For many reasons I'm going to try the Hi Viz yellow 20lb. If I'm not disturbing brushpiles when getting hung up, do I need a leader in clearer lakes? Could I just color the last couple of feet of line green? Thx

Fixed your post for you!

I have been seriously thinking about using Hi-Vis myself, that durn 6# clear is hard for anybody to see, especially somebody my age!

I would most defiantly Use a leader, because time after time I have seen thin line outdo thick hi vis .... then I have seen the times the hook connected to a welding rod caught fish, but not gonna chance it.

For the vast majority of North and East Texas lakes, I doubt a leader is needed. I say this, and everyone of my rods has a fluorocarbon leader. I've just always done it that way.

The fact that most people ask this question reveals the answer.

I could fish with a bois d'arc limb, kite string and a minnow on a safety pin. But I'd rather have as many variables in my favor as possible.

I put some 15# XP tuff line in yellow on one of my spinning reels. Was previously using 8# mono.
Casts incredible. Also very easy to see especially for an old guy like myself, even at night.
Got the sensitivity that comes with braid and with no stretch could set the hook a long ways out.
A real bugger to get untangled since it is so small.
As a bonus with stronger line save a bit of tackle.

Fished with a spinning rod with 6lb mono line afterwards and very hard to see almost impossible at night.
Also believe lost several fish because of not getting good hook sets because of stretch at distance of strikes.
I will have to see about the need for a leader since so much smaller diameter than what I was using.
Just got in some high vis XP Super Cast 10# line to replace the 6# mono with.
In addition to casting, sensitivity and visibility believe it will give me enough pull to straighten out aberdeen hooks or crappie jigs which get hung up.
Cutting down on retying hooks will really help maximize my fishing time.

been using it for 3 years now,20lb or 30lb.the slick Hi-Vis holds the yellow color much longer than other brands and at the end of the year i just reverse it on the reel and you are good to go for another year! as far as leader,iv used it both ways and dont see much diff as far as amount of bites....but i do prefer using a #10 swivel and 12" mono leader of 12lb test .stops any line twist and also breaks off easier in brush not to disturb the brush pile! and most of the time it will just straighten the hook a little,bend it back and good to go! Love the Power Pro Slick!

Thx for the helpful replies and yes, bad vision is one reason. I have never used braid or fished with anybody who uses braid. I'm pretty new at this and just needed some personal experiences. So if you were using a green colored braid would you still use a leader? Thx again.

I have only ever used the green colored braid on my catfish rods and at 65# test.
I believe I get more bites with a fluorocarbon leader at least 1.5 feet long.
More confident of this when use these rods surf fishing.

From the vision point, green is much more dificult to see than the yellow.

Is everyone sitting down for this? I use the 20lb yellow braid from BPS (their brand) and it is a lot cheaper than the PowerPro and just as good.

I use a leader but for a separate reason. I tie a Norman Speed Clip on the braid and then I tie anywhere from 8lb floro (tough bite) to a 17lb floro (timber) to a barrel/crane swivel on one end and then my baits to the other. I pre-tie a few hundred with various baits (hand ties or different colored jig heads) and some with a second bait for bridges/tournaments and then store them in my boat. When I want to change baits, I just take the swivel off the speed clip and snap on whatever I want.

Power Pro slick 8 in hi vis yellow is all I use anymore. With a leader! Ken Gaby said it all, put all variables in your favor. It never matters till it matters!

Leaders are not needed around here IMO. I have been using Mr. Crappie high vis line as long as I have been fishing (over 10 years now). NEVER have a not been able to catch fish because of the line. Even this spring, I was catching crappie and sandbass in a crystal clear creek and had no problems. The only reason I could justify the need for a leader is for easier break offs. Nothing like getting hung up and pulling up half of the brushpile. I am convinced with what I have saw over the year that crappie are NOT line shy in any way around here. I would suggest getting some Mr. Crappie high vis line in 6 lb. Super easy to see, strong and the fish have no problems biting it.

Tried 20lb suffix braid. Got tired of the wind tying a double half secret probation hitch knot dally thing around my rod tip every 15 minutes so went to what every crappie guide I�ve ever fished with uses. 10lb clear mono. Actually increased my numbers as I wasn�t spending so much time untangling my rod tip.

I have personally witnessed first hand where the leader made all the difference about whether you got bit or not.

3 Folks Fishing all with the exact same set up.

1 using no leader.

In first 15 minutes 2 folks had caught 8 and 7 respectively.
The no leader individual not even a nibble.

Tied on a Leader and he got bit as soon as bait made it down.

Experiences vary.

Leaders are like colors. They don't matter until they do.

As with everything in Fishing it is a personal preference and what you are comfortable with while fishing.

Nitro I used to feel the same way about Braid.

I found out after using Power Pro Super Slick not all Braids are made the same.

On a side note I personally do not like mono.

Sounds like you found a set up that works best for you.

Tight Lines!

I agree 100% with BlueNitro and hawghoover. I use 15#&20# Power Pro Slick Hi-Vis yellow with a fluorocarbon leader. I pre-tie 15 to 25 with various jigs. Been using Power Pro and Power Pro Super 8 Slick for over 10 years.

I wanted to add I have only fished 20# in the Power Pro Super Slick.

It fishes like 6# Mono.

I have no idea what the other pound Tess will fish like.

Here is a great video. In the video he is using fly line.

But tie the same knot with Braid and your Leader material should you so desire. Fluorocarbon or Mono.

The only difference is I go through 3 times instead of 2.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=LIsD5-W6pFE

Also if you are using Fluorocarbon don't forget to wet the line before cinching or it will burn and break like Peanut Brittle.

I originally thought the guy in the video was Tommy Ezell.

Good Luck and Happy Fishing.

This is getting good. So how do you store your pre-tied leaders?

I tried it and just didn�t like it for several reasons. I think I have some left that I will give to you if I can find it.

One more question. What kind of knot are you using to toe the jigs? Thx Ford.

Tie

Palomar with double wrap through the loop. WET before tightening!

I store the ones with double jigs/jig heads by putting the heavy jig on the metal support under my rod locker lids and then putting a little tension and hooking the other jig to the foam on the lids. Hard to explain but I'll get a picture tonight hopefully.

Single jigs, I have a piece of foam that I hook the jig in then I tuck the line under a rubber band that is on the other end. Then I store them in a big bag that I have. I also store some under the tackle compartment lid. I'll again get some pictures posted.

Wrap them around a section of pool noodle.

Looking forward to those pictures, this would save me a lot of time.
I had a plastic rectangle which you could hook the loops on one side spring loaded post on the other to put hooks around. could hole 6-8 hooks.
Only about5-6 inches long. Worked good, but I am looking for something a little longer.

Any pics on how to store your pre-tied leaders?

Sorry I didn't post these Thursday.

These are my rigs for tournaments on this rod locker. Other rod locker has ones I use for fun fishing.



Here is my tackle compartment which has most of my bridge fishing set-ups.



Here is the single jig rigs in the foam/bags stored in a plastic box.

BlueNitro thanks for the pics.
In top pic, rod locker, how are you keeping the swivels and lines from getting tangled.
This would be parallel to the water when you close the top?

In bottom pic, put a few rubber bands around a piece of foam to keep leaders and swivels from getting tangled and hook jigs into edge of foam at other end?
Bag keeps something from catching on the lines and catches a jig if falls off?

For single jig set ups or if I use a VMC swivel/dropshot hook between the bottom jig/swivel, I put those in the tackle compartment as shown and use the painters tape to keep them from getting all tangled or I just let them hang down in the back of the lid.

Thanks for the explanation, I get it now.
Like the 2 jig idea also.