question... braid & leaders ?

[YaknBass]

what combo would you use with 20lb braid & 30lb braid..... what lb leader test should i use with a 7ft baitcast set up.... rod is a xfast action up to 1 1/2 ox lures. i bought the rod to use jiggin for rock, and also how long should the leader be......? Thanks!! ""tight lines always my friends""

[Pinch]

I use at least 20inch of flourish.

[YaknBass]

jack what lb test leader would you use with 20lb braid and 30lb braid??

[chirotrout]

Sounds like a perfect combo for jigging! From my experience the size/length of the leader depends more on the fishing conditions and target species than on the type of rod and length. I would defiantly learn to tie a good knots when joining the braid to the mono leader. If you have not used a bait casting reel with braid before...invest in a sharp knife and some extra line as you will end up with the worst birds nests you have ever seen. Some lines recommend that you lay down a layer of mono prior to laying down the braid.

Having said all that...I would use 20lb mono or better yet...fluro leader.

Good luck and tight lines.

J

[Redfish12]

I use 15lb or 20lb braid for jigging for the most part. For leader I use 20lb flouro or mono in 20-30lb test. I like the flouro for fishing around the bridge, not because it is less visible but rather that it is more abrasion resistant and has less stretch. The bridge pilings and oyster bottoms can cause some serious line abrasion and since braid has pretty much zero abrasion resistance (rocks, shells, barnacles, etc.) I like having a leader that does. I also use either big game in 20-30lb test for normal situations and 30lb HiSeas Quattro for the really gnarly stuff.

For length I do about an arm's length when I cut it off the spool, it looses some when I tie the knots though. You do not want to be casting the knot through your guides, so make sure you can cast comfortably. The knot will break your tip and or weaken over time.

One trick so that you do not have to tie on a new leader should you hit a snag is to use a weaker knot for the jig. The loop knot works pretty well for that. Otherwise it can be a pain tying a new leader on in the chop out there. I used to use an albright knot but now I have gone back to using the same knot I used for tying tippet on. Surgeon's knot, except I go around about 6-10 times depending on diameter. I think it's much stronger than the Albright and easier to tie, just not as slim.

Let us know how you do!

[tufnik]

I use 50# mono for leader, mainly to make sure I catch blues too if they're around. After a couple of blues, I change the leader.

I use a snap swivel for main to leader. Is it critical to tie it direct without any swivel?

[chirotrout]

Its not critical at all to tie directly. One major downside to the swivel is that it can break an eye of your rod off if you reel too much line in and try and cast. Often times, especially when fishing spoons or live bait I like using swivels to keep the twist out of the line.

[Redfish12]

Yeah that's what I was going to say. Swivels bust guides even faster and they are one more thing to loose when you snag.

If I'm plugging then I'll pre-tie some leaders the same length with a snap on one end and a swivel on the other. Sometimes I'll use the tag end of my palomar knot as a leader for a teaser fly. Works for a feather jig and a sting silver in the summer too, just need to watch the tip. A bead can help.

[Southerly]

fwiw - i picked up a roll of 25 or 30# Vanish for about $18 at the K-mart that i keep in my tacklebox. i have 15# braid for mainline. i usually try to start with about 2'+ leader and try to avoid reeling the knot in.

[ronaultmtd]

I use 30 pound Power Pro braid on my Abu 6500C3 outfit and 20 pound Power Pro on the smaller Abu 4600C3 and Revo SXHS- I have twenty yards of 20 # PLine on the bottom of the spool of my reels and join the braid to the Pline using double uni knots. I use the same uni knots to tie on about an arms length of 20 pound PLine to the braid as a leader-

[surfdog]

i use 20# vicious fluro about 3' long for leaders to a snap swivel but put a bead above the snap to protect the tip eye. i dont like anything heaver on the yak so if i have to i can break off. the leader will break before the braid (20# down to 10#) i always carry a break off stick to wrap the braid around to break it. i was using 10# fire line crystal sunday on my T/B rig on sunday and snagged a trot line that must have been down a long time fought it a while trying to get it loose but actually pulled it up and was able to get my hook out of the rope i was hoping the bearpaw leader would break off before the braid broke but got every thing back. love that fire line crystal.

a bead above a snap swivel also protects the knot when using fish finders and egg sinkers

[tufnik]

I started using baitcasters last year and I really like them, especially on the yak. Since I'm not quite a master of the baitcaster yet I use only mono (12 to 17#). Less chance of blowups and easier to fix them.

Braid (20#) on spinners, yes.

I'll have to use beads on FF rigs.

[ILV2F5H]

Thanks for the knowledge.

[YaknBass]

ditto!!! thanks for all of your input, it is appreciated greatly. with the investment of time and money... hope to be close to right as right can be the first time out. hate to be on fish and have the failure of sucess to be about the only thing we can control on the water... is the equipment. the info shared here is priceless. Thanks again!! ""tight lines always my friends""

[ILV2F5H]

ditto!!! thanks for all of your input, it is appreciated greatly. with the investment of time and money... hope to be close to right as right can be the first time out. hate to be on fish and have the failure of sucess to be about the only thing we can control on the water... is the equipment. the info shared here is priceless. Thanks again!! ""tight lines always my friends""

Yak, that is why these forums are so awesome. Some opinion, some fact, however you choose to interpret. I started using braid when Powerpro first came out but gave it up. I have started using it again this yr with my inshore/kayaking/boating gear. I still have a mono setup on my surf gear but Im still debating. Right now I have a reel with mono backing and 30 lb Sufix braid that I need to attach a fluoro leader to. I was using 12 lb mono last wk on my other reel and managed some fish but did lose a big fish because it took off and wouldve stripped my line if the rocks didnt cut it first, so I think a heavy leader is important. Man I was excited when that drag was screaming but knew that I would lose the fish if I couldnt turn its head. the reason I wanted to share this was because I wanted to ask the same questions and found the answers here. I swear I learn something everytime I fish, the main thing is how you apply it.