Preferred Leader

Switching mostly to braid on my inshore reels after all this time still using mono. What I have been using is 12lb Big Game tied to a 15 or 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. Question is stick with fluoro leader tied to the braid or flouro on some and mono leaders on some?

If you like the 20# flouro leader then I'd say stick with that. I try to use mono if I'm fishing with a topwater or a popping cork, but no biggie either way.

The importing thing for you to do is learn to tie a good FG knot. IMO, the very best knot for braid to mono or flouro leader.

This is the best tutorial I have found for the FG knot:

Thanks. I'll try that knot, have been using surgeons and was going to start with the alberto with braid but the FG looks simple the way he did it. One of the problems I have with knots is on the boat with the wind etc it's much more difficult for me. Also need cheaters to see what I'm doing.

The good thing about the FG knot is how thin it is. It has no trouble casting or reeling back through the rod eyes. Because of this, you can afford to make your leaders however long you like. At minimum I start with double the rod length. On my spinning setup when I wade fish I start with a leader probably 30'. This way I can retie as needed without having to worry about cutting the leader too short.

We tie jig heads straight to the braid. Not once has anyone shown me screwing around with a leader had any benefit what so ever. But fishing is about confidence, if you think it helps, then it does.

In dirty water I agree with Pat. In clear water I believe using a mono or fluoro leader helps. I was convinced when I got my butt kicked while bed fishing for bass in a tournament next to someone who was using a fluoro leader and I wasn't. Also fished a few times alongside Jay Watkins (big-time Rockport guide) who uses a mono leader, so I trust his judgement.

I use 15# Suffix 832 and 20# mono leader. I have tried the FG many times and it always comes unraveled at some point. Works great on my offshore stuff (65# braid and 80# leader). I tried other knots and settled on the improved Albright (10 rounds around everything and 5 rounds thru the loop). Works great, slim, fairly easy to tie, and the braid protects the mono from damage going thru the rod tip. I have looked at various knots under magnification after use. If the mono is exposed and hits the guides going in or out, then some wear and damage shows after a while. I used the double uni before and could see a lot of damage after a day of fishing. It would eventually fail on a cast.

Just to echo some of the above, there's no quantifiable evidence that a specific leader will help, but I feel more confident going with a mono leader! Typically my leader will have a bit higher strength than my braid mainline giving me some extra measure of abrasion resistance and shock absorption, and it costs less than fluoro!

If we're going to be honest... when fish bite baits that have treble hooks and unnatural colors and such, I think it takes credibility away from the idea that fish will be super line shy. I'll give Pat's method a try and fish straight braid for a bit and see if I can build up my confidence there, but yeah! Whatever floats your boat.

To Pat's point, I will not re-tie a leader while on the water. If I use it all up, or if it gets cut off for any reason I tie straight on to the braid and keep on fishing. I don't get to fish enough to form an opinion of whether a leader is necessary, but I am not convinced they are effective enough to carry leader material in my wading bag or to take the time away from fishing to re-tie a knot that is a PITA to tie in the wind, or rocking, or while standing in the waves.

I carry enough rigs that I don't have to re-tie unless it's my wife's favorite rig. I have also been thinking about getting a couple of good spinning rigs to try out. Have been throwing bait casters forever and still get too many over runs and occasional backlashes.

ANDE Fluro leader and super glue may work......