What's Your Favorite Leader Line? [Archive]

the_nis

01-06-2006, 06:12 PM

Because of the responses I received in my "Catfishing with a steel leader" thread, I've decided to possibly stop using a steel leader and use a heavy test mono leader instead.

My question is, what kind of line do you guys use for leaders and what test?

Thanks!

centralcalcat

01-06-2006, 06:16 PM

I typically use whatever is on the rest of my line for cats, for trout I use 4lb test. I don't like using heay leaders, unless I am going for something with big teeth aka pike, musky, etc.

Katmaster Jr.

01-06-2006, 06:19 PM

I usually use 50-80 lb mono for leader......just any plain mono works for me. :)

blackwaterkatz

01-06-2006, 06:22 PM

I usually use 20-25# mono leader, either Ande, or flourocarbon, doesn't seem to matter much. If I'm in a lot of timber, I may go heavier to help with abrasion. Most of my main lines are 50-65# braided.

three_rivers

01-06-2006, 06:32 PM

I use the same line as i would my main line. Used to use 30pd mono leaders and had the problem of breaking it off loosing the fish so i stepped up to 65pd braid leaders and haven't looked back. I've lost only one fish like this and it was more than likely because of the situation at the time. The only lighter line i use now is on my sinkers......

Chuckb

01-06-2006, 06:36 PM

I use either 40 or 50# ande clear for my leaders. It is very abrasion resistant, fairly easy to tie and strong.

BAM

01-06-2006, 06:53 PM

I use a mono leader matched to the size hook, smaller hook less pound test leader. then adjust my drag accordingly. As for type of leader I like the fluorocarbons best, but not the price. Right now I am using stren leader material because I found a heck of a sale, so I bought a bunch of it. Berkley biggame and ande are my preferred monos. 60 lb is the biggest I have used.

wolfman

01-06-2006, 07:13 PM

I use 30 lb P-Line mono leaders in combination with 40 lb Berkley Big Game fishing line. The P-Line is known to be very abrassive resistant. My other two choices are Sufix and Berkley Vanish mono leaders.

Itch2Scratch

01-06-2006, 07:19 PM

Any good quality salt water mono should work. If you change your mind and go with steel, try the nylon coated steel leaders...they didn't seem to bend up so bad.

Rainman4u2

01-06-2006, 07:22 PM

30 lb Big Game.

Ray

ShilohRed

01-06-2006, 08:08 PM

I use from 8lb to 50 lb for leaders. Or what Ever buck leaves in the boat. LOL
PEte

wpsatisfide

01-06-2006, 08:21 PM

using 20 or 30# big game as that is what i have right now on close to empty spools.

SilverCross

01-06-2006, 09:02 PM

I just fish for channels the most, that's what is real close to home. I use twenty pound line but made all my leaders out of 17# Cajun Red, it's what was handy and supposedly dissapears in the water. Guess I will find out.

Dwednuts

01-07-2006, 12:02 AM

I use 50# leaders on a 20# mainline, and 80# leaders on a 40# mainline. A rule of thumb that I use is the leader is at least twice the strength of my mainline, because a short leader will not stretch as much as a long mainline will. I also snell all of my hooks on for better strength at the hook.

Pennsylvaniacatchaser

01-07-2006, 01:38 AM

I have been using the same #lb. test as my main line for my leaders. However, I'm reading with interest to learn reasons to use leaders that are heavier than the main line.

Dwednuts

01-07-2006, 01:48 AM

I have been using the same #lb. test as my main line for my leaders. However, I'm reading with interest to learn reasons to use leaders that are heavier than the main line.

Trust me, You won't be sorry you went to heavier leaders. They work great!!!!

the_nis

01-07-2006, 01:53 AM

I guess what I'm most worried about is if I run into a nice muskie or pike and I don't have a steel leader on. Although I have caught pike and muskie with no leader on at all...

Katmaster Jr.

01-07-2006, 01:53 AM

Trust me, You won't be sorry you went to heavier leaders. They work great!!!!

Yeah they do! Esspecialy around heavy cover and rocks and stuff. And big cats will roll up in your line alot of times.....having a good leader can help with that too, because they can damage or break a leader from rolling in it with those fins. Had it happen with smaller leaders.....anyone that dosent have at least 50 lb leader should probaly do so. I think 80 lb is even better!

Good luck. Zakk :)

Katmaster Jr.

01-07-2006, 01:55 AM

I guess what I'm most worried about is if I run into a nice muskie or pike and I don't have a steel leader on. Although I have caught pike and muskie with no leader on at all...

Steel leaders can turn some cats off though.....but I know what your saying. Maybe if you used 100 lb mono leader or something it would still hold up to a musky.....most likely?

Zakk :)

flathunter

01-07-2006, 02:22 AM

My Leader is always the same as my main line, 25-30lb test berkly big gane.

the_nis

01-07-2006, 03:26 PM

Compared to my mainline, how much larger should I go for my mono leader? I have 30lb power pro on my smaller setups and 65lb power pro on my larger setups...

wolfman

01-07-2006, 05:15 PM

I would use 50# mono leader on your 30# power pro and 80# mono leader on your 65# power pro.

Dwednuts

01-07-2006, 05:18 PM

Compared to my mainline, how much larger should I go for my mono leader? I have 30lb power pro on my smaller setups and 65lb power pro on my larger setups...

Personaly I would use 80# on both, as you need a shock leader on power pro to start with. I never go over 100#s on a leader for catfishing. Anything over that would be way to stiff and the fish would feel it and drop the bait. Always remember "the bigger the leader line is the longer it should be" for flexability.

joesf

01-07-2006, 06:03 PM

I use 60# braided as my main line and 18-36 inch 20 - 40# mono as my leader this works as a shock absorber and also help breaking off in a snag.

MadKater

01-07-2006, 07:29 PM

most of my rods are spooled with either 40# trilene big game or 40# ande line and all my leaders are made from either 80# cajun red or 60# ande line, i really like that ande line for leaders its kinda stiff for spooling reels but it works extremly well for leader line and for around $7 you can get a spool of it and a spool will last ya a year or 2. but with the cajun 80# leader line is around 6-$7 bucks and you only get 50yrds or it.

tncatfishing

01-09-2006, 10:44 AM

Call me different but I use a 280 lb test braided line leader. I know I know overkill, but it puts up with abrasion very well and where I fish I need it. I have started snelling my hooks with 30 lb test mono so when I fish a different location without so much abrasion I will be set.

the_nis

01-10-2006, 05:47 PM

I think I'm going to try either Red Cajun line or Ande Clear. I'm kinda up in the air right now...

Thanks for all the help guys!

the_nis

01-10-2006, 06:13 PM

Maybe another stupid question...

Whats the difference in the line when it actually says "leader line?" For example, I see that you can buy a spool of red cajun line lightning line for 6 bucks or so for a whole spool but the red cajun lightning leader line is 5 bucks or so for 50 yards, same test rating. Thanks!

the_nis

01-16-2006, 03:56 AM

Now I'm thinking about using flourocarbon line for my leaders but I don't know if I feel like spending the extra cash for it. Fairly expensive for the heavier test line. I'm not too sure if its even necessary to use flourocarbon for cats. Decisions, decisions...

Katmaster Jr.

01-16-2006, 03:58 AM

the_nis

01-16-2006, 04:06 AM

Katmaster Jr.

01-16-2006, 04:07 AM

Thats what I was thinking. I think I'm gonna stick with 50# Cajun Red on my smaller setups and 80# Cajun Red on my bigger setups...Or should I just say screw it and put 80# on all of them? More decisions...

lol....Well that sounds good to me. Depends on what kind of structure your fishing around though. Rocks? Timber?

the_nis

01-16-2006, 04:19 AM

One area in particular that I fish is loaded with a lot of big fish, not just cats. But, there is a ton of hangups all over the place. So I wouldn't hesitate to use the 80# on the 30lb Powerpro main line but in a lot of the areas I fish, I'm not sure if the 80# is necessary. Might be overkill.

Katmaster Jr.

01-16-2006, 04:25 AM

Well I have noticed that cats difinitely do not care much about the size of the leader as long as it's something reasonable. I would use 80lb, of course I dont know if that would affect whether or not those OTHER big fish will bite. I would say you would be safe with 50 lb also though.

Zakk:)

the_nis

01-16-2006, 04:31 AM

I usually use 50-80 lb mono for leader......just any plain mono works for me. :)

What test main line are you using?

Katmaster Jr.

01-16-2006, 04:34 AM

What test main line are you using?

Berkley Big Game, 25-40 lb test.....mostly 25-30lb though.

james

01-16-2006, 09:59 AM

in the past ive been useing 20# BBG and same on my leader i lost couple big fish that i lost last year do to the concret walls at the spillway that i fish line would rub it and break easy so this year im giveing ande a try im useing 30# green ande for the main and 50 clear for the leader. seems like some good stuff doesnt seem to cast as well as BBG does though.