Leader length???????????

[REW]

Over the years, I have read many many articles on leader lengths.
This is the leader length for
1. Live bait rigging - with just a plain hook, or possibly a hook and a bead.

2. Spinner rigs - consisting of a series of beads, spinners, hooks, and possibly a flotation device.

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Many folks recommend leader lengths of 2,4,6,8, or even 12 feet for clear lakes on highly pressured waters.

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However, assuming that you don't drag your weight on the bottom or through the mud -- is there really any advantage (greater numbers of fish in the boat) by running a leader that is any longer than 24 inches.

Sure, I have fished with both live bait rigs as well as spinner rigs that may be up to 10 feet long on some of the lakes mentioned above.

However, in recent years, I have been moving back to a fixed length snell of 18 -24 inches, and find that my success is as good as and perhaps better than it was with the longer snells.

In part, I think, simply because I have a much better knowledge - where my hook and bait is - with respect to the bottom -- with a shorter snell, compared to a longer snell.

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I am just curious for the folks who use snells that are longer than 24 inches -- have you made a concious effort to shorten your snell to 18-24 inches and given it a good test to see if it made any difference.

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I would appreciate hearing of any on the water reports - with short snell, long snell comparison.

Thanks for any updates.
REW

[Eyez]

The shortest leaders I use are on spinners, those can be anywhere from 18-36 inches. Shorter at slow speeds and in snags. Anything longer than 36 inches just drags on the bottom even with a bouncer, the speed isn't enough to counteract the weight of the beads, blade, etc.

Almost all my leaders for livebait rigging are 4-6 feet. Mainly because when I'm fishing livebait I like to fish very slow in order to allow the minnow or leech to swim a bit. Using light wire hooks and a lively bait on light line, a minnow can swim around quite a bit instead of just being drug behind a sinker. If I end up going too fast to allow the minnow or leech to swim I'll shorten the leader to reduce tangling and snags. It's not uncommon for me to use a 24' leader for livebait if I'm fishing current or moving fairly fast. All my crawler harnesses are 36" just because I can shorten them if need be, but I can't lengthen them, and that's the longest I would use.

I've heard a million stories about people needing 10-12 foot leaders, etc, and a couple times I've seen long leaders in the 8-9 foot range work better than 5-6 footers, but I've not been able to attribute a reason to it, and those situations have been pretty rare. Though, if it's tough, I will tie up an extra long leader just to try it and see what happens.


Dusty

[Mr.Seaguar]

I use the cabelas 36" spinners. Cabelas used to have different lengths available. One buddy used 7' leaders and a 6' rod. He had more fish flop off at the boat per day every day than I have in a season. As far as bites I dont notice any difference but I think longer leaders snag a ton more. I use short leaders such as 20" fishing at night with chubs and the fish dont mind them. I use leaders 18" and less when I fish smaller rivers and fish dont mind that either.

[Muskiefool]

Why not set up your rig so you can adjust snell according to conditions, I set up so I can go as small as 2' and as long as I want for bait rigging or slip bobber on the same rod, why would you want to limit yourself to those perameters, try fishing a 2' snell on a mud flat you wont be happy, I make all my own snells 24 to 30" that is the shortest I use then adjust for conditions with a cecil rig.

Does anyone still incorporate a rubber bobber stop with a Roach Rig weight so you can adjust the leader length? I used to do this a lot more, but for some reason (habit I guess) I've gotten away from it. One reason it is probably less prevalent is the increased use of Fireline as a mainline with a mono or fluorocarbon leader (problem being that the Fireline is too slippery to hold the bobber stop in place).

Back to REW's original question, I shorten up my leader to 12-24 inches when fishing in current/river situations because the fish are typically more bottom related and the muddy water makes visibility difficult. In some of the clear water lakes in Minnesota that I fish, I will use up to a 10 ft leader, but I honestly couldn't tell you where my bait is riding in relation to the bottom. I suppose it depends on boat speed, hook weight, and buoyancy of the bait.

I typically start with a 5-6 foot leader, but you're right, experimenting with shorter leaders isn't a bad idea. It might make sense to have one person start with 24 inches and another go with a 5-6 footer. Best advice is to let the fish tell you on any given day.

[mac]

There is a question as to what function does the leader provide?
1. An invisible link between line-weight junction.
2. A length of "slack" that gives the fish (which is coming up from the rear) time to have the hook farther in it's mouth before the line tension is felt.
3. A platform for the attractor beads and spinners to function on.

There are probably others, but take your choice from the above.

My vote is for the second one. In that case it would depend upon how eagerly the fish are attacking the bait and on active days a short leader would be ok and on inactive days the longer would be provide more "swallow" time.

I would wager that there are days when the fish picks up the bait, mouths it and lets it go and you don't feel a thing. That's what makes the good old jig so deadly.

[Hogslammer]

Instead of a bobber stop, just use a simple rubber band. Cut the rubber bank so that you have one length and then just tie an overhand knot and pull very tight. Works just as well, easy to put on and costs nothing. Slide the stop to increase or decrease you snell length. Good luck and give it a try.

[stevefellegy]

lol I think they should ban leaders over 24 inches or even over 60 inches would be fine ...except for me....in ALL the PWT events. I will be allowed to use 10 to 12 footers. Get my drift?

I tie two lengths, 4' and 10' and then begin shortening them until I find the length the fish want on that day. Most days the long leaders (8'+) will out produce the short leaders, my experience anyway.

[PigBoy]

With leaders that long, you must be fishing in pretty clear areas, as in without much snags. Up on LOW, we started using 36 to 42 inch leaders, but we would get snagged up on pass after pass. We switched down to 24" leaders and got more fish and less snags.