Topwater rockfish leader

[kdkilbo]

How long of a leader should I use for my topwater lures for rockfish I lost a big fish today cuz it snapped my line without a leader I use 14 pound test on my reel

[KDT88]

I never use a leader when fishing top water. All I uses is 30 pound PowerPro braided line. That line has never failed me and unless I hook into a fish with sharp teeth.


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[Mark]

Maybe your line was frayed.

Or maybe you hooked a really large striper.

I think 14 pound line should have held most top water hits around here at this time of year.

I've boated schoolie and medium stripers from top water hits on 10 pound 9 foot bass leaders on a fly rod. On conventional tackle I use 15 pound fluorocarbon leaders about 4 feet long.

[JAR]

I prefer a 3 foot leader when throwing plugs. A longer leader serves a few different purposes. Because I like to use braid as my running line, a longer leader gives you something safer to grab when landing a fish. Be careful with braided line as it can dig into your skin when you grab it. Lures will sometimes fowl the leader during the cast or catch. This will cause stretching or pinching on the leader and can compromise your line. Also a striper's gill plate and dorsal fin will cause abrasion on the business end of the leader. Check your leader often especially after you catch a fish. Look for nicks and cutaway anything that will fail. This will eventually shorten a long leader but will save you time from having to retie shorter leaders often.

I normally use 20 lb test leader or lighter throughout most of the year or if I'm targeting leader shy fish. When there's a chance I can catch a bigger fish like during the fall run, I'll move up to 30 lb test or higher. Also bluefish will hit surface plugs and can bite thru lighter leader with ease. Thicker leader holds up better to abrasion and catching multiple fish on the same line. So using a heavier leader will keep you fishing longer instead of wasting time retying.

[Skidsteer]

Also a striper's gill plate and dorsal fin will cause abrasion on the business end of the leader.

Answer above: Long enough to get past that dorsal fin when the fish is swimming away.

I usually tie a long piece - so long that it just doesn't make it to the reel when casting. That way I have something to cut off when I re-tie and/or get abrasions near the plug.

[HJS]

I usually tie a long piece - so long that it just doesn't make it to the reel when casting. That way I have something to cut off when I re-tie and/or get abrasions near the plug.

Same here. When fishing for stripers in the Bay I tie ~7 feet of 20# mono leader to 10#/14# Fireline. The leader is just long enough to keep the knot off the reel when casting. Keep in mind that a broken off lure in the mouth of a striper almost always results in a dead fish. So rig up with adequate poundage to minimize break-offs. And just in case, I retie the knot at the lure every 5-6 fish regardless of the condition of the leader.

[Backdoc]

I use 15 pound braid and a 0-2X fluro leader with an Alberto knot. If your have a decent rod/reel combo with a good drag you should be able to land most any striper. I love the Alberto for joining braid to fluro or mono.
http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/alberto-knot/

[Longtrav]

I just use 20lb mono. I'm trolling not casting so its not a big deal for me, good luck

[bunnielab]

I use 15 pound braid and a 0-2X fluro leader with an Alberto knot. If your have a decent rod/reel combo with a good drag you should be able to land most any striper. I love the Alberto for joining braid to fluro or mono.
http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/alberto-knot/

This is an interesting knot, thanks for posting it. I very much struggle trying most fishing knots while on the water, especially if there is any wind, it blows the braid all over the place. I practice tying a lot while watching TV or whatever, but sadly my girlfriend isn't too keen on letting me set up a misting fan aimed at the couch to help replicate on the water conditions. The Alberto seems like it will be easier to tie in the wind then a double uni and maybe puts less stress on the line then the Albright.

[Longtrav]

I keep my drag set so if I yank the rod forward the drag clicks. Yes hook-ups sound like I have a marlin on the line. It also helps so you "notice hits"

[Backdoc]

After running my mouth about landing stripers on a 2X fluro leader I managed to break off my favorite topwater plug yesterday in the Susquehanna. This is bad for two reasons. 1. According to HJS this likely killed the fish. 2. I lost my favorite plug. I think I will step up to 15 or 20 pound fluro. May be time to put my spool on the Sustain with 30# braid and put the 15# up for the season. The Susquehanna was gin clear and I thought I was doing the right thing.

[john from md]

I keep my drag set so if I yank the rod forward the drag clicks. Yes hook-ups sound like I have a marlin on the line. It also helps so you "notice hits"

+1 When trolling, I do the same thing and use no leader and 20 pound Powerpro. I change out my knots several times in a day if they are hitting good.

John

[PigPen]

Today I used a 12#mono on one rod and a braid and 20# flouro leader on the other. I tie on the lures to the flouro and a swivel on the mono. No problems so far. I did lose the leader on a ray a few months back but I blame my surgeon knot.

[JohnE]

I generally run 65lb power pro on all my rigs to which I almost always tie 20 or 30lb flouro leaders unless I am targeting larger fish. I find uni knots to be the fastest and easiest to tie actually, and can just about tie them in the dark or at least very low light conditions. The heavier braid is just easier to deal with...less wind knots, easier to tie, better abrasion resistance. I just don't see any point in running anything lighter than 65lb pp anymore for the type of fishing I do, you can always change the leaders.

[Cowpokey]

I have 20# Fireline (black) braid on my rods, no leader. I tie direct to a stainless ball bearing snap swivel (small, #1...I think?) and connect what ever lure to it.

I've gone several days without retying a single knot and landing lots of fish on each; blues and rock.

I use this style snap swivel. PITA to open with fingers, never had one open from a fish:



That ^ is the only snap swivel that has stayed "snapped" without fail. Every other style snap I've tried has been found open at least once after a fish.

This style are the worst. Easy to open with fingers; had lots of them open after fish. Luckily I noticed they were open most of the time* before putting the lure back in the water:



*Not sure if they were open before casting after a fish, but after having the swivel opened wide with the next fish that was small, I'm guessing the prior fish did most of the work.