I really needed this. I’m one of those that heard so many pros recommend it that I have spent the last 2 years trying to get used to it. Every time I hear that knot click through the guides I wince. I think I am going to go back to straight floor again purely for the enjoyment of not worrying about that knot every cast. Love you videos Randy.
@@jasonking3096 - appreciate your response, however, I tie a darn good FG and can still feel/hear it tap the last few guides. No knot is ALWAYS smoother than the best knot out there.
I agree mostly with your points, but for recreational anglers where money isn’t on the line with every fish, cost becomes a factor. If you don’t have a sponsor, it gets expensive respooling with fluorocarbon every few months. I use the same line as you and with braid to fluoro I can retie the Fluoro part at least 20 times per spool. That’s a lot of money saved.
so true. I could watch someone sitting in the boat with me catch 10 fish with a specific lure or piece of gear and I'll still feel really uncomfortable with something that I've never caught a fish with, even with simple stuff like line and terminal tackle.
I'm really starting to enjoy your videos.. always full of info.. and your experience matters.. thank you for sharing your knowledge and opinions always enjoy hearing what you have to say.
Randy, you have a wonderful demeanor and it shows how much you really want to share what you know about fishing. Just putting a couple extra fish in the boat is important for us weekend warriors. How are we ever going to get better if you don't share your tips with us. It is not like most of us can put in hundreds of hours on the water. Shortening the learning curve with your experience gives the average fisherman confidence. Thank you
The big thing with me, particularly on spinning outfits, is that if I run straight fluoro I get way more bird's nests and it just seems to be harder to handle. In the past 3 years I've been doing the braid backing to fluoro leader thing, I don't think I've ever broken off at my leader tie once. Maybe I'm just lucky but it works for me. I feel like I get better performance with the braid. Baitcasters are a different story, I've started running one of my casting outfits with straight fluoro and it not only casts better but it makes it way easier to tie new lures on etc.
Randy, you are the Pro, and besides that I totally do understand your point of view on this. I never felt as if I would get the same amount of bites switching to braid, and avoided the more complicated knots, but settled with a shorter FC leader than my comfort level prompted, and used a barrel swivel. Well, I didn't get the same amount of bites and went on with my straight FC, but the frustration, mainly with line twist, grew over the years, as did my costs in funding 1,000 yard spools of Seaguar abrazx, on the many spinning outfits I've alway employed. Last year I decided enough was enough. I switched all of my spinning reels to braid with leader, and I've got to say it was a dream come true for me. I have a disability that makes it especially difficult to tie intricate knots, but I was able to learn the double-uni knot and have not had a single instance of a breakoff at or around the knot. The line twist on spinning reels with FC, for me, was no small inconvenience. With braid its simply a non-issue, and a pleasure. And although I never had a real issue missing or losing fish with straight FC, the no stretch adds an element of sensitivity which to me is a bonus. For now, I expect to go on using straight FC on my casting setups, simply because I don't really experience very much of the line twist issues with casting reels. I'm not the best with baitcasters, and am not in a hurry to be digging out those bird nests with braid!
Thanks for video Randy, I also used to use braid to fluor, too many knot failures. I tried 20lb green braid to 8lb green big game mono. It has worked so much better for me on my spinning rigs. Good luck out there Randy!
I started out fishing with a Mitchell 300 I laid it away at western auto and paid it off working odd jobs and I have been a spinning reel guy ever since still have it . I love your show thanks .
Thanks for this information, Randy. I appreciate your sincerity. I'm coming back to fishing after many years away and trying to soak in as much information as I can. Your channel is one I'm relying on. Just set up my first bait caster. Debated to use braid or flourocarbon. The rivers and waters around western PA are very clear so I opted to go with just floro, based on the information you've presented in this and another video. Simple is good, esp. when kayak fishing. Thanks, again!
Lol Randy you done went and broke their braid to flouro knot's and got them all worked up! Lol love your stuff and learning alot from you! Keep up the awesome work!
It's funny you say because I consider myself "old school" but over the last 2 years, I have learned to really appreciate braid to leader. I like the versatility leaders provide depending on the application. I only fish 6 rods so I can't economically change line spools to specific tactics but I can quickly and economically change my leader. Like you I used to not retie as often as I should have but now that I have a better organization and become more proficient with knot tieing, I now retie more often than needed. Thanks for sharing your perspective... I definitely value your opinion and shared knowledge! 👍
Good points to consider. I'm just a hard head I guess and while I've tried straight floro several times I always go back to the braid/floro combination. I just can't deal with the twists and 'swarms' of the fluro. I don't seem to lose fish on my floro/braid knot, and the braid doesn't seem to affect the number of bites. But I grew up fishing the old thick, black nylon line for everything and caught lots of fish on it. It was all we had at the time.
I've tried straight fluoro and so far I am *not* a fan. I do still use 6# fluoro on my ultralight rod, but in my experience any fluoro heavier than that is useless, at least on a spinning reel. Way too stiff, way too much memory, and just flakes off the reel and gets knotted up too much for my tastes. Maybe it's better on a bait-caster, but I just run braid on all of those.
Great topic and your experience agrees with way I feel.....I do use braid a little for topwater and a little for spinning in dirtier water......Not a fan of having to tie FG knots all time as leaders shrink! Thanks and keep them coming Randy!!
I very much appreciate your calm delivery of your message. It is a trade-off of benefits (simplicity of straight fluorocarbon, that will twist VS braid + F-leader that will cast further). If I were willing to use new lines every year, and casting distance was not a big deal, then I would love the simplicity of Straight fluorocarbon. But I don’t. And because I throw very light lures; the combination is best for me.
I've been able to control line twist on the strait fluorocarbon using reels that are larger in size. Like size 30 or 40. You get smoother drag most cases that way as well. Braid to Fluoro is for me used with slightly heavier line and hooks that are not exposed or very deep fish to aid on hooksets. Great content again Randy!
First of all, thank you for your information. Very helpful in so many ways. I use fluorocarbon exclusively because I can break off the line at the hook when I get hung up . I employ a variation of a uniknot that gives me angle. Being a shoreline fisherman, the Zebco 33 works best for me in certain applications like when I cast about 70 ft along the bank and the moment my worm taps the water , I race it towards me watching as up to 3 bass try to run it down at the same time. An amazing sight.I can still land 11 lb bass with the fluorocarbon and yes it does have it's drawbacks but for me, since I don't use a boat, it works just fine. I forget how many times I tried to set the hook on a bass only to pull up a bluegill that got his little teeth snagged on the tail of the worm when working the bottom. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe a 1lb sunfish could feel like a 3lb bass hitting my lure. All you pro fisherman really helped me out over the years with the insights that you provided. I know braided has it's benefits so I don't put it down in any way at all. Thanks for your time and the good Lord bless you all.
I put on braid to fluorocarbon on several of my rods last year (spinning and bait casters). The braid is so sensitive you can feel everything that’s happening during your retrieve. On the other hand, I lost a few good fish due to knot failures. The other thing I like is no line twist when fishing Texas or Carolina rigs. One downside I’ve found on a spinning rod is that occasionally, I’ll get what I call a “wind knot” in the braided line as I cast, where the line loops around itself... I suspect it’s because of the different mass between the fluorocarbon leader and the braided main line. I think I’ll be transitioning back to straight fluorocarbon this year as I replace line on my rods. Thanks for the great information and insights!!
Just go and fish! Live in a moment of enjoying nature and use what ever feels best! After reading all of these comments. It is all personal preference / Cost / absolute opinion. I have used nylon mason line with a hook / sinker / bobber and a long bamboo pole. Still caught walleye a plenty. Have fun with your outing and enjoy. Thank you Randy for putting out this video and continued support for your time and content. Cheers!
I'm with you Randy. Knots are a potential weakness, I don't care what kind of knot that anyone uses. I either use straight floro., straight braid or even straight mono. I like to keep things as simple as possible.
I have 4 spinning outfits and 2 of them have braid to Fluro leaders. The other 2 are straight flurocarbon, one 10lb, one 6 or 8lb. When I do use braid to fluro I usually have 10 ft. leader. I usually use it is stained or dirty water applications. Fairly clear water it is straight flurocarbon. Love the videos, Thanks Randy !
I think you had touched on it in your video, confidence in your setup is to me the most important factor. I believe especially if you do not have confidence in it, most people will fish it differently, either too fast or give up on the presentation far too early.
Great information. I use braid to flouro most of the time except for really clear water. To avoid retying, I carry extra reel pre rigged and swap out the spool if in a hurry.
Double uni is fast and its really strong when tied correctly. I also make my leader really long. I've broken off at the leader once when I was hung up but I kinda expected it because I didn't change my leader after two trips out fishing. I guess it's just preference. It saves me a lot of money by just replacing my leader instead of the whole spool
Randy here in Australia we used to have only monofilament lines back in the day... Then Spiderline braid and Berkleys Fireline came onto the scene and changed fishing as we knew it forever...That opened the door to braided lines and eventually to flurocarbon lines...In some fisheries especially the tournaments scenes running straight through flurocarbon lines has got very popular...However braid tied to flurocarbon lines has gained a massive following in our country... A lot of people tie it off with a FG knot but personally I use a uni knot...Also you said in very clear water braid can be seen pretty easy...however I have found all black colour or Brown camoflague braids to be quite invisible in gin clear freshwater environments...All of my baitcasters and spinning threadline reels is set up with varying rated braids mixed with flurocarbon lines... however for topwater in freshwater I much prefer to use straight monofilament lines off a baitcaster reel...This is one of those topics that can create a lot of issues for less experienced anglers but I say use what works for you...Oh by the way my leader lengths do vary from 12 to 18 inch lengths only...Anyways as always I enjoy your insights into the world of angling and I look forward to watching more of your content mate...regards B.J. B.J.sCustom Baits Australia.
I'm glad to find a pro who shares the same opinion as I do on this topic. Thanks for not making me continue to feel like an idiot when people give me crap for not backing with braid. Now I can say, well Randy Blaukat doesn't
Randy, I always enjoy your comment and there is no reason for people to get testy because they might not agree. I am no where the angler you all are so my comment is not all that useful but I'm giving it anyway. I usually fish a small weedy pond with cattails and brush along the edge. I use braid with fluoro leader and *usually* fish without any weight. Since I cast a long the bank, and with our strong winds, the wind likes to blow my line into the cattails. I use 12 lb braid 10 lb fluoro; double uni braid to fluoro and palomar to lure. When caught in weeds I have used a lot of force trying to break lure from cattails and have never had a knot failure.
Yeah, bloody knots & correct application. Growing up I used one knot & one knot only. Now I feel like I’ve got to Carry an instruction book for ALL the knots one HAS to use & when & where.
My personal opinion... Good old high quality mono is the way to go to keep things simple. Love Sufix Siege. It’s tough and supple and knots great. I’ve tried braid (felt like I was using thread) and flouro (felt like wire). I think line has become one of the most over thought marketing schemes out there. Mono has been catching fish just fine for well over a half century. Again, my own opinion.
I am a braid to Fluro guy. However, I have a couple rigs with straight fluro. Straight fluro is so much more manageable in high wind because it sinks. Braid will blow the bait around. All set ups have their place. Thanks Randy for all the information. God Bless!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on braid to flouro vs straight flouro. As on person mentioned, I typically buy Seaguar or Sunline and the added cost, especially with having change line every 6 months or so does add to the cost. Also, in the past I've tried straight flouro and had problems with the line wanting to "jump" off the reel even when I use line conditioner. I guess my question would be two fold. 1) How often do I really need to change my line if I go to straight flouro? 2) Is size in InvizX where it will stay limp and very castable?
Omg!! I received my first spinning reel and rod when I was about 9 or 10 years old and it was A Mitchell 308, and my dad fished a Mitchell 300 and that's what he caught his largest bass on with a Lucky 13.
I'm one of those on the fence guys. Ive used braid to fluoro for several years. I cant stand that sound of the knot going through my guides. Plus on my casting rigs, that knot has torn the tip inserts out a couple of times. So on my casting reels i went back to mono and kept the braid/mono on my spinning combos. I onow that mono is not good on spinning reels so my options at this point is P-Line, fluro or copolymer. After seeing your content and several others , i am going to go with fluro. Fluorocarbon didnt work well for me on baitcasting combos, but maybe it will work for me on spinning gear. Thanks for your channel and keep the tips coming
*This was my first time using Braided line and I was happy with the product **enjoyable.fishing** recommend it's held up well and I have no complaints. Would buy again.*
Randy, I disagree with you about your comment at 12:15 that this isnt about you being a veteran angler, lol!! That is exactly what it is about for us. You are a veteran angler and we put stock in that. You are a huge asset to us. I fish braid exclusively all the way to the lure but because of your videos and Jonny's videos Im gonna try straight floro. I dont believe in the leader thing cause like you said it is a week link. Dont worry so much about offending people with your opinion cause you are a pro and thats the opinion we are all looking for! Lol!!!! Great content brother, keep up the great work! And thanks for your honesty, its refreshing! God bless!
Hello Randy this is big poppa pump You are a refined expert I wanna take your advice says fish strictly with Flora carbon and then amanah go back and start using braid floor carbon I think I'm gonna end up stain with Flora carbon I use the line Flora clear which is copolymer and a codina Flora carbon on the outside that's what I use I really love it thanks Randy your the super bomb baby Big poppa pump from the California Delta thanks again Randy I listen to all your videos your super exact on 99.999 of everything you got to say
Great video! I'm certainly not the angler you are. I do prefer braid to leader, whether that is mono or floro. Retying leaders is a time waster, I agree, but I think it is worth it for not dealing with memory in the line affecting the presentation of the baits, having the versatility to change a leader type for a given situation, and having the added sensitivity that comes with limited stretch. I use a blood knot for the leader connection, and I have gotten pretty efficient at tying it. You make good points that are worth considering for me, though.
The only time I use braid on a spinning rod is when I am night fishing. I have spooled my spinning reel with 8lb Pline CX copolymer. Happy so far and zero break offs to date.
You should do a fluorcarbon vs nylon mono myths vs realities. Its crazy how many people think fluoro has less stretch or is more abrasion resistant than nylon! Sink vs float? They act like fluorcarbon is made of lead and mono is made of helium or something. Nobody actually tests what the marketing says. Its wild!
I fish B2F because it's an easy transition from steelhead fishing. I'm already very familiar with using that combo and from the bank having superior line capacity is a must so braid shines. I also like that with the braid I can wrap my arm around the line and pull free most snags which happens frequently if your fishing in the right places
Am re-thinking all my spinning rod setups with braid to floro leader.(10 lb braid to INVIZX 6 pound)..I'm not sure if INVIZX is the best but I'm comfortable with it and watch for it to go on sale (seldom). Wish they had a cheaper (but just as good) floro but I've not found it. Interesting story about the Lake Mead tournament (what a bummer!)...I've always worried whether my double-uni knot would hold and as I think about it, I would spool up with all INVIZX but I can't always control the line twist with floro but everyone says don't use a swivel (yes, I know how to close the bail first). Thanks for the good ideas.
I agree with your points Randy. What I do is I do not use a spinning outfit EVER!! I use braid as a filler on all my casting rods and that allows me to only spool on about a cast and a half of new flouro and that helps me afford to respool often 👍
As much as I’d like to argue with Randy’s logic, I must admit that I’ve had my knot fail me on multiple occasions in the learning process. I believe when tied correctly, the FG is the best knot, but I couldn’t seem to master it and I’ve settled in on the crazy Alberto with confidence. I can also tie and intend to experiment with the red Phillips knot. The only disadvantage of straight Floro that I can think of, aside from cost, would be its aggressive nature on the spool. It does like to twist and will run of the spool if you spool too much on the reels spool to begin with. If some of you guys on the fence decide to go straight floro, leave a 1/8 inch or a tad more when you spool the reel. In other words, don’t fill the spool completely with line and that will help with the overrun and line twist. I would argue that with an effective and properly tied knot, that my casting is improved, and hookets are improved with the braid-floro leader having less stretch than the straight floro. I don’t get to fish as much as I once did, and Randy may have talked me into going straight floro moving forward. Randy is spot on with the time consuming process of the knots, I’m guilty of half assing a knot if I’m under pressure and the the wind is howling, or the fish are biting, or my partner is trying to leave the spot ASAP. Straight floro equals 1 knot to the bait. Thank you for taking on the topic Randy.
My fishing buddy and I have been doing braid to fluoro for a couple years in weekend tournaments. We both decided to go back to straight flouro this year. It may just be me, but I feel like I can feel the bait better with straight flouro. He didn't like the extra knot.
My favorite reason to use braid to leader is to be able to adjust my leader diameter. Either to get my crank bait down an extra foot or to make my Texas rig to fall a certain speed. I agree though straight flouro when fishing for smallies in clear water. Good video Randy
Randy. How long can you effectively use your fluorocarbon on a reel? One reason I use braid to fluoro, is that I can keep the braid on my reel pretty much all year long and save money on just having to use the fluoro leader. I would prefer to use straight fluorocarbon but just do not fully know the cost to benefit ratio of using fluorocarbon throughout the year, with me being a frugal angler. Thank you for your videos Randy!
The difference in action from straight flouro VS braid/leader is probably the only thing I feel like I'm missing out on. However on longer casts, I definitely have more sensitivity with braid/leader, especially with a cheaper rod. Sometimes I just need to keep in mind not to over work the bait.
Hello Randy. I'm pretty new to bass fishing and have been predominantly shore bound. (Will end up boating in 2021). But I have found, because I cast deep into cover aggressively and thus get hung a lot, that when you have to break off flouro, the entire length of the line that is out is shot. This is due to the flouro being stretched out. That's why I like braid to flouro and am considering trying braid to mono due to some videos I watched from guys from salt stong.
I like braid on my t-rig setups I use high vis yellow with a leader because my bass are very finicky in Az, I want the braid on top of the water so I can see the slight movement in my line when a bass just sits there with it. Also I feel the braid gives me better feel then floro I also hate how drop shots will ruin your line memory bad. I do see some positives with floro from a time perspective and not having to worry about extra knots.
I agree with you. I’m from Guntersville and I can pretty much get away with braid year round, it’s important in the spring for presentation to get bit and as the grass grows you need it more and more. After the grass falls there are a few things I may fish on fluorocarbon, but braid is my main line year round. From strictly a mechanical perspective, the odds are against you, mathematically , and I really don’t care how good you tie knots. It takes money fish to change your mind at times....
Great 😌………being new to the lure world of fishing 🎣 I have recently loaded nearly ALL my reels, bait-caster & spinners with braid for use with mono or Fluoro leader. And yes my dad encouraged many years ago the least number of knots is the safest set-up. What to do now??? Nearly everyone I spoke to said “go with the braid”. My doubts have now been raised again. 🤔🥺😢😜🇦🇺 (I got sucked into BRAID I think, because it’s a new method.)
I’m gonna try going straight flouro. I can tie a very thin FG knot, but eventually the knot gets compromised- especially in micro guides. Very interested in hearing what applications you use a spinning set up on 50% of the time. I use it probably 10%.
Bagh ...I’ve been using straight floro for near everything for 20 years - all those urban legends are just that .. I only use braid for two things - straight braid for frogs 🐸.. braid to floro for jig fishing . That’s all . Spinning reels I use nanofil ( it’s better then braid ) P.s ... lake mead is my home lake - tuff lake hu - 😉
This guy speaks the truth. If you want to throw 8 lb or less, use a spinning reel. Going heavier, get on the baitcaster. Floro has its place, but I think it's a bit overrated for everything. Again it's alot about confidence, if you feel good and It works,.. but don't you don't have to always follow the crowd to be successful.
I haven’t had many issues with the knot breaking but I do feel like it cost me fish due to the visibility of the braid. Any tips to help reduce the twist? I know the basic things like putting the line on correctly from the spoil and manually flipping the bell over but I still get twist when using straight fluorocarbon.
A big one for me is that fluoro is more sensitive on slack line. When flipping jigs I get far more bites on a slack line fall. Cannot feel the light ones on braid, but sure can on fluroro. Just my experience :)
I run braid to leader on everything except a-rigs and crankbaits. For me, it's about the extra sensitivity, less line memory, line twist resistance and superior castibility. If the situation calls for straight fluoro, I just tie an extremely long leader. It might not be for everyone but it works for me. just like many things in fishing, what you do and use can boil down to personal preference. There are plenty of guys that have tons of success using it and tons of guys that have success NOT using it. Experiment with it and see what works for you
I've found that there is no single fishing line set up that works for all things. For us northerners who fish a lot of multi-species, there isn't one set up that works for smallies, walleye, pike, musky, steelhead, salmon, pan fishing etc. however I have found if you are just starting out, 30 lb braid to be a solid all-around line where I can tie on mono and flouro leaders depending on the lure. I fish where pike are abundant so putting heavy leaders on is pretty practical. edit: plus most of the water I fish is stained with tannic acid from the forest around the water so the clarity is darker.
I completely agree. Another note. Most braids are buoyant. So when throwing something like a spybait, you are better off using straight 4 or 5lb fluoro to maintain a specific depth more easily. The only benefit I see for braid to fluoro is drop shotting super deep water to reduce twist or fishing a light weight bait in shallow cover because you can tie a heavy leader to braid and fish it on a spinning rod. I did the braid thing for a while but I'm changing back to straight fluoro. The only problem is that the price of fluoro has gotten ridiculous.
say in my opinion braid to floro is a good thing, especialy when I am out on the river like the clear Jacks Fork and current river I will use braid to floro because the floro gets twisted up a lot and usually in any cases I will use braid to floro but I will be having to test that if it is not getting very many bites. although the nots are always a pain in the but.
It started in salt water fishing and is still the best in that venue, you get much longer casts with 10 pound braid then the leaders are a foot of 15-20 floro then 30-40 floro at the hook, I use a double uni, for bass everything you’ve stated is true so you have to have a few spinning rods rigged, still like the braid better because of minimal line twist and looping, and I’ve caught up to 50 pound fish and never had a knot fail with the double uni and to compensate for no stretch just go down a rod power, lastly always paint your braid black for several feet!
I am playing around and trying the braid to floro but still undecided. My Major Question is......Where did you find a Lawn Chair with Web Strapping!!! 😉
Randy, could you do a video on how to best spool fluorocarbon to decrease line twist? I use braid to leader but I see many good points here, just havn’t had a lot of luck with straight fluro because I have lost a lot of line do to twists. Thanks a lot for the info.
i spooled straight flouro on my spinning rod counter clockwise, i haven’t had any problems with it the last two months. This was also my first time using it lol
Have you tried fused superline Randy? I just started using the Berkley Crystal fused line and so far I'm really liking it. It has a lot of the positive characteristics of braid, and - if you believe the hype - is nearly invisible in the water like fluorocarbon.
All my fishing friends are all braid all the time. I resist but do use it for buzzbaits, horneytoads and floating worms. I use floro on jigs, chatterbaits and soft plastics. Mono is for cranking and spinnerbaits.
I used to use spider wire with a mono leader but it caused me more grief as i had more issues with bird nests when knots slowed my lure down but not my spool which would burry my line when the slack was taken out by the lure when it came to its end of travel... so now my leaders are no shorter than 3 feet
Just caught a 25lb carp while bass fishing with 15lb braid to an 8lb fluoro leader. Solid 15 minutes of fight. Knot held, landed in my boat, and got the weight (24.72lbs exactly). I'm good with braid to fluoro. I like the visibility of the braid, which has been more valuable to me as I've got older and my vision has got worse. I think being able to clearly see my line has helped me to catch many more fish than if I was throwing straight fluoro. JMHO
I really needed this. I’m one of those that heard so many pros recommend it that I have spent the last 2 years trying to get used to it. Every time I hear that knot click through the guides I wince. I think I am going to go back to straight floor again purely for the enjoyment of not worrying about that knot every cast. Love you videos Randy.
You read my mind to the tee, I have given it it's fair due, I'm going back and never switching again.
learn to tie an fg and u won’t ever have to worry about hearing the knot. it’s tiny
@@jasonking3096 - appreciate your response, however, I tie a darn good FG and can still feel/hear it tap the last few guides. No knot is ALWAYS smoother than the best knot out there.
I agree mostly with your points, but for recreational anglers where money isn’t on the line with every fish, cost becomes a factor. If you don’t have a sponsor, it gets expensive respooling with fluorocarbon every few months. I use the same line as you and with braid to fluoro I can retie the Fluoro part at least 20 times per spool. That’s a lot of money saved.
Agreed, most times mono is still a good choice just for the cost factor.
It's all about confidence. You have to do what works for You!
so true. I could watch someone sitting in the boat with me catch 10 fish with a specific lure or piece of gear and I'll still feel really uncomfortable with something that I've never caught a fish with, even with simple stuff like line and terminal tackle.
Thanks for all these videos. Appreciate you taking the time to talk through all things fishing. Have a great day!
I'm really starting to enjoy your videos.. always full of info.. and your experience matters.. thank you for sharing your knowledge and opinions always enjoy hearing what you have to say.
Love the video. With that would you do a video of how you spool your spinning reel. And how to avoid line twist. Thank you
That is some of the best insight I have seen on youtube! Thanks a lot!
Excellent video Randy! I have been on the fence with this issue, thank you for your insight.
Randy, you have a wonderful demeanor and it shows how much you really want to share what you know about fishing. Just putting a couple extra fish in the boat is important for us weekend warriors. How are we ever going to get better if you don't share your tips with us. It is not like most of us can put in hundreds of hours on the water. Shortening the learning curve with your experience gives the average fisherman confidence. Thank you
Love your practical takes on subject matter. Experience on the water is king. Thanks from Springfield
The big thing with me, particularly on spinning outfits, is that if I run straight fluoro I get way more bird's nests and it just seems to be harder to handle. In the past 3 years I've been doing the braid backing to fluoro leader thing, I don't think I've ever broken off at my leader tie once. Maybe I'm just lucky but it works for me. I feel like I get better performance with the braid. Baitcasters are a different story, I've started running one of my casting outfits with straight fluoro and it not only casts better but it makes it way easier to tie new lures on etc.
You birdsnest with spinning gear?
you think fluoro casts better and is easier to tie?
Thanks Randy! Keep bringing the knowledge brother!!
Randy, you are the Pro, and besides that I totally do understand your point of view on this. I never felt as if I would get the same amount of bites switching to braid, and avoided the more complicated knots, but settled with a shorter FC leader than my comfort level prompted, and used a barrel swivel. Well, I didn't get the same amount of bites and went on with my straight FC, but the frustration, mainly with line twist, grew over the years, as did my costs in funding 1,000 yard spools of Seaguar abrazx, on the many spinning outfits I've alway employed. Last year I decided enough was enough. I switched all of my spinning reels to braid with leader, and I've got to say it was a dream come true for me. I have a disability that makes it especially difficult to tie intricate knots, but I was able to learn the double-uni knot and have not had a single instance of a breakoff at or around the knot. The line twist on spinning reels with FC, for me, was no small inconvenience. With braid its simply a non-issue, and a pleasure. And although I never had a real issue missing or losing fish with straight FC, the no stretch adds an element of sensitivity which to me is a bonus. For now, I expect to go on using straight FC on my casting setups, simply because I don't really experience very much of the line twist issues with casting reels. I'm not the best with baitcasters, and am not in a hurry to be digging out those bird nests with braid!
Thanks for sharing, I appreciate your expertise. My dad also used and gave me Michell reels. Great memories
Great info , mr.Randy has done put em all to the test !
i use braid as a backer since it lasts forever. I usually run about 40-50 yards of floro on my finesse setups
Yep I do the same
Ive always wanted to do this but im too lazy lolol. I bet its nice though.
Braid as filler 👍ok 😀
@@sjaycongleton9234 it keeps the spool weight down using braid. A-mart has a vid on it
Randy I love your videos! Keep em coming bud!
Thanks for video Randy, I also used to use braid to fluor, too many knot failures. I tried 20lb green braid to 8lb green big game mono. It has worked so much better for me on my spinning rigs. Good luck out there Randy!
Peanut butter cookies are the best! I will fight anyone who says otherwise! Great video, Randy. Keep them coming!
Peanut butter chocolate chip
Oatmeal penut butter chocolate chip in one 🍪 .....is the bestis !
I started out fishing with a Mitchell 300 I laid it away at western auto and paid it off working odd jobs and I have been a spinning reel guy ever since still have it . I love your show thanks .
Thanks for this information, Randy. I appreciate your sincerity. I'm coming back to fishing after many years away and trying to soak in as much information as I can. Your channel is one I'm relying on. Just set up my first bait caster. Debated to use braid or flourocarbon. The rivers and waters around western PA are very clear so I opted to go with just floro, based on the information you've presented in this and another video. Simple is good, esp. when kayak fishing. Thanks, again!
Lol Randy you done went and broke their braid to flouro knot's and got them all worked up! Lol love your stuff and learning alot from you! Keep up the awesome work!
It's funny you say because I consider myself "old school" but over the last 2 years, I have learned to really appreciate braid to leader. I like the versatility leaders provide depending on the application. I only fish 6 rods so I can't economically change line spools to specific tactics but I can quickly and economically change my leader. Like you I used to not retie as often as I should have but now that I have a better organization and become more proficient with knot tieing, I now retie more often than needed. Thanks for sharing your perspective... I definitely value your opinion and shared knowledge! 👍
Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Good points to consider. I'm just a hard head I guess and while I've tried straight floro several times I always go back to the braid/floro combination. I just can't deal with the twists and 'swarms' of the fluro. I don't seem to lose fish on my floro/braid knot, and the braid doesn't seem to affect the number of bites. But I grew up fishing the old thick, black nylon line for everything and caught lots of fish on it. It was all we had at the time.
I've tried straight fluoro and so far I am *not* a fan. I do still use 6# fluoro on my ultralight rod, but in my experience any fluoro heavier than that is useless, at least on a spinning reel. Way too stiff, way too much memory, and just flakes off the reel and gets knotted up too much for my tastes. Maybe it's better on a bait-caster, but I just run braid on all of those.
Great topic and your experience agrees with way I feel.....I do use braid a little for topwater and a little for spinning in dirtier water......Not a fan of having to tie FG knots all time as leaders shrink! Thanks and keep them coming Randy!!
I very much appreciate your calm delivery of your message. It is a trade-off of benefits (simplicity of straight fluorocarbon, that will twist VS braid + F-leader that will cast further). If I were willing to use new lines every year, and casting distance was not a big deal, then I would love the simplicity of Straight fluorocarbon. But I don’t. And because I throw very light lures; the combination is best for me.
Us 3.7k followers are the lucky ones. So many people missing out on the killer info Randy keeps giving. The numbers will grow. The tips are too good.
Thx man!
I'll second that!
Funny seeing this. There’s 27K now and we still the lucky ones 🤣💪🏼👍🏻
been binge watching this guy. how have I not found this guy yet?
very helpfull thanks and keep the videos coming
I've been able to control line twist on the strait fluorocarbon using reels that are larger in size. Like size 30 or 40. You get smoother drag most cases that way as well. Braid to Fluoro is for me used with slightly heavier line and hooks that are not exposed or very deep fish to aid on hooksets. Great content again Randy!
Awesome info. Thank You
Great food for thought Randy, Thanks>
First of all, thank you for your information. Very helpful in so many ways. I use fluorocarbon exclusively because I can break off the line at the hook when I get hung up . I employ a variation of a uniknot that gives me angle. Being a shoreline fisherman, the Zebco 33 works best for me in certain applications like when I cast about 70 ft along the bank and the moment my worm taps the water , I race it towards me watching as up to 3 bass try to run it down at the same time. An amazing sight.I can still land 11 lb bass with the fluorocarbon and yes it does have it's drawbacks but for me, since I don't use a boat, it works just fine. I forget how many times I tried to set the hook on a bass only to pull up a bluegill that got his little teeth snagged on the tail of the worm when working the bottom. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe a 1lb sunfish could feel like a 3lb bass hitting my lure. All you pro fisherman really helped me out over the years with the insights that you provided. I know braided has it's benefits so I don't put it down in any way at all. Thanks for your time and the good Lord bless you all.
I put on braid to fluorocarbon on several of my rods last year (spinning and bait casters). The braid is so sensitive you can feel everything that’s happening during your retrieve. On the other hand, I lost a few good fish due to knot failures. The other thing I like is no line twist when fishing Texas or Carolina rigs. One downside I’ve found on a spinning rod is that occasionally, I’ll get what I call a “wind knot” in the braided line as I cast, where the line loops around itself... I suspect it’s because of the different mass between the fluorocarbon leader and the braided main line.
I think I’ll be transitioning back to straight fluorocarbon this year as I replace line on my rods.
Thanks for the great information and insights!!
Just go and fish! Live in a moment of enjoying nature and use what ever feels best!
After reading all of these comments. It is all personal preference / Cost / absolute opinion. I have used nylon mason line with a hook / sinker / bobber and a long bamboo pole. Still caught walleye a plenty. Have fun with your outing and enjoy.
Thank you Randy for putting out this video and continued support for your time and content.
Cheers!
I'm with you Randy. Knots are a potential weakness, I don't care what kind of knot that anyone uses. I either use straight floro., straight braid or even straight mono. I like to keep things as simple as possible.
I have 4 spinning outfits and 2 of them have braid to Fluro leaders. The other 2 are straight flurocarbon, one 10lb, one 6 or 8lb. When I do use braid to fluro I usually have 10 ft. leader. I usually use it is stained or dirty water applications. Fairly clear water it is straight flurocarbon. Love the videos, Thanks Randy !
I think you had touched on it in your video, confidence in your setup is to me the most important factor. I believe especially if you do not have confidence in it, most people will fish it differently, either too fast or give up on the presentation far too early.
Great information. I use braid to flouro most of the time except for really clear water. To avoid retying, I carry extra reel pre rigged and swap out the spool if in a hurry.
I'm not sensitive, I just want to learn.
Please don’t stop making these
Awesome Vid!!!
Excellent Excellent Video!
I agree Randy... personally I just cant see casting a knot thru my line guides, so much wrong with that. Keep up the good content Brother
Double uni is fast and its really strong when tied correctly. I also make my leader really long. I've broken off at the leader once when I was hung up but I kinda expected it because I didn't change my leader after two trips out fishing. I guess it's just preference. It saves me a lot of money by just replacing my leader instead of the whole spool
Idk I use dark green and blue braid I don't seem to have a problem with fish seeing my line but now you have me thinking.... Thanks for the tip Randy!
I agree with you totally , too many knots that can fail !
Thanks for telling us the leaders are not always a must
Randy here in Australia we used to have only monofilament lines back in the day... Then Spiderline braid and Berkleys Fireline came onto the scene and changed fishing as we knew it forever...That opened the door to braided lines and eventually to flurocarbon lines...In some fisheries especially the tournaments scenes running straight through flurocarbon lines has got very popular...However braid tied to flurocarbon lines has gained a massive following in our country... A lot of people tie it off with a FG knot but personally I use a uni knot...Also you said in very clear water braid can be seen pretty easy...however I have found all black colour or Brown camoflague braids to be quite invisible in gin clear freshwater environments...All of my baitcasters and spinning threadline reels is set up with varying rated braids mixed with flurocarbon lines... however for topwater in freshwater I much prefer to use straight monofilament lines off a baitcaster reel...This is one of those topics that can create a lot of issues for less experienced anglers but I say use what works for you...Oh by the way my leader lengths do vary from 12 to 18 inch lengths only...Anyways as always I enjoy your insights into the world of angling and I look forward to watching more of your content mate...regards B.J.
B.J.sCustom Baits Australia.
brian bochow Thank you Brian!
I'm glad to find a pro who shares the same opinion as I do on this topic. Thanks for not making me continue to feel like an idiot when people give me crap for not backing with braid. Now I can say, well Randy Blaukat doesn't
Randy, I always enjoy your comment and there is no reason for people to get testy because they might not agree.
I am no where the angler you all are so my comment is not all that useful but I'm giving it anyway. I usually fish a small weedy pond with cattails and brush along the edge. I use braid with fluoro leader and *usually* fish without any weight. Since I cast a long the bank, and with our strong winds, the wind likes to blow my line into the cattails. I use 12 lb braid 10 lb fluoro; double uni braid to fluoro and palomar to lure. When caught in weeds I have used a lot of force trying to break lure from cattails and have never had a knot failure.
Randy. I would like to hear your thoughts on knots for different applications
Yeah, bloody knots & correct application. Growing up I used one knot & one knot only. Now I feel like I’ve got to Carry an instruction book for ALL the knots one HAS to use & when & where.
My personal opinion... Good old high quality mono is the way to go to keep things simple. Love Sufix Siege. It’s tough and supple and knots great. I’ve tried braid (felt like I was using thread) and flouro (felt like wire). I think line has become one of the most over thought marketing schemes out there. Mono has been catching fish just fine for well over a half century. Again, my own opinion.
I am a braid to Fluro guy. However, I have a couple rigs with straight fluro. Straight fluro is so much more manageable in high wind because it sinks. Braid will blow the bait around. All set ups have their place. Thanks Randy for all the information. God Bless!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on braid to flouro vs straight flouro. As on person mentioned, I typically buy Seaguar or Sunline and the added cost, especially with having change line every 6 months or so does add to the cost. Also, in the past I've tried straight flouro and had problems with the line wanting to "jump" off the reel even when I use line conditioner. I guess my question would be two fold. 1) How often do I really need to change my line if I go to straight flouro? 2) Is size in InvizX where it will stay limp and very castable?
Omg!! I received my first spinning reel and rod when I was about 9 or 10 years old and it was A Mitchell 308, and my dad fished a Mitchell 300 and that's what he caught his largest bass on with a Lucky 13.
I'm one of those on the fence guys. Ive used braid to fluoro for several years. I cant stand that sound of the knot going through my guides. Plus on my casting rigs, that knot has torn the tip inserts out a couple of times. So on my casting reels i went back to mono and kept the braid/mono on my spinning combos. I onow that mono is not good on spinning reels so my options at this point is P-Line, fluro or copolymer. After seeing your content and several others , i am going to go with fluro. Fluorocarbon didnt work well for me on baitcasting combos, but maybe it will work for me on spinning gear. Thanks for your channel and keep the tips coming
*This was my first time using Braided line and I was happy with the product **enjoyable.fishing** recommend it's held up well and I have no complaints. Would buy again.*
I've tried it all and I agree 100% .... My most used is Floro lbs is 12 to 17 I don't go much more than that in Rayburn...
Randy, I disagree with you about your comment at 12:15 that this isnt about you being a veteran angler, lol!! That is exactly what it is about for us. You are a veteran angler and we put stock in that. You are a huge asset to us. I fish braid exclusively all the way to the lure but because of your videos and Jonny's videos Im gonna try straight floro. I dont believe in the leader thing cause like you said it is a week link. Dont worry so much about offending people with your opinion cause you are a pro and thats the opinion we are all looking for! Lol!!!! Great content brother, keep up the great work! And thanks for your honesty, its refreshing! God bless!
Hello Randy this is big poppa pump You are a refined expert I wanna take your advice says fish strictly with Flora carbon and then amanah go back and start using braid floor carbon I think I'm gonna end up stain with Flora carbon I use the line Flora clear which is copolymer and a codina Flora carbon on the outside that's what I use I really love it thanks Randy your the super bomb baby Big poppa pump from the California Delta thanks again Randy I listen to all your videos your super exact on 99.999 of everything you got to say
Totally agree. The negatives outweigh the potential benefits says it all. I use quality copolymer line myself.
Great video! I'm certainly not the angler you are. I do prefer braid to leader, whether that is mono or floro. Retying leaders is a time waster, I agree, but I think it is worth it for not dealing with memory in the line affecting the presentation of the baits, having the versatility to change a leader type for a given situation, and having the added sensitivity that comes with limited stretch. I use a blood knot for the leader connection, and I have gotten pretty efficient at tying it. You make good points that are worth considering for me, though.
I agree with you when it comes to baitcasters. Spinning reels are all braid to leader for me
The only time I use braid on a spinning rod is when I am night fishing. I have spooled my spinning reel with 8lb Pline CX copolymer. Happy so far and zero break offs to date.
You should do a fluorcarbon vs nylon mono myths vs realities. Its crazy how many people think fluoro has less stretch or is more abrasion resistant than nylon! Sink vs float? They act like fluorcarbon is made of lead and mono is made of helium or something. Nobody actually tests what the marketing says. Its wild!
I fish B2F because it's an easy transition from steelhead fishing. I'm already very familiar with using that combo and from the bank having superior line capacity is a must so braid shines. I also like that with the braid I can wrap my arm around the line and pull free most snags which happens frequently if your fishing in the right places
Am re-thinking all my spinning rod setups with braid to floro leader.(10 lb braid to INVIZX 6 pound)..I'm not sure if INVIZX is the best but I'm comfortable with it and watch for it to go on sale (seldom). Wish they had a cheaper (but just as good) floro but I've not found it. Interesting story about the Lake Mead tournament (what a bummer!)...I've always worried whether my double-uni knot would hold and as I think about it, I would spool up with all INVIZX but I can't always control the line twist with floro but everyone says don't use a swivel (yes, I know how to close the bail first). Thanks for the good ideas.
Great video, I hope your doing well also!
I agree with your points Randy. What I do is I do not use a spinning outfit EVER!! I use braid as a filler on all my casting rods and that allows me to only spool on about a cast and a half of new flouro and that helps me afford to respool often 👍
As much as I’d like to argue with Randy’s logic, I must admit that I’ve had my knot fail me on multiple occasions in the learning process. I believe when tied correctly, the FG is the best knot, but I couldn’t seem to master it and I’ve settled in on the crazy Alberto with confidence. I can also tie and intend to experiment with the red Phillips knot. The only disadvantage of straight Floro that I can think of, aside from cost, would be its aggressive nature on the spool. It does like to twist and will run of the spool if you spool too much on the reels spool to begin with. If some of you guys on the fence decide to go straight floro, leave a 1/8 inch or a tad more when you spool the reel. In other words, don’t fill the spool completely with line and that will help with the overrun and line twist. I would argue that with an effective and properly tied knot, that my casting is improved, and hookets are improved with the braid-floro leader having less stretch than the straight floro. I don’t get to fish as much as I once did, and Randy may have talked me into going straight floro moving forward. Randy is spot on with the time consuming process of the knots, I’m guilty of half assing a knot if I’m under pressure and the the wind is howling, or the fish are biting, or my partner is trying to leave the spot ASAP. Straight floro equals 1 knot to the bait. Thank you for taking on the topic Randy.
I've also had pretty disastrous results with the FG knot, I just can't get it to bite. The Alberto knot seems to cast just as well imo.
Fully Agree, wind causes problems
With braid.... two knots too many
Lost several nice bass due to knot
at the leader .
My fishing buddy and I have been doing braid to fluoro for a couple years in weekend tournaments. We both decided to go back to straight flouro this year. It may just be me, but I feel like I can feel the bait better with straight flouro. He didn't like the extra knot.
My favorite reason to use braid to leader is to be able to adjust my leader diameter. Either to get my crank bait down an extra foot or to make my Texas rig to fall a certain speed. I agree though straight flouro when fishing for smallies in clear water. Good video Randy
Randy. How long can you effectively use your fluorocarbon on a reel? One reason I use braid to fluoro, is that I can keep the braid on my reel pretty much all year long and save money on just having to use the fluoro leader. I would prefer to use straight fluorocarbon but just do not fully know the cost to benefit ratio of using fluorocarbon throughout the year, with me being a frugal angler. Thank you for your videos Randy!
The difference in action from straight flouro VS braid/leader is probably the only thing I feel like I'm missing out on. However on longer casts, I definitely have more sensitivity with braid/leader, especially with a cheaper rod. Sometimes I just need to keep in mind not to over work the bait.
Hello Randy. I'm pretty new to bass fishing and have been predominantly shore bound. (Will end up boating in 2021). But I have found, because I cast deep into cover aggressively and thus get hung a lot, that when you have to break off flouro, the entire length of the line that is out is shot. This is due to the flouro being stretched out. That's why I like braid to flouro and am considering trying braid to mono due to some videos I watched from guys from salt stong.
th-cam.com/video/KiQTvmM-1cY/w-d-xo.html
I like braid on my t-rig setups I use high vis yellow with a leader because my bass are very finicky in Az, I want the braid on top of the water so I can see the slight movement in my line when a bass just sits there with it. Also I feel the braid gives me better feel then floro I also hate how drop shots will ruin your line memory bad. I do see some positives with floro from a time perspective and not having to worry about extra knots.
I agree with you. I’m from Guntersville and I can pretty much get away with braid year round, it’s important in the spring for presentation to get bit and as the grass grows you need it more and more. After the grass falls there are a few things I may fish on fluorocarbon, but braid is my main line year round. From strictly a mechanical perspective, the odds are against you, mathematically , and I really don’t care how good you tie knots. It takes money fish to change your mind at times....
Great 😌………being new to the lure world of fishing 🎣 I have recently loaded nearly ALL my reels, bait-caster & spinners with braid for use with mono or Fluoro leader. And yes my dad encouraged many years ago the least number of knots is the safest set-up. What to do now??? Nearly everyone I spoke to said “go with the braid”. My doubts have now been raised again. 🤔🥺😢😜🇦🇺 (I got sucked into BRAID I think, because it’s a new method.)
I’m gonna try going straight flouro. I can tie a very thin FG knot, but eventually the knot gets compromised- especially in micro guides.
Very interested in hearing what applications you use a spinning set up on 50% of the time. I use it probably 10%.
Don’t get rods with micro guides simple as that, not many that I see people use even have micro guides anymore
Thank you I have been struggling which way to go your way make's scents I only fish spinning reels .
Bagh ...I’ve been using straight floro for near everything for 20 years - all those urban legends are just that .. I only use braid for two things - straight braid for frogs 🐸.. braid to floro for jig fishing . That’s all .
Spinning reels I use nanofil ( it’s better then braid )
P.s ... lake mead is my home lake - tuff lake hu - 😉
This guy speaks the truth. If you want to throw 8 lb or less, use a spinning reel. Going heavier, get on the baitcaster. Floro has its place, but I think it's a bit overrated for everything. Again it's alot about confidence, if you feel good and It works,.. but don't you don't have to always follow the crowd to be successful.
I haven’t had many issues with the knot breaking but I do feel like it cost me fish due to the visibility of the braid. Any tips to help reduce the twist? I know the basic things like putting the line on correctly from the spoil and manually flipping the bell over but I still get twist when using straight fluorocarbon.
A big one for me is that fluoro is more sensitive on slack line. When flipping jigs I get far more bites on a slack line fall. Cannot feel the light ones on braid, but sure can on fluroro. Just my experience :)
I run braid to leader on everything except a-rigs and crankbaits. For me, it's about the extra sensitivity, less line memory, line twist resistance and superior castibility. If the situation calls for straight fluoro, I just tie an extremely long leader. It might not be for everyone but it works for me. just like many things in fishing, what you do and use can boil down to personal preference. There are plenty of guys that have tons of success using it and tons of guys that have success NOT using it. Experiment with it and see what works for you
I'm with ya Randy I only use braid when I'm punching that's it.....
I've found that there is no single fishing line set up that works for all things. For us northerners who fish a lot of multi-species, there isn't one set up that works for smallies, walleye, pike, musky, steelhead, salmon, pan fishing etc. however I have found if you are just starting out, 30 lb braid to be a solid all-around line where I can tie on mono and flouro leaders depending on the lure. I fish where pike are abundant so putting heavy leaders on is pretty practical.
edit: plus most of the water I fish is stained with tannic acid from the forest around the water so the clarity is darker.
I completely agree. Another note. Most braids are buoyant. So when throwing something like a spybait, you are better off using straight 4 or 5lb fluoro to maintain a specific depth more easily. The only benefit I see for braid to fluoro is drop shotting super deep water to reduce twist or fishing a light weight bait in shallow cover because you can tie a heavy leader to braid and fish it on a spinning rod. I did the braid thing for a while but I'm changing back to straight fluoro. The only problem is that the price of fluoro has gotten ridiculous.
say in my opinion braid to floro is a good thing, especialy when I am out on the river like the clear Jacks Fork and current river I will use braid to floro because the floro gets twisted up a lot and usually in any cases I will use braid to floro but I will be having to test that if it is not getting very many bites. although the nots are always a pain in the but.
It started in salt water fishing and is still the best in that venue, you get much longer casts with 10 pound braid then the leaders are a foot of 15-20 floro then 30-40 floro at the hook, I use a double uni, for bass everything you’ve stated is true so you have to have a few spinning rods rigged, still like the braid better because of minimal line twist and looping, and I’ve caught up to 50 pound fish and never had a knot fail with the double uni and to compensate for no stretch just go down a rod power, lastly always paint your braid black for several feet!
I am playing around and trying the braid to floro but still undecided.
My Major Question is......Where did you find a Lawn Chair with Web Strapping!!! 😉
Randy, could you do a video on how to best spool fluorocarbon to decrease line twist? I use braid to leader but I see many good points here, just havn’t had a lot of luck with straight fluro because I have lost a lot of line do to twists.
Thanks a lot for the info.
i spooled straight flouro on my spinning rod counter clockwise, i haven’t had any problems with it the last two months. This was also my first time using it lol
Have you tried fused superline Randy? I just started using the Berkley Crystal fused line and so far I'm really liking it. It has a lot of the positive characteristics of braid, and - if you believe the hype - is nearly invisible in the water like fluorocarbon.
All my fishing friends are all braid all the time. I resist but do use it for buzzbaits, horneytoads and floating worms. I use floro on jigs, chatterbaits and soft plastics. Mono is for cranking and spinnerbaits.
I have endured the extra knot for decades ... ugh. I bought some Invizx. Thanks from ... Joplin.
I used to use spider wire with a mono leader but it caused me more grief as i had more issues with bird nests when knots slowed my lure down but not my spool which would burry my line when the slack was taken out by the lure when it came to its end of travel... so now my leaders are no shorter than 3 feet
Just caught a 25lb carp while bass fishing with 15lb braid to an 8lb fluoro leader. Solid 15 minutes of fight. Knot held, landed in my boat, and got the weight (24.72lbs exactly). I'm good with braid to fluoro. I like the visibility of the braid, which has been more valuable to me as I've got older and my vision has got worse. I think being able to clearly see my line has helped me to catch many more fish than if I was throwing straight fluoro. JMHO