Braided line with fluorocarbon leader

[E-TECH 200]

Is a fluorocarbon leader wise to use with a crankbait? Is there a rule of thumb on the length of a leader?

Thanks for your help,

[lroberts]

Flouro is great for cranks because it sinks at a faster rate than other types of line, and can help your bait get deeper. If it were me, I would just use flouro and no braid. I'm sure using it the way you mention would work fine.....i would suggest an 18-24 inch (or slightly longer) leader if you do. Braid is very visible to fish and flouro has nearly the same light refraction as water....making it next to invisible to fish.

[JustinM]

Spot on imo.

[slimshad09]

I would like to know the same things, also the knot that is used.

[lroberts]

I always use a Palomar knot......you just have to wet the line before you cinch it.....which I would do with any knot using Flouro. As for connecting the leader, use whatever knot you usually use.....be sure to check it regularly though because the braid can weaken the flouro (its more abrasive).

[JustinM]

Roberts is right on. Everything he said is true about braid and flouro. I only use braid with leaders on the river. I don't use it bass fishing because of the high vis. Also the knot between braid and a leader is one of the weakest knots due to tying two different materials and line sizes together. As for the knot I use a blood knot if I want the knot to go through the guides on the rod. If not I use a j knot. Imo the j knot is stronger and easier to tie but does not go through the guides on the rod as easy. You can goggle either knot and find video on how to tie them.

Edit: one other thing I have found about braid and tying leaders. Different braid and different flouro certain knots work better than others for some reason. But if you switch to a different braid there may be a better knot. I use power pro and berkley 100% flouro. So the blood knot and j knot work best for those two imo.

[slimshad09]

I know one thing about Flouro, a polamar knot gets too hot for it. It was on knot wars and also on several fishing shows. Be careful with that...

[Whitski]

I had alot of trouble at first with my flouro to braid knots breaking. I would wet them, cinch them slowly so as not to burn but they still failed way too often. I would use the blood knot or albright. Then I tried total flouro carbon with no braid, and I didn't like the soft feel from the stretch of the flouro. It's does not stretch as much as mono but still alot more than braid for sure. I then got this tip from Doug Stange at In-Fisherman who was good enough to answer my email.
Doug said to use a back to back uni-knot. I looked it up, and it's easy to tie, easier than a blood knot for me.
2nd tip is to use Flouro Leader material. Since you're only going to use maybe 3 feet of leader, you should use leader material as it's much more abrasion resistant and tougher, tougher in knot tying too, less susceptible to burning. I still always really wet my knots and pull slowly, but I've not had a knot failure between leader and line since.
Flouro leader is more expensive but it's worth it IMO. I typically am using 15-20lb braid with a 10lb flouro leader. I change it out when I'm down to about 20" left after reties, etc. Thanks to the leader material's abrasion resistance I don't have to retie quite as often anyway.
FYI I always use Seaguar leader material.
Whitski

[lroberts]

I know one thing about Flouro, a polamar knot gets too hot for it. It was on knot wars and also on several fishing shows. Be careful with that...

I've used flouro with a Palomar knot for two used and not lost one bait/fish due to the knot breaking. You just have to wet the line and tie the knot correctly.

[slimshad09]

Just passing along what I've seen in several magazines and on tv. The eugene knot was the number one knot for flouro. We prolly don't have the same issues here in Indiana as guys catching hawgs in AL, FL, TX,..... Good luck this spring!

[lroberts]

Just passing along what I've seen in several magazines and on tv. The eugene knot was the number one knot for flouro. We prolly don't have the same issues here in Indiana as guys catching hawgs in AL, FL, TX,..... Good luck this spring!

Thats true....at least on a consistent basis anyway. I did catch a seven and one pushing eight last year....both came out of ponds, not lakes though. The guys in those states are pullin in 10-15 lbers a lot.....maybe we should move!