Braid with or without a leader?

[Graham B]

Just before our season gets underway I though I would get the opinions of all the boat anglers on whether or not they use a mono leader when using braid or not. I haven't used a leader before when using braid but I know I did drop a fair few fish off last year(a couple of them felt like yarkers), well enough to make me consider using a mono leader.
I am not sure if that was due to the lack of give or the fish not being hooked properly. The rod I use is a penn international tidecutter and has a tip to butt soft action which I thought would provide enough absorbtion, allthough I would value anyone else's experiences and input. I am still not sure what to opt for as I know the mono leader will take some of the shock but is that not defeating the whole purpose of braid so you feel all bangs and knocks and have total sensitvity of all that goes on at your terminal tackle end?
And if you do plump for a leader, what length etc?
Thanks,

Graham.

[jamier]

I do use a leader, depends how long the rig im using is, i simply tie it onto a swivel on the end of my braid

[northeast1]

I never use a leader just tie a swivel release straight to the top of my braid then clip it to a trace, i find the mono or trace goes before the braid most of the time.

Make sure you have a week point somewhere thou or you will be on a while trying to snap off the wreck, i seen some people with 80lb braid tied off to the boat and then have to gun the boat to snap it off lol.

[mark]

without. the trace will break first, too much hassle re-tying leaders, if you snag and snap off, clip another trace on and off you go

got one rod and reel which has no had the same snap link on the end of the braid for 4 years!

[Norman]

I agree with mark and Rich Graham, link tied straight to the braid then trace looped straight on to this link .... braid never (or extremely rarely) breaks its always at the top of the trace. I make my own traces with a swivel at the top so just hook the swivel onto the link and off you go. Theory is the mono leader softens the kick of the braid, well it may do but not a lot unless it's fairly long, then you may as well fish with mono IMHO

[oldessox]

I do the same as most , fasten a swivel link on to the end of the braid and clip the traces to that , I found out last year though that when you get snagged up , as Norman says pulling for a break usually snaps the trace somewhere . I lost a lot of braid though by wrapping it round a towel in my hand to pull for breaks , if the braid is crossed itself on the towel it cuts through itself and the whole line that's out is lost.
Is there a technique for pulling for a break?

Ray

[Topfly]

Oldsox, I carry a bit of broomshank 6" long and just wrap the braid around it a half dozen times, that way you dont need to cross over the braid, and the braid digs into the broomshank and not your hand.

[KeithB]

We always move round the boat so no lines are under the boat, then if anyone's snagged (usually me ) we just point the rod down the line and hang on to the reel spool till it snaps off.

I probably use too heavy trace line (ling have sharp teeth) as mine usually snaps off at the braid.

[big_sean]

i always use a leader and to put a new one on takes seconds i just have a spool of shock leader ready

have tried without and i wont use without again


ETEC