Just rechecked and I was wrong about what I was using for the leader line. It was 12 lb. Trilene mono. I wanted to make sure it would break if it got hung up. (I used to use Vanish some in the past with mono for the main line, that's what got me confused).

If I give the Fireline one more try, I'll use 17- or 20-lb Excel for the leader line. I really hate to go that big, though, because that stuff is hard as heck to break off when you get hung. That's what I've been using for my main line.

Do you think there was too big a difference between the 12 lb Trilene and 30 lb Fireline and that's what caused the leader to break?