Leader, when and why use one?

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Serious question,  I read a lot about people using a leader of 'x' when using 'y' fishing line.  I have read alot over the years, and other than dropping to smaller line for break offs, or using steel leaders I have always wondered why not use the "leader line" as your spooled line? I am sure that I am missing something.  

I currently have p-line cxl on my reels and only know the improved clinch knot by heart.   

What are your reasons for using a leader? 

 

[dtrs5kprs]

Biggest reason currently would be running braid, but not wanting it going all the way to your bait. Various reasons for that, depending on the bait.

I used to throw float worms on 8# mono with a spinning rod, but with 12# as a leader going down from a swivel. Thought it helped float the work higher, and shook off brush a little bit.

[MOPanfisher]

I am using a leader on my braid simply because one of the drawbacks to braid is it doesn't do well at abrasion resistance, at least not nearly as well as Mono.  I am using some P-Line CXX for leader, partly because it is pretty tough and partly because I have the bright green and in poor light it is easier for me to retie a jig with.

[shrapnel]

I have caught tons of fish on flukes over the year on straight mono.  Since switching to braid with a fluoro leader I am convinced I missed many, many fish that spit it before I knew they had it.  The sensitivity is 10x.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

So, why not run the same line all of the way?  Dave explained his reason, why use fluoro?   I apologize if these questions seem redundant,  text is very unemotional.   I am sincerely interested,  as I have always just used straight line to the 'bait'.   If using braid, but a fluro leader,  why not use only fluoro instead?   

Side note, what makes the sensitivity so much stronger/ better?   Thanks for all the replies so far.  In the end, I know I will just have to expirament on my own. I would just like time have a leg up.  

[moguy1973]

Fluorocarbon is expensive to fill reels with. It also doesn't last as long on a reel as braid.  Braid can be used for a couple years on a reel then removed and spoiled on backwards to what it was before and used for another 2 years. Another is line manageability. Braid behaves better on spinning tackle so using it and a leader of fluorocarbon has that benefit.  Braid casts better and farther too.  So all those benefits of braid and then if it's tied to a finesse rig it looks like a rope tied on to the bait to the fish.  So a short piece of clear line tied to the bait to allow for a better presentation is used. 

[dtrs5kprs]

 

So, why not run the same line all of the way?  Dave explained his reason, why use fluoro?   I apologize if these questions seem redundant,  text is very unemotional.   I am sincerely interested,  as I have always just used straight line to the 'bait'.   If using braid, but a fluro leader,  why not use only fluoro instead?   

Side note, what makes the sensitivity so much stronger/ better?   Thanks for all the replies so far.  In the end, I know I will just have to expirament on my own. I would just like time have a leg up.  

Braid by itself is just inherently more sensitive. It's the material used to make it. Transmits contact with anything better. Including rod guides. From my use of it, I'm not as convinced that sensitivity transfers when you tie a chunk of something else on the business end of the braid.

You just nailed the reason I prefer straight fluorocarbon all the way to the bait. Folks who have trouble with it on spinning reels will cringe, but it works. Really. I'm about to put a thousand plus yards of Invizx on spinning reels tomorrow.

In the right situation straight braid is great. Flipping grass, topwater, frog fishing. Straight to the bait with braid in clear water is not going to work out well a lot of the time.  It's also a real pain when you are fishing rocks and need to pop jigs loose. That is much easier with FC or mono, or with a leader on braid. Braid doesn't do the bow and arrow deal. No stretch.

The only times I am using braid are those mentioned above, throwing big braid, or for a select few finesse applications where there is not a better option. FC on an ultralight is a pain, braid less so, even with the leader issues. Also throw some of the Zman baits without salt and with light heads. In that situation there just isn't enough weight in the bait, even with the right rod, to pull line off the reel very well. Braid gets around that.

[Norm M]

the only time I use a leader , is tieable wire , when fishing for pike or musky .

[Al Agnew]

As I've said before, I don't think the supposed greater visibility of braid has as much of an impact on the fish in clear water as most people think it does.  Fluoro, mono, copoly, braid, the fish can see all of them, don't kid yourself that they can't.  Is an opaque braid more noticeable than a translucent fluoro or mono?  A little bit.  But diameter is more important.  A 6/20 braid (diameter equivalent to 6 pound mono, supposedly) is probably about equal in obtrusiveness to a 10 pound mono.  Go down to 4/15 or 2/10 braid in clear water and you should be fine as far is visibility is concerned.  I'm convinced MOST fish don't care about line, because they CAN see it, no matter what it is.  Maybe a few big ones that have been caught multiple times throughout their lives learn to avoid things with lines attached, but in that case I suspect they will shy from 4 pound mono as quickly as 4/15 braid.

That's a long winded way of saying I don't use leaders with braid, period.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I have to politely disagree when it comes to trout.  You could stand there all day next to me while I use 5 or 6X and your using 3X.  You'll switch pretty quickly.