Braid with or without leader?

1897 Views 17 Replies 7 Participants Last post by troller11, Jun 11, 2009

heimskr

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2009

Should I use a leader when spooled up with a braid?
I've got 50lb fireline (moss color) spooled right now and I'm not sure if I should use a leader.
If I should what's the best? mono fluoro and what lbs test?
The rig is for basically catching just about anything. I'm getting tired of the skies running away with my baits & I know it's not a good thing for them to have a lure stuck in their face. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to catch anything from a smallies and larger while still having a good chance of landing the muskies.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

esoxfly

· #2 · Jun 10, 2009

Yes use a leader. And it should be FC. I use 60-80#, but on conventional gear you can go as high as 150#, but for LSC, you really don't need quite that much.

heimskr

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 10, 2009

kewl, that confirmed my hunch. I was trying braid tied straight to the lure & caught nothing so I'll get some FC probably 60 and do the leader thing.
Thanks esoxfly

makowish

· #4 · Jun 10, 2009

I prefer FC leaders when getting up in higher # braid

esoxfly

· #5 · Jun 10, 2009

QUOTE(heimskr @ Jun 10 2009, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>kewl, that confirmed my hunch. I was trying braid tied straight to the lure & caught nothing so I'll get some FC probably 60 and do the leader thing.
Thanks esoxfly

Muskie aren't leader shy. You don't need FC for visibility reasons, you need it because it's much harder and more abrasion resistant to mono. But yeah, always use a leader if you're after muskie or pike. You can make your own (I make mine) or you can find them store bought.

heimskr

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 10, 2009

I'll definitely make my own. Thanks guys

heimskr

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 10, 2009

One other question

My problem is that typically I'm fishing for bass or something else and the skies decide they want to keep my lure/bait. If I rig this way, with that heavy of a FC leader will the other fish still bite or will it tend to run off the smaller fish?

No More Mini

· #8 · Jun 10, 2009

I dont use leaders unless the fish dont bite (or bite lures off).

If I do use a leader it is flouro of the same dia (or close).

but then again, I fish for bait

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troller11

· #9 · Jun 10, 2009

QUOTE(esoxfly @ Jun 10 2009, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(heimskr @ Jun 10 2009, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>kewl, that confirmed my hunch. I was trying braid tied straight to the lure & caught nothing so I'll get some FC probably 60 and do the leader thing.
Thanks esoxfly

Muskie aren't leader shy. You don't need FC for visibility reasons, you need it because it's much harder and more abrasion resistant to mono. But yeah, always use a leader if you're after muskie or pike. You can make your own (I make mine) or you can find them store bought.

i use maxima hard mono for my leaders tried flouro went back to hard mono had a fish bite me off on 80 flouro never been bit off using the maxima

heimskr

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 10, 2009

2

QUOTE(Mini @ Jun 10 2009, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I dont use leaders unless the fish dont bite (or bite lures off).

If I do use a leader it is flouro of the same dia (or close).

but then again, I fish for bait

Well you do own a bass boat & fished for bass while the other 2 in the boat went after the toothy critters

Troller11 I'll have to try the hard mono since I dont seem to be able to find heavy FC at any of the stores I went to today. You'd figure with LSC so close everybody would have at least some heavy lines other than just braids or trilene big game.

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muskiebobsr

· #11 · Jun 10, 2009

No leaders for me except for the big jerk baits. It is really rare to get bit off by a Muskie

heimskr

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 10, 2009

Bob you are one lucky man!!
I have lost about $50 in lures in the 10 or so times I've been out this year and it's all been to muskies or pike, but I have been using 12lbs and under, most of the time 8 or 4lbs test.

troller11

· #13 · Jun 11, 2009

3

QUOTE(heimskr @ Jun 10 2009, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(Mini @ Jun 10 2009, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I dont use leaders unless the fish dont bite (or bite lures off).

If I do use a leader it is flouro of the same dia (or close).

but then again, I fish for bait

Well you do own a bass boat & fished for bass while the other 2 in the boat went after the toothy critters

Troller11 I'll have to try the hard mono since I dont seem to be able to find heavy FC at any of the stores I went to today. You'd figure with LSC so close everybody would have at least some heavy lines other than just braids or trilene big game.

this is what i use sold at lakeside 10.99 plus tax for 55 yds

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heimskr

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 11, 2009

where is lakeside?

troller11

· #15 · Jun 11, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

10 mile and jefferson northeast corner of intersection across from west marine cant miss it . i also suggest sampo ballbearing swivels thats the most common place i see people get cheap theyll run a 20 dollar bait with a 10 cent swivel and wonder why the swivel straightened out

heimskr

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 11, 2009

kewl. Thanks

jighead2

· #17 · Jun 11, 2009

My dad and i have been using 8-10 pound fireline since we started fishing the lake. Never had any trouble of not catching fish in clear water with them seeing the line. never used leaders. had very few break offs. landed most of the northerns and skis that hit. the occasion big ski would get its teeth on the line and break off but besides that nothing. ive never seen or felt 50 pound but that seems a little strong for LSC, unless your targeting skis all the time then im sure your fine.

troller11

· #18 · Jun 11, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE(jighead2 @ Jun 11 2009, 10:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>My dad and i have been using 8-10 pound fireline since we started fishing the lake. Never had any trouble of not catching fish in clear water with them seeing the line. never used leaders. had very few break offs. landed most of the northerns and skis that hit. the occasion big ski would get its teeth on the line and break off but besides that nothing. ive never seen or felt 50 pound but that seems a little strong for LSC, unless your targeting skis all the time then im sure your fine.

i agree you can use lighter but were fishing to catch and release small line leads to longer fights and higher odds of killing the fish from exhaustion, lsc is shallow with warm water wich has a lower oxygen level. if you look at most trollers tackle theyll run from 30 lb on up and 60 lb and up on leaders but like i said we want to release em so the faster the fish is landed the better.another reason for leaders the lead acts as a weed stop for floating weeds that run down the line when trolling wich helps keep our baits clean. so i guess it also depends if you cast or troll my opinion is based off trolling i have never casted for muskies

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