How much of a tippet leader do you tip to your main trolling line?

[Flash]

The finess stuff in front of your lure?

[SUPERTROLLER]

None. I tie on a snap to the main line to facilitate lure changes and that's it. The fish is looking at the lure, not the line.

[Eyez]

The only time you should need a leader is if you're running leadcore. Fireline, power pro etc. should not need a leader. I have used one in the past as a shock absorber on stiff rods, but you shouldn't need it under most circumstances.


Eyez

[T man]

I use 4 to 5 foot leaders of 6# test Flurocarbon (sp?) early in walleye season (10# test Excaliber co-polymer main line). June on, I use 4 to 5 foot 15 # test Flurocarbon leaders (14 # test Fireline main line). Also use the 6# / 10# combination for small mouths.
On some days, I have gotten hits / fish when my partner (who does not usually use leaders) has not (using similar baits).
T man

[eyewinder]

I tie a 6- to 9-inch rubber snubber (Dipsey-type) to the main line (PowerPro), then a 12-pound fluorocarbon leader, a couple feet shorter than the rod, to the snubber. A cross-lock snap goes on the end of the leader, to attach the crankbait to.

The snubber stretches (neither the PowerPro nor the fluoro do), and I've never had a knot (Palomar or improved clinch, depending on what type of line) or the line fail with this setup. I can't prove it, but I believe that the snubber relieves much of the stress at the knots, too.

The fluoro leader holds up well against teeth, too, when the bait is inhaled by either a walleye or northern!

[Wallrous]

I use 8' of 12lb fluro with a sampo swivel attached to 14lb fusion. Crosslock connects to lure. Reef runners when fouled can spin and the swivel keeps the fusion from twisting.

[REW]

I 2nd the use of snubbers. I just started using snubbers this season and have cut my number of lost fish to near 0.
I also use either power pro, or fireline, and with no stretch in the line, it works better to have a bit of give, near the hook.
If using a snubber, I also use a rods length of mono. This is to simply isolate the lure a bit from the snubber.

I use the lighter Lhur Jensen snubber and it works very well.

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If not using a snubber, I then simply tie on a cross lock snap, and hook the lure to the snap.

I don't believe that there is any difference in the number of hits, with or without a clear tippet. The fish are striking in a reaction mode to the lure, and I doubt very much that the trolling line has any effect on their hitting or not.

Take care
REW