braid question/poll

OK, when lure fishing do you use a mono leader or tie the braid to the snap lock/lure?

:? Bit confused. Must be the booze. Are we voting "yes" we use a mono leader or "yes" we tie directly onto link/lure?

I always use a short 2 - 3 ft fluorocarbon or mono leader with braid to avoid any chance of a hook catching in the braid and damaging it during the cast, its also potentially less visible than the braid.

have been told by some top boat anglers to avoid the leader, in some venues your fishing in 30-40 foot of water with a leader of around 12-10 foot, your basically eliminating the point of braid. while fishing leader versus no leader you will notice the leader guy is always adjusting to hold the bottom during the tide flow.

are we talking boat or beach no on boat yes on beach was using tapered shock leader on the beach but now find standard gives better bite detection due to shorter length of mono also use 20 lb leader for spinning with braid mainly to save my finger on fixed spool set up

I personally think that Braid should not be used shore fishing it cuts through others lines and if there is a tangle it can slice your hand as it is like cheese cutter wire that's my own opinion what do others think.Is it a Health and Safety issue? :?

always use braid straight through when lure fishing. if you need to pull for a break, just wrap it around something. knife handle or whatever.

I have no proplem braid being used for lure fishing :D i have concerns about it being used as mainline in shore fishing :cry:

Only ever use it as a mainline shorefishing when I'm flattie scratching in the suds. I am however going to load a reel with 50lb stuff for those horrible weedy nights in East Cork.

Only ever use it as a mainline shorefishing when I'm flattie scratching in the suds. I am however going to load a reel with 50lb stuff for those horrible weedy nights in East Cork.

I wouldn't suggest it if you're talking about heavy moving weed, if you get a moving kelp stalk hitting the terminal tackle with braid on, the rod will be ripped out of the stand. The give in mono would be much better as a shock absorber.

Yes i think braid gives you the edge when fishing next to a angler that's using mono when you cross him there is no problem just keep reeling hard and nine times out of ten bingo your free. Its great stuff you don't need a leader just up the breaking strain to 50lb and off you go, but be warned when your fingers are wet and soft you can get a nasty cut to the bone so wear some protection.

i have 30lb braid on two multies a 525 and sports mag never have i cut through someones mono or cut myself with it i have however had to dive for cover when others have pulled for a break with mono and a lure or lead has come flying up the beach at 100 km /hour :evil:

Theres no right or wrong......i think angler should experiment with all variation and use what they found works for them....and use the method that they confident with.....

For me leader all the time......
~Cost effective
Always break and loose my leader rather than break my expensive braid mainline....braid bs is not really like what its stated on spool....not constant and most of the time if tested is 2 time than the original bs stated on spool.....so that mean i can still easily break(straight pull) my leader on the same bs of braid use.

~To Have Some Stretch~
Braid is strong on straight constant pull but cant stand suddent impact or suddent pull.....its either the rod tip will go or the braid...this even happened to big bs braid.....i got an 80lbs braid snapped while jigging on locked drag.....using leader but too short leader...not enuff stretch to absorb the lightning fast take.For spinning from shore....to avoid loosing lure when something gone wrong on the cast.....

~Abbrasion Resistant
Dont want my braid to get fluffy and got cut on the structure.

~Safety
When using a fix spool outfit......got a few wrap on my spool before casting.

Some times its funny cause theres too many myth bout braid....do a google on the net and u can find a lots of myth on them.One of them is braid will cut on any guides.....i dont think braid that cut the guide....its the sand....debris....rust from poorly maintain bail arm/roller that stick to the line that make the line abbrasive.....SIC is the hardest material to make guide....u can test them using triangular metal file and you cant scratch them....but yet there still people claim that they cut their SIC guides....the material that make them is like wax and not an abbrasive material....air knott.....etc...etc...cant say anything on braid cut through mono as i never experienced them....but heard a lot bout it....

use logic and common sense when applying any tip....tricks....and method....if boat fishing in shallow water u dont need a verry long leader.......how big is the target fish?how rough is the ground?do it have wreck?

Is it necessary to use it?NO.....theres also an application that i think you wont need the hassle of tying knot to connect leader to your braid.....btw i use braid on all my fishing gear(with leader too) exept for my beach caster since not yet got the budget to replace it with new suitable braid....cheeerrrsss

thanks for the replys, food for thought