Leader line.

[Croaker_Killer]

Do you guys use a fluorocarbon leader line when fishing artificials or do ya'll just tie straight to your braid?

[el panzon]

I like a 12-15" strecth of 20 lb flouro leader attached to my 10 or 12 lb mono line. Learn to tie a good "albright" knot instead of using a swivel (unless youre using a spoon that will spin twist your line...then use a swivel tied to your mono and then atach a piece of flouro (I like longer like 18" with live bait using a non-slip mono loop knot to hook for live bait, a 12" legnth fluoro lead on plastics and a shorter legnth fluoro for spoons. My 2 cents compadre.

[Bine]

And what you're saying is the line or leader is tied directly to the lure, correct? Yall don't clip the lure to a swivel clasp? Something I (think) I'm learning about light tackle and fresh water is that the swivel clasp can spook the fish or give away that the lure is a lure and not food. It works best to tie the lure directly to the line or leader, and use a swivel for the leader to the main line, if at all, correct?

[AHP]

Here is my line rig.

Standard Setup (Hard or soft lures)
#30 Fins Braided (Windtamer) --> double uni knot --> 2' 15lbs test Seaguard invizx fluorocarbon leader --> improved clinch knot --> Barrel Swivel with Interlock Snap (I do not see loss of action) --> Lure

Trolling w/ Spoon
25lbs test Mono Berkley, P-Line or Cajun Line --> improved clinch knot --> swivel --> improved clinch knot --> 2' 15lbs test Seaguard invizx fluorocarbon leader --> improved clinch knot --> Spoon

I try to change my line out ever year or two depending on my activity.

[M T Stringer]

For clear water (Rockport to Corpus) yes.
I use 10, 15, and 20lb braid (depending on which reel) with 25lb flouro. and I have learned that uni to uni is better than albright.



For mud/murky water or in the marsh, I use straight braid.

[Croaker_Killer]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll try to tie straight on since I am mainly fishing West Bay, chocolate bay and pierce marsh. Hopefully I can come across some trout and throw both ways to see which is best. Thanks for all the advice though.

[el panzon]

Lot's of great advice here. Why I love this forum and can't believe I have been away for so long.

I am a crappy knot tier. Having said that I gave up on the double uni, I know its not a difficult knot but my brain for whatever reason struggles with it.

I love the albright BUT when braid to mono or braid to flouro I use the "Crazy Alberto"...similar to albright but doubles back accross and creates what has been described as a "chinese finger handcuff" affect...if you ever used those things as a kid at a carnival or fair. I love it. Look it up on YouTube.

One thing is for sure...every fisherman ties a knot a little different. Whether they hold it differently or whatever...you need to find the right video tutorial that worls "with your brain".

My additional 2 cents. Thats 4 cents now!

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll try to tie straight on since I am mainly fishing West Bay, chocolate bay and pierce marsh. Hopefully I can come across some trout and throw both ways to see which is best. Thanks for all the advice though.

[Spectre5922]

el panzon, that "Crazy Alberto" knot you are talking about is also known as a Modified Albright. You are right though. The knot is tiny, and very easy to tie on the water. For braid to mono /flouro I use the Modified Albright. For braid to swivel, I use a single uni knot and from braid to a lure or jig head, I use a loop knot. Those 3 knots are all easy to tie on the water and will cover any situation that I use knots in.

[AHP]

Here is something else to add...

Use non flavored chapstick on the line right before you tighten the knot. Most of the time people will use spit.

[SW wadefish]

I tie a flouro leader to my braid. Used to use the Albright, but have recently switched to a Surgeons knot. Its the same knot used to tie tippet to a leader when fly fishing. Typically I run about 5-6' of leader so if I'm changing lures a lot I don't have to re-tie my leader. Albright is great, just switched to Suregeons because it's even smaller and goes through the eyelets a lot more smoothly.

[TravelingFisheer]

Braid to leader, triple surgeons knot is my go to. Easy to tie and holds well.