Fishing Leader Systems – An Introduction
Leaders are a favorite of many sports fisherman. Each type of leader has its’ own unique use. Whether you are a new fisherman or a seasoned fisherman, understanding that leaders (the line that attaches between bait and mainline) are an invaluable tool in some cases, you’ll be able to determine which leader is right for your needs.
Do I need a leader?
You might be wondering if a leader is necessary. While it’s not necessary in all cases, a leader can help keep your main line intact. Not using a leader can result in your line being completely sheared after a fight with an unusually aggressive fish.
Using Leaders
If you are dealing with a species that is a bit line shy, a leader can be invaluable. Because leaders can be made from any type of line, for line-shy fish you’d be best served with a fluorocarbon leader. The reason for fluorocarbon leaders is two fold – fish such as false albacore, bonito and mackerel have extremely good sight and they tend to also have great visual acuity. If for any reason your bait looks at all out of the ordinary, these fish are simply going to by-pass it and move on to other areas.
The primary motivation for using fluorocarbon is clear: Fluorocarbon offers a minuscule amount of light refraction, a clever way of hiding the line from the fish. A twenty-pound fluorocarbon leader is perfect, since the fish that you’d fish for using this kind of leader for have a tendency to average less than ten pounds. Seeing as these fish have a propensity for going after baitfish as their most important food source, a fluorocarbon leader can be the top tool to get the most out of your day’s haul. For most favorable results, make certain that you use a lead between three and four feet in length.
Braided line enthusiasts will quickly find out that, for their unique needs, monofilament leaders are preferable. This sort of leader is less noticeable than a braided line but also more flexible. Monofilament leaders abstract the shock of an aggressive fish, and are very useful for those who routinely opt for lighter graphite or fiberglass rods. A monofilament leader is usually constructed with at least three feet and at most five feet of length so that larger fish can be hauled in with a shorter line.
Sports fishermen, in particular those who enjoy pike, barracuda, bluefish and muskellunge, are completely aware of the extra-large teeth these breeds sport. If you combine these teeth with their enjoyment of wrecking a fishing line, chances are very good that your fondness would be for a steel leader. Steel leaders are usually designed from twenty or thirty pound weight and are very noticeable. For more hostile fish, such as bluefish, you’d be better suited with a forty to sixty pound weight. On the other hand, if barracuda is your partiality, you’re better off with something heavier, as a barracuda is apt to snap through a solitary strand of eighty-pound leader as if it were nothing at all. The lighter weight is best suited toward pike and muskies with their needle like teeth, and the heavier is ideal for fighters like bluefish and barracuda.
Don’t make the mistake of using the wrong leader for the fishing that you’re attempting. The right leader will always make the difference between a successful fishing trip and an unsuccessful trip. It never hurts to carry a variety of leaders in case the opportunity arises to use them. Remember, the wrong leader can result in a missed catch.
There are a large number of great fishing reels out on the market today. Some are more popular than others. Some of the more popular reels include Daiwa BG90 and Shimano Calcutta Fishing Reels.
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