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#1 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lubbock
Hunt In: Coleman
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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?
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#2 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: McKinney
Hunt In: Young County
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Depends on who you ask
4’ to more than you can cast I’m running about 20’ flouracarbon Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#3 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Hunt In: Liberty Co.
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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 |
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#4 |
Six Point
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Prosper, TX
Hunt In: Grayson & Sutton Counties
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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. Last edited by JAFO; 04-15-2018 at 10:56 PM. |
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#5 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: League city/ Marbella
Hunt In: looking for new places
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18" is plenty
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#6 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Spring
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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?
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#7 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bryan
Hunt In: anywhere
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4 to 6’ with a triple surgeons knot...
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#8 | |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lubbock
Hunt In: Coleman
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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 |
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#9 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Montgomery County
Hunt In: Where ever I can
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I start with 4’-6’ of mono tied with FG knot. I will cut and re-tie when leader gets <18”
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#10 | |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Spring
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#11 | |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Portland, Tx
Hunt In: Three Rivers, Tx
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#12 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Boerne
Hunt In: zavala county/pecos county
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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 |
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#13 |
Eight Point
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Corpus Christi
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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!!
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#14 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Ulm
Hunt In: San Saba
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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.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk |
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#15 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lake Georgetown
Hunt In: anywhere
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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 |
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#16 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Southlake, Texas
Hunt In: Cooke, Wilbarger, Foard Counties
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6 feet with a crazy alberto knot
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#17 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Nov 2016
Hunt In: Polk County
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#18 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lake Georgetown
Hunt In: anywhere
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Alberto knot is easy and strong but too bulky for me
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#19 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Sweeny
Hunt In: Brazoria, Matagorda & Kinney Counties
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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.
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#20 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Texas
Hunt In: Texas Public Lands
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4-6 ft. for me with a double uni-knot.
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#21 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Montgomery County
Hunt In: Where ever I can
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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. |
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#22 |
Ten Point
Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Antonio
Hunt In: Sutton/Val Verde/Edwards
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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.
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#23 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: S.Texas
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I use about 20-24" of fluorocarbon tied to my braid with triple surgeons knot.
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#24 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Victoria, TX
Hunt In: Victoria County
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I use around 6' of flourocarbon tied to the braid with an albright knot. I will re-tie around 18" or so
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#25 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South Of The Gulf Coast Aquifer
Hunt In: Knee Deep Salty Water
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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
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#26 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hempstead
Hunt In: Waller
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I fish straight braid. I am lake fishing and dont see a need for a weak link.
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#27 | |
Ten Point
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sweetwater TX
Hunt In: Nolan and Fisher Counties
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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. |
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#28 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lufkin
Hunt In: Houston & Zavalla
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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.
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#29 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Mcallen Tx.
Hunt In: Use to in Mexico, South Texas
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18 to 24 inches is what I use..
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#30 |
Six Point
Join Date: May 2010
Location: College Station
Hunt In: the road by your lease
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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.
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#31 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lake Georgetown
Hunt In: anywhere
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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
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#32 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
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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...
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#33 | ||||
Six Point
Join Date: May 2010
Location: College Station
Hunt In: the road by your lease
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#34 | ||||
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Montgomery County
Hunt In: Where ever I can
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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. |
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#35 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Ulm
Hunt In: San Saba
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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.
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#36 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Ulm
Hunt In: San Saba
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#37 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Bluff, America
Hunt In: McMullen / Refugio
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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.
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#38 | |
Ten Point
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South Of The Gulf Coast Aquifer
Hunt In: Knee Deep Salty Water
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Weakens/wears on the knot and also affects smoothness of cast. I've also seen it pop the insert off of level wind.
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#39 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Ulm
Hunt In: San Saba
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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.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk |
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#40 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Magnolia
Hunt In: The woods
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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
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#41 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Poth,Tx
Hunt In: Webb Ct.
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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.
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#42 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Kerrville - Boerne - Rockport
Hunt In: Kerr County - Gillespie County
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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. |
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#43 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: porter, tx
Hunt In: crockett, county
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#44 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lubbock
Hunt In: Coleman
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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.
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#45 |
Eight Point
Join Date: Jan 2017
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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).
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#46 | |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2006
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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. |
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#47 |
Ten Point
![]() Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: San Antonio
Hunt In: Caldwell County and New Mexico
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I use 2-3 foot of fluro and tie it with a double uni.
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