardnerjigman said:So what applications to you use braid, but use a leader to "save" the braid? That has me scratching my head. I only see 2 reasons to use braid, for strength and to float. So if you aren't using a leader for transparency issues, what's the point in using braid at all?
Transparency is not an issue for me. I use braid (no leader) because it doesn't stretch.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 7:59 AM, Darren. said:In my opinion, yes, but not necessarily why you think.
Braid is expensive and I prefer to not keep cutting down
on it retying hooks and such during an outing. So a
leader allows you to save braid.That said, two knots are really all you need: uni-to-uni,
and the Albright Special/Alberto.There are YouTube tutorials that make tying really easy
with practice. I am 100% confident in my leader knots.
Darren has given you great advice. Those two knots aren't hard to do.
Just so you know I've fished straight yellow braid before and still caught fish. Main reasons I use leaders as stated in a previous response. Also other reasons are other lines have better abrasion resistance and adding a mono leader gives you the advantage of the stretch needed for treble techniques.
Insanity reply :
I first started using braid in a heavily fished small bank fishing lake. And never noticed a difference in catching numbers. Ther for I've never used leaders. If I ever fished gin clear water I'd consider it.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 9:28 AM, Insanity said:I first started using braid in a heavily fished small bank fishing lake. And never noticed a difference in catching numbers. Ther for I've never used leaders. If I ever fished gin clear water I'd consider it.
Even in clear water I'm confident you'll still catch.
MIbassyaker reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 7:56 AM, Fisher Guy said:do i really need a transparent leader with my braided line? I'm not great at knots and therefore i worry
I don't buy concerns about line visibility for bass in most situations. When I use leaders with braid, it's not for transparency.
Like scott and darren say above, I use braid for line management and low stretch, in addition to strength.
Around vegetation, I don't use a leader even in clear water. unless as darren says, I will be retying often and want to save line. Otherwise, I find straight braid is simply unbeatable in grass.
Around rocks or rip rap, I use a leader for better abrasion resistance.
In snaggy rivers, I use a leader so breaking off is easier if I get irretrievably hung, as d-camarena above says.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 9:12 AM, Scott F said:Transparency is not an issue for me. I use braid (no leader) because it doesn't stretch.
Yah, that's what I was saying.
S. Sass reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 7:56 AM, Fisher Guy said:do i really need a transparent leader with my braided line? I'm not great at knots and therefore i worry
No
blckshirt98 reply :
Use a swivel and attach both ends via Palomar. No shame in using a swivel, though some people see it as using mudflaps on a bike. Might not be the cool thing to do, but it works.
Mosster47 reply :
It probably doesn't matter, but if it makes the difference on one fish then it's worth it to me. I'll never really know, but I know I'm doing the most I can.
flyingmonkie reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 10:56 AM, blckshirt98 said:Use a swivel and attach both ends via Palomar. No shame in using a swivel, though some people see it as using mudflaps on a bike. Might not be the cool thing to do, but it works.
Intersting... then I assume you're using a pretty short leader.
Dye99 reply :
On 4/10/2016 at 9:12 AM, Scott F said:Transparency is not an issue for me. I use braid (no leader) because it doesn't stretch.
Same here. For my style, straight braid works best for me...
I see no reason in my waters to tie on something that weakens my line. I don't need the transparency.
Funny thing is, Ive been drop shotting with ten pound braid lately even, catching more than ever....
blckshirt98 reply :
I'm assuming this is for some kind of finesse presentation using a spinning outfit, and I'll go up to 24-30" for a leader.
Catch 22 reply :
I use a leader all the time.
Stretch on the hook set. Sometime I`m a Wildman on the set==can`t help it.With out the leader I believe I would straighten the hooks on some of the LC`s and or tear the lure from the mouth.
Abrasion, I fish lots of stumps
Break offs are easier,more controlled
Economics==not cutting off much braid.
I swing lots of fish in . Grabbing braid would put my hands in worse shape than they usually are.
uni=uni with 6 turns each side works well for me.
BUT,I will try without the leader sometime to check it out.Old habits die hard
C22
flyingmonkie reply :
Historically, I've fished a lot of straight braid. The past year or two, I've started using leaders more often than not.
You'll catch fish, even in clear water, on straight braid... but I must assume that, especially when using slow moving baits, a transparent leader will get you more bites. You rarely see guys in the Elites fishing straight braid unless it's their frogging rig... a few for flipping/punching.
My Logic:
- Braid is arguably the easiest line to cast, has great longevity, and unparalleled strength. Braid is my mainline of choice 80% of the time.
- Rocks cut through braid like a warm knife through butter, and braid (especially 30# and down), has the tendency to snap (heavy lures + backlash, quick hooksets)
- Flouro can be hard to cast but is invisible, abrasion resistance, and has a little bit of stretch.
- Fouro's strengths almost perfectly compliment braid's weaknesses! They are like pizza and beer - why wouldn't you put them together?!
Not only is the Albright not easy to learn and reliable, it will make you feel like a man after you do it right. 
Kevin22 reply :
I fish a lake with 10-20' visibility. If you use straight braid the fish turn and swim the other direction. Tie on a 10' fluoro leader and the fish swim towards your lure. Took 10 casts to make me a believer in leaders.
I don't use braid anymore except for SOME shakey head fishing and punching. I used to use braid for almost everything.
KYBassin' reply :
In very clear water fluoro can make a difference in bite rates. Also, a fluoro leader on a drop shot helps the presentation. Other than that, braid.
Smokinal reply :
Just check this out OP:
http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint
The Albright and Blood knots are all you need to learn. Both have worked great for me; just depends on which you prefer to tie. And if you have micro-guide rods, you will want the Albright as it is a slimmer/sleaker knot.
I subscribe to the braid/fluoro leader thought for all the reasons already mentioned and have 100% confidence in my knots.
buzzed bait reply :
for me, it's not about the clear line. i use it to break off a snag a little easier because braid just won't break, also fishing from the bank sometimes it can mean you have to cut off a lot of line. Not good for the pond nor for your wallet to cut that much off. and i also like the abrasion resistance for dragging bottom baits. for me, the uni to uni is easy to tie and has given me no problems with knot strength.
Fisher Guy reply :
thanks all. guess ill try and tie better or use the swivel. My super slick braid is bright green and I'm afraid nothing will bite it.
Further North reply :
Like a lot of folks on this topic...I'm not a big believer in line spooking bass. I use leaders for two reasons:
- I fish a lot of cover that'll beat up braid on the end...I've seen a difference in the number of lost ures since going to a leader.
- We have nasty, toothy fish around here in abundance. A leader gives me a better chance of getting them to the boat. If I'm in a lake with a lot of pike or musky, my leader is often a 2 ft. piece of tieable stainless.
...The only fish I've seen spooked by line were trout - that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, only that I've not seen it.
I tend towards fluro and hybrid for my leaders.
FryDog62 reply :
I would say that 95% of the time visibility doesn't matter ... but I have seen first hand situations where it DOES make a difference. And its not always just in the gin clear water you would think. Sometimes its the angle of the sun, or if the fish is between you and the sun, or past it. Light can do funny things. Braid also frays easy, so a leader can help with that too.
So... I just decide to not take a chance in guessing whether I need a leader or not and always use an Alberto knot. Maybe awkward at first to learn like anything, but I forced myself through repetition to get it right. Now its second nature...
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