Quote:
Originally Posted by jpeff31787
how do you tie your leaders? I've tried and they've failed everytime. Is it because I usually only tie about a 2ft leader and the shock is causing it to fail? I used 12#flouro to 20#flouroleader and I think it was a uni to uni knot.
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I tried uni to uni knots which work OK most of the time, but occasionally fail. I've gone to trying a snap on the braid (uni knot) and a swivel on the leader to connect to the snap. This works very well, although I replace leaders at least daily when fishing inshore in Louisiana. A six foot leader requires more care in both casting and landing, but it works so well that I put up with it.
I fish with bait almost exclusively, and I do not set the hook, so my leaders don't experience much shock. If a rod is in a rod holder, I set the drag really loose so if a big fish hits, he'll run and often swallow the bait rather than loading the pole and pulling out or loading the pole and breaking off. When fishing crab or 6-12" bait fish, I'll give the rod a 6 count before even picking it up. (Of course, I usually have a 60-80 lb leader when bottom fishing crab or big bait fish.)
If the rod is in my hand, I am more likely working structure, so I'll gently but rather quickly increase the pressure to keep the fish out of the structure, but without ever really making a jerking motion. I usually only have a 15-20 lb leader when fishing live shrimp relatively shallow (under a cork) in clear water. In this case, the leader is 18-24" long, but still tied to a swivel connected to the braid via the snap on the braid. Working birds or baitfish away from structure, I will gently apply pressure and reel the fish in without a hook set.