What test line would you folks prefer...

I've used steel leaders on salt water fish, but never on catfish.

 

I use 20# mono leaders , have for a lot of years i can't remenber haveing a cat cut the leader. I do change them often.

 

I use anywhere from 20 to 50 pound test fishing the Ohio River. I do not use steel leaders, no reason, I just never have. Your right about the abrasive teeth, that why after every catch, I try to check my line for any knicks or cuts. If they are there you will feel them to the touch, if so, I will retie my rig. I also will retie everytime I catch a bigger cat just to be safe for when the next big one comes along. rspd507

 

Never used steel leaders to much of a pain. I use 40# mono main line and 80# test mono leaders. This year I'm going to switch it up a little. Going to 80# braid main line and 65# mono leader. For a leader I like to use a nice stiff line do to what you stated about there teeth.

 

I have used steel leaders for catfishing. Just for the reason, the lake I fish alot has musky present. I never had an issue with catfish biting the line. they will cause some abrasion, so i check my line frequently and change leaders often.

 

Bill I fish Pee Dee and on my river rods I have them rigged with 80lb powerpro braid and use a 60-80lb mono leader. I dont like them to get away.LOL

 

I use 20-30 pound line and a 40-50 mono leader. That combo will land any catfish alive.

The bristle in a catfish mouth are not capable of cutting through a 40-50 pound mono leader. The fins are the most likely thing to nick a leader, and it is a lot cheaper and faster to change out mono than steel.

If you have money to burn then you can use steel leaders all you want.

So far I am not convinced that braid is the best line for me when catching catfish. The fact that it does not stretch is great for fish that have a subtle strike but I think it would be very unforgiving when you have a fish on a short rope. The flip side is that it might increase hook-ups with circle hooks.

One clear advantage is being able to put a lot of heavy weight line on a reel. You can almost double the capacity per pound on a reel.

It also appears to be less forgiving when it comes to tieing knots and getting tangles free.

Cost is another factor, especially when you are talking about spooling up a dozen rods. I guess some of that can be overcome by buying 2500 yard spools.

For now, I have about 1700 yards of 20 pound Ande left.... :smile2:

 

The pee dee has more snags than any river or body of water I have ever fished so I do just what you say I will throw right up in the trash pile and winch those big flatties out of those hidding areas. That is just what I use on my river rods I use 40lb braid and 60lb mono leader while drifting at the lake. I say give then and inch and you are hung in the river.

 

I use 50 lb suffix performance braid line....... its awesome line for bass as well as catfish... the diameter is like a 10lb mono but it sure can put up a fight.... i never use leaders either i tried once but it seemed that if i used it in water that wasnt real muddy the cats would see it and spook.

 

The 80# braided line is rough when you hook a stump in 70 foot of water. I'll be respooling all my cat rods with 30# mono as soon as the line gets here. I'll use the braided line for leaders.

 

i 20lb:roll_eyes:

 

nice fish rivercatsc:cool2:

 

I will still use 20# braided on my bait rods because I catch more 5 lbs channel cats than I want to trying for bait.

I hung the 80# braid on a stump at Monticello and pert near sank one side of my boat before I broke it off.