Braid to mono leader

[Playa]

I’m wanting to try fishing braided line with monofilament leader. Technically I fished with this set up last year, but I think I had too much leader. What’s a proper leader length?

[Sparkles]

Depends on who you ask
4’ to more than you can cast

I’m running about 20’ flouracarbon


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[CastAndBlast]

I start with about 5–6’, but that gets shorter as I re-tie. Once it gets less then 2’, I’ll usually swap it out.


- I don’t chase dreams, I HUNT goals

[JAFO]

When fishing on the coast for specks and reds with cajun thunder bobbers over shrimp, we typically use 3-4ft of flouro and change when it get around 2ft.

When fishing croakers with Chatter Rattles, we may 1-2 ft.

[cbd10pt]

18" is plenty

[Etxbuckman]

Are you talking about the leader from the main line to the hook, or the backing line that you start with on the spool then tie to the braided line?

[froghunter]

4 to 6’ with a triple surgeons knot...

[Playa]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

Are you talking about the leader from the main line to the hook, or the backing line that you start with on the spool then tie to the braided line?

Leader from the main line to the hook.

I think I have 10-12’ of mono leader now, but I was just playing around with the combination and only had a short amount of braided line leftover, I filled the rest of the spool with mono.

Sounds like it’s all personal preference and no real rule to go by.

This is for freshwater btw

[bboswell]

I start with 4’-6’ of mono tied with FG knot. I will cut and re-tie when leader gets <18”

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by Playa

Leader from the main line to the hook.

I think I have 10-12’ of mono leader now, but I was just playing around with the combination and only had a short amount of braided line leftover, I filled the rest of the spool with mono.

Sounds like it’s all personal preference and no real rule to go by.

This is for freshwater btw

Gotcha. You may want to try flourocarbon FWIW. It’s stronger and wears better than mono so you can use lighter test, and it’s invisible underwater.

[PBUCKSHOT]

Originally Posted by CastAndBlast

I start with about 5–6’, but that gets shorter as I re-tie. Once it gets less then 2’, I’ll usually swap it out.


- I don’t chase dreams, I HUNT goals

I used to swap it our at 2'. Guess I'm getting old and lazy cuz I saw one of my set ups the other day that had about 6'' of mono. Taking it down to the wire son!

[txtrophy85]

I use 18-24” of fluro in fresh and 24” of mono in salt.

Went strictly to braid 10 years ago and never looked back.

Blood knot combined the two though I’m salt I use a barrel swivel

[Little Long]

My leaders range from 7' of mono up to 30' and then 3' of cable to 8' lol but something tells me we are targeting two completely different types of fish!!

[BURTONboy]

In fresh water I use about a 7' leader. In salt water I use a 24" leader with a barrel swivel. Cant recall the knot I use to tie the two together for my fresh water combo though.

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[glen]

FG knot to mate braid to mono. Almost all other knots that you can mate them have two problems
-take too long to tie
-bulky and don’t go through guides under pressure

[mjhaverkamp]

6 feet with a crazy alberto knot

[JLivi1224]

Originally Posted by mjhaverkamp

6 feet with a crazy alberto knot

This.

[glen]

Alberto knot is easy and strong but too bulky for me

[panhandlehunter]

I fish with straight braid, unless the water is super clear. If you use a mono leader, you might as well spool up with mono.

[E.TX.BOWHUNTER]

4-6 ft. for me with a double uni-knot.

[bboswell]

Originally Posted by panhandlehunter

I fish with straight braid, unless the water is super clear. If you use a mono leader, you might as well spool up with mono.

Negative. I don’t see myself going back to the poor sensitivity and mushy hook sets of straight mono. You don’t get that from a mono leader.

[Ag_Attack]

Originally Posted by panhandlehunter

I fish with straight braid, unless the water is super clear. If you use a mono leader, you might as well spool up with mono.

I used to do this as well but using a Fluoro or mono leader allows for a little bit of stretch on the hookset. You get zero stretch with straight braid and too much with straight mono. All personal preference I guess.

[stickman]

I use about 20-24" of fluorocarbon tied to my braid with triple surgeons knot.

[Daniel32]

I use around 6' of flourocarbon tied to the braid with an albright knot. I will re-tie around 18" or so

[Rack Ranch]

24'' Flouro with Alberto, but if the water is off color and my leader gets short, I tie straight to braid. I prefer 36'' mono leader on my top water rod, not as stiff as the flouro and stays on top. If possible, I never tie braid straight to top water. I need a little stretch in the leader, it increases my hook up ratio. If your using a bait caster, I would never tie a leader where the knot enters your reel. G-Luck

[denimdeerslayer]

I fish straight braid. I am lake fishing and dont see a need for a weak link.

[rferg84]

Originally Posted by denimdeerslayer

I fish straight braid. I am lake fishing and dont see a need for a weak link.

The only reason I like having a leader is that treble hooks from lures get caught in the braided too easily.

If I'm flipping a texas rig I've got no issue running straight braided but I like to use a leader just for the sensitivity when hook setting.

[canny]

Normally I do a 24" flouro leader to my braid on spinning tackle. The major benefit is when finesse fishing in clear water. The clearer the water the longer my leader. I have went as long as almost 4' in really clear water. I normally attach my leader to my braid using a blood knot.

[ace340cs]

18 to 24 inches is what I use..

[toledo]

Any of you FG knot guys have trouble with the knot slipping when you cast? Never a problem when fighting a fish and pressure is on each end. Only when casting. It's like the guides of the rod are pulling the knot off the leader and the lure goes sailing. 20lb Daiwa J-Braid tied to 25 or 30 lb seaguar premier.

[glen]

FG knot problem. You are either going toward or away from you twice when tying causing the problem. It should lay just like a Chinese finger cuff. I use it with 120# braid to 200# flouro to 6# braid to #12 flouro and never had an issue unless I made a mistake

[SaltwaterSlick]

I use a leader primarily because when I switched to braid, I went full bore with the Spiderwire 12lb diameter but 50 lb test... In that case, the line is no longer the weak link in the system... Broke a couple rods, and even bent a spool on a CuradoSF fishing for bull reds in the surf or ship channel around the Chandeleur's... I tie 4-6 foot of mono (used to use fluor, but found I don't like it), usually 20 or 30# to the braid with a crazy Alberto knot... I use micro-guides on some of my rods and have no issues with the knot passing thru the guides at all. I know backing off on the drag would help, but unless I'm targeting trout, I fish with a tight drag... I use mostly Trilene saltwater XT. To me it's just as tough as fluro and half the price... though price has absolutely zero to do with why I use it. It is not as stiff and does not take a "set" as easy as fluro for me...

[toledo]

Originally Posted by glen

FG knot problem. You are either going toward or away from you twice when tying causing the problem. It should lay just like a Chinese finger cuff.

Do you mean the overhand knots at the end to finish it? As best as I can tell, I'm following this video exactly.

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[bboswell]

Originally Posted by toledo

Do you mean the overhand knots at the end to finish it? As best as I can tell, I'm following this video exactly.

If you pull back toward the know when setting the overhand hitches at the end you can release the grip of the knot its self.

Only FG problem I have had is with the hitches coming unraveled from lots of casting, I know end the knot like bow serving where the tag end is under 5-6 wraps and that problem went away.

[BURTONboy]

Originally Posted by glen

FG knot to mate braid to mono. Almost all other knots that you can mate them have two problems
-take too long to tie
-bulky and don’t go through guides under pressure

That's a pretty cool knot. I've always used the Alberto with no issues. But it is hard to sinch down and that knot there looks much easier to get tight.

[BURTONboy]

Originally Posted by Rack Ranch

24'' Flouro with Alberto, but if the water is off color and my leader gets short, I tie straight to braid. I prefer 36'' mono leader on my top water rod, not as stiff as the flouro and stays on top. If possible, I never tie braid straight to top water. I need a little stretch in the leader, it increases my hook up ratio. If your using a bait caster, I would never tie a leader where the knot enters your reel. G-Luck

Why not? I do with the Alberto knot and have not had any issues at all. I have been doing this for quite a few years. Of course I snip the tag ends as short as possible to try and stop it from catching, but you can never get it completely smoothe. The only place I ever feel it catch though is on the rod eyes. Never had a problem in the reel.

[kyle1974]

Originally Posted by Daniel32

I use around 6' of flourocarbon tied to the braid with an albright knot. I will re-tie around 18" or so

same for me. The main reason I like the long leader is that I can cut back that leader for most of the day when changing out lures or hooks. The albright knot goes through the guides quite well. I only use recoil guides though.

[Rack Ranch]

Weakens/wears on the knot and also affects smoothness of cast. I've also seen it pop the insert off of level wind.

Originally Posted by BURTONboy

Why not? I do with the Alberto knot and have not had any issues at all. I have been doing this for quite a few years. Of course I snip the tag ends as short as possible to try and stop it from catching, but you can never get it completely smoothe. The only place I ever feel it catch though is on the rod eyes. Never had a problem in the reel.

[BURTONboy]

Originally Posted by Rack Ranch

I've also seen it pop the insert off of level wind.

Interesting and good to know. Ive never really felt it affect smoothness in the reel, but hitting the guides you can definitely feel. At any route, I will keep it out of the reel from now on just due to your statement there.

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[Quackerbox]

Originally Posted by mjhaverkamp

6 feet with a crazy alberto knot

Pretty much what I do from baitcasters to spinning reels. I havent had any issues with the knot catching even on micro eye rods or lasting. Just last week I took off the leader on my wifes Penn battle that I tied in June of last year

[jaker_cc]

It all depends on the structure and the lure or bait I'm fishing. Croaker over rocks I'm using around 18" with a barrel swivel. Topwaters or paddle tails over grass or sand potholes I'll bounce it up to 3 1/2 ft with a double uni or nail knot.

[AtTheWall]

All flouro here for inshore bay tackle. 8lb or 10lb test lines. Tie straight to the lure.

Use to fish clear Ande 8lb test - back in the day. Decked 3 specks over 30" with that stretchy 8lb mono. Casting lures - 2 of the three on Mirolures and the 3rd a spoon. No issue with hook set and or fight. Light drag, wore them down and made the land. It was a bit nerve wracking but that's half the fun.

Less crap to deal with and clear and small lines cast a long way and go invisible in clear water. I fish clear water literally 95% of the time.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by panhandlehunter

I fish with straight braid, unless the water is super clear. If you use a mono leader, you might as well spool up with mono.

Straight braid here to homie.


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[Playa]

Originally Posted by BURTONboy

That's a pretty cool knot. I've always used the Alberto with no issues. But it is hard to sinch down and that knot there looks much easier to get tight.

FG knot is what I use. Took me 2 or 3 attempts the 1st time, but it’s actually pretty easy and quick to tie. super low profile and took lots of wear and tear fishing, finally wore the rod end of the knot thread bare after lots of casts and retrieves. I like the idea of keeping the knot outside of the spool.

[Hooverfb]

2-3' with double uni knot connecting. Landed the shark in my picture with this (not accounting for about 1' of wire on a barrel from the mono).

[CaptainDave]

Originally Posted by Ag_Attack

I used to do this as well but using a Fluoro or mono leader allows for a little bit of stretch on the hookset. You get zero stretch with straight braid and too much with straight mono. All personal preference I guess.

X2 on this.

Not to mention, if I get snagged, it's a lot easier to break off a 20 lb. Fluoro or similar leader as compared to braid. My preference is red Cajun leader line. Every trout I've caught over 25" was using that leader line. Probably don't make a difference, just random.

I typically use crazy alberto knot due to the ease in tying and I like to start with a 4 foot leader. I actually prefer it a bit shorter, but the extra length allows for a few cuts and re-ties. I'm kind of lazy and hate tying braid to mono.

I also put a few feet of mono backer on my reels that are spooled with braid. Probably not even necessary anymore, but that's what everyone used to recommend back when braided line was a newer thing.

[JEG8233]

I use 2-3 foot of fluro and tie it with a double uni.