Pond scum
02-15-2003, 07:19 PM
If I am going to be spooling my trolling rods/reels with 14/6 Fireline, and using fluorocarbon leader material, should the leader be stronger or weaker than the main line ? I see benefits to both. Stronger and stiffer leader means less line twist, and better protection from abrasion. However, if you hang it up, you risk losing an expensive rig, especially if you are pulling cranks behind dipsys. If you are running a lower strength leader, you only lose the bait, but sacrifice abrasion resistance. Perhaps I should not worry about hanging up a rig and losing everything, considering I will mainly be fishing the western basin of Erie. Can anyone offer me any advice?
The two reasons for running 14/6 Fireline are 1 - to gain depth & 2 - to open up the action on the lure. You may also want the enhanced ability to read the board.
If you add a mono leader of any kind you give away most of those benefits. Even a short (6') leader will take away the added action and some of the depth. In my experiments by the time you get to a 30' leader you may as well run all mono.
Leaders are needed for behind Dipsys Jets and leadcore, but for boards I'd either run all mono are all superbraid.
Just my opinion. Good luck and COME ON SPRING!!!
Pond scum
02-16-2003, 09:51 AM
Thanks ETT. I did not realize that I could get away with not having at least a short leader when running baits behind boards. I thought that the Fireline would be too visible to the fish in the clear water of Erie. It would be a lot simpler if I did not have to.
Would the hi-vis green Fireline work or would that stand out too much in the water to the fish? Seems like it would come in handy when watching your line from the boat. Anyone else have any input?