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Braid as a leader???
#12808662
06/28/18 01:35 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550
JavelinJ
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550 |
Anyone do this?
I love fishing deep crank baits. The problem is my lake is covered with rock and zebra mussels. So, I have to re-tie every 3-5 cast of I break off...even with no fish on. I have tried every Seaguar line there is and none seem better than the others.
I don't want to spend time retying every 5 minutes.
Thought about using a 20lb braid 2-3 foot leader tied to my flouro.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808673
06/28/18 01:42 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 41,012
CCTX
mapquest
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mapquest
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 41,012 |
Braid has excellent tensile strength (resists breaking when pulled or stretched); but, doesn't withstand sharp abrasion (rocks/zebra mussels) very well--in part because it's so thin.
I'd try Pline CXX--it's very thick when compared to other lines at the same pound/test rating.
Rock with zebra mussels will cut any line--on second thought, maybe a steel leader would do well.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808684
06/28/18 01:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,522
Ken A.
Groovy
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Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,522 |
Go with straight 50# braid to the lure. Use a limber cranking rod to help compensate for the low stretch of braid. You will get a few less bites but your breakoff problem will go away. IMO 20 braid is too small for anything but dropshotting. With a deep diving crankbait your line is in contact with the cover a good percentage of the time. 20 braid will not help your situation.
Last edited by Ken A.; 06/28/18 01:56 PM.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: Ken A.]
#12808700
06/28/18 02:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550
JavelinJ
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550 |
Go with straight 50# braid to the lure. Use a limber cranking rod to help compensate for the low stretch of braid. You will get a few less bites but your breakoff problem will go away. IMO 20 braid is too small for anything but dropshotting. With a deep diving crankbait your line is in contact with the cover a good percentage of the time. 20 braid will not help your situation. I hate casting braid though haha. Not sure why. I just dont like the feel.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808732
06/28/18 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,989
SAKS
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,989 |
If abrasion is your issue braid won't help. Not sure anything will stand up against zebra mussels but flouro or mono is the better option. Just as mentioned above braid is very strong but you knick it and it loses it strength.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808855
06/28/18 03:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,802
Tx Tree Grower
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,802 |
Ran into this exact issue on Bridgeport a few weeks back. Our problem was getting broke off on C rigs and jigs instead of crankbaits. I went from 15-30lb fluro with no better results. Still had to retie every few casts. Changed over to 50lb braid on my C rig rod and started getting much better results. I'm not saying people above are wrong in theory, but for some reason the zebra muscles did not tend to cut the braid as bad as they did the fluro. I guess this is an issue we will be facing on all of our Texas lakes soon. I dread it. Sure makes bottom fishing tough.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808903
06/28/18 04:06 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,335
Hog Jaw
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,335 |
I check my line often , zebra mussel cause of line breaks ? Do not agree , I have found issues with new line but that was defective from factory , slivered sections . That is MPO .
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808904
06/28/18 04:07 PM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
Brad R
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120 |
Has anyone here ever experimented with something akin to a saltwater leader? I suppose in most cases, these sorts of stout leaders have more to do with the toothy fish targeted. But, it could work.
I have no idea what length of leader it'd take, would 3 feet do it? If so, it'd allow your crankbait to be reeled up into a position still okay for making a good cast.
It could also affect the crankbait's action, I suppose.
I mean pretty stiff leader material with a braid main line that, hopefully owing to its more general buoyancy, would float along unscathed above the bad stuff.
Might be worth a try.
Brad
Last edited by Brad R; 06/28/18 04:08 PM. Reason: oops
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808912
06/28/18 04:14 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,533
bigbass94
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,533 |
I know it sucks but that's just part of fishing around rocks and Zebra Mussels. You have to retie often. When I fish around Zebra Mussels, I go no less than 20lb fluorocarbon. I love Sunline FC Sniper but their line diameter is smaller than other brands. So, when I fish around them I strictly use Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon because it's about the thickest fluorocarbon you can find besides Gamma. Typically, the thicker the line the better the abrasion resistance. You can use straight braid, but those mussels will still cut it. Sometimes you can get away with using 100% fluorocarbon leader material. It's thicker than standard fluorocarbon line. That might be a better option than using straight braid. Monster Fishing Tackle sells a leader brand called Blackwater. That stuff is incredible! Incredibly strong, yet supple, and the abrasion resistance is second to none. In the end, you're still gonna have to retie often. That's just the name of the game.
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." - Doug Larson
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: JavelinJ]
#12808915
06/28/18 04:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 23,388
J.P. Greeson
the janitor
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the janitor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 23,388 |
The solution to any problem - work, love, money, whatever - is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be. --John Gierach
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: Tx Tree Grower]
#12809019
06/28/18 05:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 228
cjbles
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 228 |
I run 50lb braid with a 20lb fluorocarbon leader. Have only broken it twice.
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Re: Braid as a leader???
[Re: Hog Jaw]
#12809309
06/28/18 08:58 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,802
Tx Tree Grower
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,802 |
I check my line often , zebra mussel cause of line breaks ? Do not agree , I have found issues with new line but that was defective from factory , slivered sections . That is MPO . Go drag a jig across the rocks at Lake Bridgeport and report back. There is simply no doubt that the line abrasions are from zebra muscles.
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