I have always been a stren guy. This year I have decided to try Power Pro braid on my new smallmouth rigs. I tried Spiderwire back in the day when it first came out but did not like it.
My question is, how many of you guys are using a mono leader and how many of you are tying straight to the braid and why?
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I use a swivel to connect the braid to a mono leader. Prevents line twist and allows me to use a heavier main line with a light leader. If the hook gets snagged, the leader will break first. This means I'm not leaving lots of line out there for people to foul their lines on and wildlife to get tangled in.
Plus I like to use some fairly expensive floats, and it keeps me from losing them when I break off if I position them above he swivel. I can count on one hand how many I've lost in the 3 years since switching to braid.
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I am using power pro on all my reels. I go from the braid line to a snap swivel. Then I tie on a 18" or so flouracarbon leader. I either tie on the hook or I tie on another swivel and hook that to a plug.
I tried to go from Braid to a swivel and then to the plug no leader and I had rocks cutting my line as I was trolling for walleye. I tried to go from braid to a hook and the catfish took me into the rocks and I was cut off. The Flouracarbon or mono will keep the rocks from cutting the line. Ron
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I only fish with no leader if I'm fishing jigs or plastics in really murky water, or if I'm fishing frogs. The rest of the time I use a fluorocarbon leader. If I'm dropshotting I use a swivel, when I'm fishing Texas rigged plastics, wacky rigs, swimbaits, etc, I connect the braid and fluorocarbon directly.
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I always use mono leader as well, the same type of swivel spoken of before. Here are a couple things to note about braid - and I apologize if you already know this!
1. Knots are tricky. Run of the mill knots don't work, they slide out. The best (and DEFINITELY easiest) knot I've found to use is the Palomar Knot. This baby never slips! Here's a link so you can see how to tie it if you already don't know - it's a cinch!
http://www.animatedknots.com/palomar/index.php
2. Since braid has NO stretch to it, a very fast action rod and a strong hook set can break the mono line leader at the knot - so be wary of that. I've only really noticed issues with that when fishing for steelhead or salmon.
3. Fishing with braid in windy conditions SUCKS. It catches the wind very commonly and is the only occasion when I prefer fishing with mono, but that's just me.
The pro's to braid I'm sure you know tons about - so I won't waste any more time! BUT - one last recommendation - try out Fireline Tracer. It's far more supple than most other braid lines and I LOVE the color! 3 ft of camo green color, 1 ft of bright green, repeated. It's really cool to see EXACTLY where your line is - but it may not work in some ultra clear, spooky fish applications. There's my two cents!
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Thanks for the input gang!
Last night just for giggles I tied some 8 lb Stren to the power pro using a double surgens knot. I yanked and pulled an it seems to be holding so far.
Anybody tried this knot for this purpose?
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I use fluorescent yellow Power Pro on all my reels. I do not use a leader. I USUALLY color the last couple of feet with a black marker. Many times I have forgotten to color the line and have found no difference in results. I believe a leader is a mental thing for the fishermen, not the fish.
These beliefs only apply where I fish, which is Lake Lowell and the Snake River. Both are usually have no more than 2-3 feet of visibility.
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I use Power Pro braid with either P-line Flouroclear or Flourocarbon leader. I use a double uni-knot to attach the two lines together. Works great for me and have had no problems with knot slippage. I also use the Palomar knot for my hooks and lures.
I use this setup on my spinning gear. On my bait casters, I still use P-line Flourocarbon. I haven't got up my nerve to use Power Pro braid on them yet. I'm afraid of what a backlash with braid on the bait casters would look like. [shocked] [crazy]
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I mostly fish topwater for bass and such...and for this I only use 30- 40 lb power pro in red or green...dont lose lures this way...no need for a hookset as it sets itself...I use swivels and flouro leader only if catfishin or something...I even use PP for all my rods Koke fishing...no snubbers either...tied directly to dodgers and the hoochie rigs are hand tied with flouro...
As far as knots go...I have found an easy solution by chance I suppose...only because Palomars are somewhat difficult in certain applications...lol...I use a regular trilene knot...however I send the tag thru the eye twice to get a double line tie...and when you come around and thru after the 5 or 6 twists...I go thru and then again...hard to explain without a diagram but I never have knot trouble and have been fishing PP braid for like 8 years...most of the knot fails due to slippage is isolated to tying to split rings...smooth eyes dont usually slip...
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My braid is on my saltwater gear. I tie straight to leader without a swivel as the toothy critters in the salt hit anything shiny, and would cut my line using a swivel. I use uni knots with great success.
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I use a drop of super glue on braided knots . Curt G.
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Bob do you have problems with line abrasion with that flourocarbon leader? I tryed flourocarbon line last year and it seemed to abrate easily with pieces pealing off like a banana peal.
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That seems like a good idea.
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I haven't notice that much abrasion with P-Line. I usually use about a 6' leader and don't replace it until it gets down to about 2' to 3' after tying on new hooks and lures. If I get stuck in rocks, I usually retie. The weakest point is the hook knot so I don't take any chances after being stuck on the bottom.
I use straight P-Line Flourocarbon on my baitcasters and also have not had any abrasion problems.
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Maybe it was the brand of flourocarbon I was using that wwas the problem. I can remember now what brand it was, Trilene maybe, but I know it was not P-line. Maybe I will try that for leader. Thanks Bob!
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Weed, you seem to be one of the only ones that ties straight to the braid. Seems to be working for you with all the nice fish you catch! Can't argue with sucess! Maybe the fish can see that bright yellow line and just follow it right down to your lure!
![[Image: happy.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/happy.gif)
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[quote forgiven]Weed, you seem to be one of the only ones that ties straight to the braid. Seems to be working for you with all the nice fish you catch! Can't argue with sucess! Maybe the fish can see that bright yellow line and just follow it right down to your lure! [.img][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/happy.gif[/img][/quote]"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/...y.gif[/img][/quote][/url]
Maybe that's the secret. But honestly, do people really think that a plastic fish with a plastic bill on the front, three treble hooks on its belly, a split ring or snap on the front and monofilament line tied to the front will fool fish; but they will spook from a thread size wisp of line tied to the same lure?
I just figure that everyone should fish with whatever works for them and gives them confidence.
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I think you got it right with the confidence factor.
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