Hello,
Just curious what you experts do.
Fish in a small pond.
Lots of Crappies mainly, and some Small and Largemouth also.
Using Power-Pro green line. Impossible to run any kind of controlled experiment, but have always been of the opinion that using a small, perhaps 10" or so, clear mono leader helps.
a. Do most of you folks bother with a clear leader for Crappies, and/or Large or Small Mouths ?
Which do you think, if any, it's important for ?.
If so, what length ?
b. At my age now, pushing 80, casting a decent distance has become a bit of a problem.
My using a leader of 10" with a swivel at both ends now, means the leader is never brought back thru the guides. If I go to a longer leader and use, e.g., an Albright knot for the line-to-leader connection, the leader could then be brought totally thru the guides, and I imagine I could cast further with the lure being very close to the tip guide now on the cast (rather than hanging 10" or even more down when starting the cast).
Of course, I could also do this for the10" leader (removing the upper swivel).
c. Do you find that, e.g. with an Albright knot, there is any kind of problem with it going thru the guides ?
If tied correctly, does it tend to damage the guides any, or impede the cast ?
Any thoughts on doing it this way ? Do you do it similarly ?
As always, thanks for help and info.,
Bob
Just curious what you experts do.
Fish in a small pond.
Lots of Crappies mainly, and some Small and Largemouth also.
Using Power-Pro green line. Impossible to run any kind of controlled experiment, but have always been of the opinion that using a small, perhaps 10" or so, clear mono leader helps.
a. Do most of you folks bother with a clear leader for Crappies, and/or Large or Small Mouths ?
Which do you think, if any, it's important for ?.
If so, what length ?
b. At my age now, pushing 80, casting a decent distance has become a bit of a problem.
My using a leader of 10" with a swivel at both ends now, means the leader is never brought back thru the guides. If I go to a longer leader and use, e.g., an Albright knot for the line-to-leader connection, the leader could then be brought totally thru the guides, and I imagine I could cast further with the lure being very close to the tip guide now on the cast (rather than hanging 10" or even more down when starting the cast).
Of course, I could also do this for the10" leader (removing the upper swivel).
c. Do you find that, e.g. with an Albright knot, there is any kind of problem with it going thru the guides ?
If tied correctly, does it tend to damage the guides any, or impede the cast ?
Any thoughts on doing it this way ? Do you do it similarly ?
As always, thanks for help and info.,
Bob
no expert here, just another old recreational fisherman. I see no reason to use a leader unless you are fishing super clear water or catch a lot of pickerel. they do a number on braided line. I use mostly soft plastics and jigs for largemouth. less casting cause I got a torn rotator, and slower baits keep the pickerel to a minimum.
Unless I'm fishing for super line shy fish like trout or carp I never bother with a leader (in which case I use fluorocarbon). I tie directly to my main line which is usually 10# green mono. I've never had a problem with it and regularly do very well with largemouth. I also try to avoid using a snap swivel to attach my lures because I feel it interferes with the lure action.
I can't tell you what the experts do but I can tell you what some of my own research and experimentation has turned up. Generally speaking, I tailor my rig to where and how I'll be fishing. Times I use a mono/ fluorocarbon leader on my braid is: a) very clear water b) fishing slow moving lures (that the fish might insect) c) if I'm fishing braids over 30# test. Times I'm confident to go straight to the lure is where: a) fishing thick cover b) fishing dirty water .
That said, most of my rods rigged with braid have a 2-3' leader knotted in for versatility as I'd rather have the flexibility when only bringing one or two rods along for the day.
As for connections, I'll use a high quality barrel swivel if I'm surf casting and/or fishing bait. Mostly, for my freshwater rigs though, I'll use an "Ernesto" knot for my leader to braid connection and a snap (only) tied in with an Albrite at the terminal end. This keeps the leader length uniform and the Ernesto knot is the smallest, smoothest (trust-able) leader knot I've found to date.
hth
That said, most of my rods rigged with braid have a 2-3' leader knotted in for versatility as I'd rather have the flexibility when only bringing one or two rods along for the day.
As for connections, I'll use a high quality barrel swivel if I'm surf casting and/or fishing bait. Mostly, for my freshwater rigs though, I'll use an "Ernesto" knot for my leader to braid connection and a snap (only) tied in with an Albrite at the terminal end. This keeps the leader length uniform and the Ernesto knot is the smallest, smoothest (trust-able) leader knot I've found to date.
hth