Guy's,
I'm wondering if it is a must to use a short leader when throwing a worm or jig on Braid or can you tie straight to the braid ?? What have you Experienced??

Thanks for the info.

Mono as a leader to braid for worms and jigs would be pointless. Flouro leader or straight braid or straight flouro. I use straight flouro for normal worming and straight braid when in reeds,pads or tall grass.

Haven't tried straight braid on slow moving plastics. If I did, I'd have a rod with a little give in it (softer tipped MH) or be liberal with your drag setting, especially with smaller diameter hooks.


If they're chomping, you'd prolly be fine. If they are skiddish and not aggressive, you might want to have a flouro leader handy.

I use a hev fast with 65-80lb straight braid with no problems when in heavy stuff. I wouldn't use anything less.

I've used both mono and flouro leaders... it definitely makes a difference in your hooksets as well as helping to camouflage your line.

Straight braid will slide off the hook if there is any gap in the eye. ANY gap at all. I know this to be true

Straight braid is fine if you tie a uni-knot. I prefer to put the line through the eye of the lure twice and then tie a uni-knot. It takes the pressure off the knot and puts it more on the line.

If you want to make the line invisible at the lure, tie a 2' piece of flouro in between using a uni-knot to uni-knot.

For catching hybrids/stripers and such I use a 30# Powerpro, but there is no stretch in it. It you want a little extra stretch to avoid break-offs, use a 20# flouro of 2' in length up to 4' maximum.

I use a Crazy Alberto knot, I use about a 4-5 foot section of Fluoro leader line, works great. Really do not see any advantage of using mono leader, unless maybe you wanted it to float on top of water but braid will do that.

When using braid for worms and jigs, I use about 18 - 24" of "mono" leader. Specifically, it is P-line CX Premium, which is a copolymer line with an outer coating of fluorocarbon. The leader to braid connection is a double-uni knot.

I just use straight braid with no leader, always. A leader works great, all the way up to the point when you set the hook.

I stopped using leaders a while back and I can't say that it has made any difference in the number of bites. I do just fine with straight braid to the hook, no reason to put extra knots between me and the fish.

I do not have any problems with the leader breaking on hook sets, as far as it making a difference on bites, you may be right, I gat snagged too much with straight braid, it digs into wood too easy, the mono or fluoro will not do this near as much, at least that is my observation.

A fluorocarbon leader will give you a stealthier approach underwater since fluoro has the same refractive properties as water itself and appears virtually invisible. Using a monofilament leader will give you better manageability when tying your hook to prevent slippage. Neither are absolutely necessary as straight braid is pretty effective on its own, but adding a line leader can give you some advantages, depending on what you're looking for.

My bad on the usage of the word mono. What I meant was, does a Mono or Floro leader get you more bites than tieing direct to braid with no leader. It is a bit of a pain using a leader and I'm wondering if it is really nessecary here in Texas lakes.

The only time I've actully noticed a difference in mono vs flouro vs braid was fishing for deep smallmouth on Belton. That's one of the clearer lakes I fish and flouro is the way to go. In stained water I personally do not think it matters tying straight to braid. As for guys having knot problems that's their personal problems as I've had none. I would still use straight flouro for any bottom baits and normal more open cover flipping and straight braid if I'm in thick cover like pads or reeds. Also remember braid is much much smaller diameter. 65lb braid is the same as 15lb mono.

Unless you are in shallow water of or very clear water sight fishing, no leader is necessary.