Just a quick question on thoughts of fishing with flourocarbon for reds and specs. Going to Venice, La this weekend and not really wanting to loose to many fish. Comments are appreciated.

You can go with a short piece of fluoro leader. I never do (fishing
Delacroix) . If you are fishing around oysterbeds , you will lose
some fish , it is just going to happen.

Check your drag and retie often , this will save you more fish
than fluoro , IMHO.

A combination red an spec trip in that part of the world is great ,
but if you gear for the trout , you are light for reds, if you
gear for reds you are heavy for trout.

You can set up a couple of rigs , 10-12 for trout and 17 to 20 lb
for reds , but invariably you will hang a some big reds on the
trout pole.

Do you know where , exactly , you will be fishing ?

How high is the river now ?


MO

Where are you staying ?

If you get a chance to go downtown, you must get the
charbroiled oysters at Drago's


MO

If you are going with a guide, ask for his suggestion. Will you be using artificial lures or live bait?

I use 20 lb floro leader on 12 lb test for trout. Like MO said the shell will cut you off if you dont have a good leader

I tie plastics straight to 20 lb power pro braid. Breaking fish off ends there. Especially in the marsh, they'll hit the braid just as they will fooling around with a leader.

I've fished almost my entire life in SE La. esp. in Grand Isle and Fourchon, but also some in the Venice area. I always used 10-20 lb. mono and it worked just fine for trout, reds, flounder, etc. in the marsh, oyster beds, well heads, surf, jetties, etc. I have been using 20 lb. fluoro leaders lately when fishing Carolina rigged live and dead bait and also under a popping cork at times. Haven't really noticed a difference between them. When fishing arties, I just tie directly to the mono. Re tie when you see knicks in the line and/or after you've caught a few fish (esp bigger ones). Hope this helps and good luck in Venice.

The major difference between Fleourocarbon Leader and cheaper old school Mono Leader is visiblity and handling shell reefs and fish teeth abrasions on your leader.

FCL has less visibilty and is more abrasion resistant, for sure !! .... however -> and here is the real key to this equation ---> it is not as bouayant and is much less pliable than regular mono leader and that affects how well a live shrimp can flick itself naturally under a cork and suspend itself after flicking itself backwards to dodge a predators teeth or how well your soft plastic works naturally under water - whether your jig rattles or not !

Flouro is nice around the jetties as well as the oysters. I use 20 lb flouro arround shell reefs, but if im in heavy thick oyster fishing shallow, i'll go to 25 or 30.

Well worth it for the abrasion resistance...

Big red on a trout rod...what a problem to have..i'll take one of those please. LOL

Exactly! My fishin buddy throws flouro. with his corks and gets less hookups compared to me and my Mono. Presentation is the key and bouyancy adds to a natural presentation, also varying your leader weight will result in more hookups.

One of the most valuable things a Guide told me was a fish likes a natural presentation if your presenting a bait or artificial and it ain't looking right your not going to hookup. Been a Mono. guy and can't see the reason to switch to Flouro. I just pay attention to the line condition, and will tie a new leader when needed or have at least another rod setup.

Why complicate things? This is exactly what I do.