Just got turned on to the mirrodines and damn whoever created those needs to be given an award. But I lost my good one yesterday so I put on some 20lb mono and small 30lb black steel leader and the action wasn't near as good as it was with lighter line and no leader. Read some people use braid with a flouro leader, but wouldn't a trouts teeth still cut that? Anyway, guy next to me out in the surf caught 5 trout between 17 and 21 inches this mornin with no leader and didn't break off, but I only caught 2 10 inch trout with a leader. Same mirrodine. But with my luck, if I had no leader I would break off. So does the steel leader deter fish or was I just havin no luck this mornin? If so, what leader to use?

I use 30 pound flouro leader. That's what most people fishing inshore along the Texas coast use.

Fish a lot mirrodines and leader size matters. Steel is not flexable enough to allow lure action and the black can show under some water conditions and light 20-30lbs should be good and check the leader, if you feel you need to step up leader size, a split ring on the lure or a tacticsal angler clip will allow lure action. good luck

Aight. Thanks dudes.

for Trout a 20lb mono or fluoro leader is fine. Same for redfish. It's the spanish macks that will cut the line.

It really just depends if the 'smacks' get the lure all the way in the mouth. I guess I'd rather take that chance and have the action than to kill the action with a steel leader. If you use a split ring or tie a loop knot it would help.

trout support is 100% right. I even step down to a 12lb leader when the water is super clear.