Put the tag end in one hand and the spool in the other. I stretch my arms as far out as they will go and that's my leader. I like to keep it simple.

Wow, so I guess the consensus is...there is no consensus. I can see the pros and cons of having a short leader vs long leader based on what everyone is saying. I guess thing to consider would be which knot, I was planning on using a double uni, but it seems that the FG knot is going to be the way to go.

I guess it comes down to a matter of preference, and how often I'm having to retie.

Length for me is so it does NOT go thru the eye closest to the reel when the lure is going to be at casting distance from the tip

I use double uni 5-8 wraps.

^^^^^^ 2nd

so how did you come up with the FG knot out of all this leader talk ?

You sure can't have arthritis when trying to tie the double uni........ anybody got a knot for OLD GUYS to do the leader thing ?
I finally got talked into it from one of the earlier post and my dang hands won't let me tie it

Thanks stringwise for the great explanation on as to why braid to flouro

Easiest for me to tie is the improved (crazy) Alberto. Easier/quicker for me to tie than the double uni.

I put a small dab of superglue on all line to line knots and rub it into the knot--lays the tag ends down, covers any slick coating on the braid, and gives the knot some more abrasion resistance

While there might not be a consensus here, I think in the bass angling world at large, it is a leader length not so long as to be reeled onto the reel spool.

Someone mentioned this, and I do the same, where after a few fish, I snip off 1" or so on each side of my junction knot, then re-tie it. And, then I snip off my terminal tackle knot and re-tie it, too.

*** hoodat92, you should consider dropping down to 10 lbs. braided main line and either 6 or 8 lbs. fluourocarbon leaders. Most of us have never had an issue with line breakage on spinning tackle with 10 lbs. test. Pros who drop shot often will tell you that they will drop from 8 to 6 lbs. leaders if the fishing is tough to get more bites.

Brad

I use a 6 to 8 foot leader with a crazy alberto knot, i can tie it easily and no problems.

I use the FG not because it the thinnest and strongest way to secure a leader. I have leaned on 7lb + with 10lb 832 connected to 8lb invisx and never thought about the knot failing. Because it's so thin it goes thru the eyes easily for long casts. This knot is used by many offshore guys because of the way it handles the shock of a larger fish.

https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-tie-the-fg-knot/#
Remember if you view this demo he is using heavy line and the knot with bass gear is so thin you have to look for it.

Flukeman--Look up "Dodd knot video" on YouTube. You want to watch the one that Barry Dodd narrates. Simple and strong. Not quite as thin as the FG, but I've never had it fail and you can tie it on the boat.

Thanks .... appreciate the info and help

I been using braid w floro leader on my casting reels for over 10 years.
I started out learning how to tie the blood knot. That is the only knot I use. It has never failed me. My bubby ties the FG knot and loves it. Looks hard to tie. But it took a while to get the blood knot down too. Practice!

Blood Knot in seven seconds...https://diyflyfishing.com/video-tie-blood-knot-7-seconds/...using a toothpick!!! My life is now complete

Love the Alberto knot