Fluorocarbon Leaders

[Rick]

I'm thinking of using flurocarbon leaders for trolling with cranbaits but need some advise on brand,#test,leader length and best knots to use.All help greatly appreciated.

[Gilligan]

Use the Seaguar. Best stuff going, I used off brands with many knot failures and ready to give it up until I tried this brand. I'm using 20#. Keep knots wet and tighten slowly.

[Tom (mich)]

Second the Seguar. I'm using 15# connected to Trilene Big Game 10# using either a blood knot or back to back uni.

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

Rick,

I use Vanish 20 lb. test on all my leaders. My favorite knot is the trilene. Never have had a problem. As for the length of the leaders I use 5 to 6'. Just remember never have a leader longer than your rod. Good Fishing.

[mudpuppy]

Rick,
Almost afraid to reply to anything about fluorocarbon . Always seems to turn into a debate about whether its any good or not . But here goes . Was a good article in Walleye Insider about it . Conclusion was its a specialized line not for every application . Same thing can be said for superlines & mono also . With that said , Fluoro. seems to work best in clear water . I use it alot in Lake Michigan , doesn't get much clearer than that . I've only used 3 kinds , Vanish - O.K. but its a "castable" fluoro. & I think the softening process takes away from some of its toughness . Bass Pro brand , better but also castable , a little tougher . P-Line fluoro. Tough but stiff , good leader material . A lot of the complaints about fluoro. are about knot strength . Best advise I can give is pull your knots up slowly & lubricate well . WD-40 works , saliva , some even tie up under water . Normally use a palomar knot , supposedly is strongest knot known . As for # test , I'll usually go with a little stronger line for fluoro. than what I'd use for mono. All depends on where you're fishing & how big the fish are you expect to catch . Hope this helps .

[Mike A.]

Good question ,I too use Seguar Leader material.I did see a
Seguar Carbon Pro????,less expensive,maybe someone can tell
us why.Would it be used in place mono line?
Thanks Mike

[Wallygetter]

I also would choose the Seguar, it's a little stiff but at least I don't have to worry about creating birds nest or other tangles. Someone mentioned P Line I've had good luck with this also, but just prefer the Seguar. There also is Seguar Pro Carbon, this is not a true flourocarbon, it has a flourocarbon coating or film on it which I know nothing about, can't really tell the difference myself. I carry a spool of 12lbs., 17lbs., and 20 lbs., depending which application or type of fishing I'm doing on any given day. There is no doubt in my mind it does help.

[FreeByrd]

Rick,
As some other posts have said, Seaguar is very good. P-Line is also good. Just make sure you get pure florocarbon leader material, not the stuff sold as florocarbon line to fill reels. I use florocarbon leaders for all my trolling on Erie. Minimum of 20# test and usually 25#. The stiffness is an advantage. Small fish like whitebass won't be able to twist this up as easy. My main line is a 50# test spectra braided line on everything. For the end of the leader attaching to the crankbait, just use a round snap. On my leaders one end has a round snap, and the other end has a ballbearing snapswivel. This way I use them interchangably between dipseys, jet divers, and cranks behind boards. When running spoons behind a dipsey or jet the ballbearing snapswivel end is attached to the spoon. My standard leader length is 6 foot and never longer than my rod or it gets to be challenging to net fish. I use the palomar knot.

For what it is worth, there are plenty of top notch trollers I know on Erie that don't use leaders between their main line (most use PowerPro) and the cranks.

Good Luck,
Steve

[byron]

Seaguar Grand max is awesome. Very strong for its diameter but its abrasion is normal. I use 6' of 14.5lb connected to 10lb powerpro via back to back uni on my spinning reel.

For trolling, i either tie 15' of 20.5lb Seaguar grand max or P-line 12lb leader to 20lb powerpro via uni to uni. Both leaders are the same diameter but the P-line is more abrasion resistant and grand max is overall stronger (knots). If i have structure, P-line. Open water, grand max.