Leaders for Braid

[Cowpokey]

25 inchers are a nuisance and not even keepers up here!

LOL, that's my PB striper so far.

[JKay]

They are affectionately known as "rats". wink.gif

[willf650]

Leaders for Braid

LOL, that's my PB striper so far.

You have me beat. I've never specifically fished for stripers. Thus far I've caught a bigger hybrid than a full blown striper.

I've never used a leader with braid but think I may start. I'm certain line color makes a difference.

I was fishing with a friend for bass in a tiny pond near my house. The pond is literally about 3/4 of an acre. He was whooping me big time with the same lure which is hardly ever the case. We were literally standing on opposite banks casting at each other's feet. The only difference is I just re spooled with a black braid and he was using translucent Nanofil. We fished two different ponds off the bank with the same results.


I promptly re spooled when I got home and lost the black braid for moss green. The following evening the tides turned and I was back to out fishing him. Since then I'm certain line color makes a difference. It only stands to reason that a clear leader would be better.


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[JohnE]

Stripers 25" and under are typically pretty skinny. For some reason, once they get over 26" they are almost twice the girth and weight of a 22-24" but not that much longer. I can remember catching a 24" and a 28" one evening last fall...the fillets from the 28" fish weighed about twice as much as the fillets from the 24", but only 4" difference in length. I tangled with one almost as long as my leg but thicker back in April and I'm sure my hands would have been shredded without a leader after sitting in the kayak for 5 plus hours. I don't carry a net for stripers, but I do for tog, specks, flounder. I swing stripers in by the leader, but I would be carrying a net just in case if no leaders on the braid.

[lordofthemanor]

Can't believe how many answers I've received. Impressive both in quality and quantity of replies. Seems like braid is more important with a leader in saltwater; but that the leader is not as important in freshwater unless you are catching big fish. (note: I usually don't have that problem...LOL). Also leader can reduce fouling and untangling problems in any water.
Thanks for all the thoughts,
Bruce

[YakCapn]

Do you match the line strength of your flouro leader to the braid? I have some 40lb braid, but only 30lb flouro for the leader. I usually use 20Lb braid with 20lb flouro leader, but was thinking about rigging up one heavier setup at some point.

[JohnE]

Do you match the line strength of your flouro leader to the braid? I have some 40lb braid, but only 30lb flouro for the leader. I usually use 20Lb braid with 20lb flouro leader, but was thinking about rigging up one heavier setup at some point.

You don't need to match it. I normally run 65 lb powerpro with either 20 or 30 lb fluoro when fishing the lower bay. During trophy striper season, I will actually go higher on the leader and run 80 lb fluoro on the 65 lb pp...might be a little overkill, but I have lost huge fish from them thrashing on the surface and wearing through 30 lb fluoro. For small stuff/freshwater, I have some rigs with 20 lb powerpro and then usually 10 or 12 lb pp.