when using fleurocarbon as leader material do i use a swivel to attatch the mainline to to the flurocarbon? also will this affect the hardbaits i throw. when im using cut bait for gar and catfish ill use a heavy mono leader using a swivel to attatch it to the mainline. in the past when fishing for specs and reds i never used leaders but am told if i use a fleurocarbon leader it will help

We fish some pretty clear water in the back lakes, I have YET to ever see a leader make any difference whatsoever. Waste of time and energy to me.

Thanks mr. Pat

I pretty much agree with Pat on this one, except for the fact that flouro is more abrasion resistant than mono. I've lost reds when the gill plate nicked mono line. If I'm targeting reds only, I'll sometimes add a thin steel cable leader about 12-18" long. ( not one of those fat ones...just a thin one..maybe 30 lb test.)

Some say trout are more finicky ( and they are), therefore they use flouro. I have some in my box, but rarely take the time to use it.

thank you men, ive used mono only fishing sabine and the guide i was with never used flouro. when fishing crankbaits are you all using loop knots or the standard trilene or palmar knots. ive recently learned the loop knot which is supposed to give more action to crankbaits jerk baits etc. the last few years alls ive used is the trilene and on occasion the palmar

I use the palomar knot a great deal. It's fast, strong and with light line, the action is ok, if you use your rod tip.

I remember one time in Calcasieu, I was catching one trout after another and my buddy was catching 1 to my 5. All I was doing was shaking the tip of my rod a little, every once in a while. I suspect we'd have both caught more fish quicker if we had used a loop knot. But hey...we limited out anyway, eventually. That was back when we could keep 25 in the Calcasieu estutary. Now it's 15.

Fleurocarbon does not float so dont use it on top waters.

I use 30 pound fluorocarbon almost all the time when I'm fishing inshore. Last time I got lazy and attached to the main line, I lost a nice snook. As OldFrog mentioned above, the abrasion resistance is one of the main reasons. A 30 pound leader also seems to hold up well to gill plates.

I go Uni to Uni when attaching a leader.

i love calcashieu got my biggest trout there

Howie, I use Fins 30# WINDTAMER Braid and attach Big Game 20# for a leader usually about a 48" leader I tie an Alberto Knot to splice the lines together. For Inshore Fishing , for fresh Water Bassin as well ! I also tie on a 6# hi Vis for 1/8 oz. Crappie Jigs to pitch under docks or fish Deep Structure . You won't break the Braid, I use a small swivel on the Leader to tie on different baits , when switch hitting , for a 3/8oz. Jig head for Specs using Soft Plastics it's a Killer Combo. With a little practice the Alberto Knot will allow you to reel the knot through your eyes on your Rod with little or no resistance .

Use of a fluorocarbon leader is not just for low visibility - having better abrasion resistance at the business end is a plus in any fishing situation. I have used it for many years on all fresh and saltwater rigs. McCoy Mean green in 8-10# tests with a 15-20# fluorocarbon leader, starting at about 6ft long, has never failed me. At the end of some trips there might be 24" of leader left from cut offs & reties and bait changes. I've always used a surgeon's knot to join the two and not had a failure.........great knot that's very easy to tie and of small profile. And always use a Palomar at the bait, another very simple knot with excellent strength. Everyone brings their own madness to their methods......this certainly works for me!

I use Berkley Vanish in 20#. I believe when you get into clear water for big trout it helps, and when throwing a Corky the bait seems to work more effortlessly. i think most soft plastics and corkys have a better swimming action and appear more natural. i tie a blood knot between my Fins 30# original PRT and the Vanish.