How and why to use braid and a long fluorocarbon leader

Elite bass pro Mark Davis used to fish only fluorocarbon on his spinning tackle. Then he tried just braid. Now he uses braid with a LONG fluorocarbon leader for bass fishing. Here's in detail is why he does it and the knot he uses (FG knot).

[@SuperMelllo]

The first thing I noticed about this reel is its weight kzbin.infoUgkxM68VkfsQhHaabDce1IwOCXuvumcpbZ_k . I wouldn't say it was uncomfortable but it was a little heavier than other similarly sized reels. However, that didn't deter my enjoyment of how smooth this reel is. I spooled it with 20lb. Tuf-Line XP and it's perfect for what I use it for. I have it paired with an 8'6" Medium/Fast Okuma SST Salmon/Steelhead rod. The combination is perfect for casting and even drifting. I used the reel all day and didn't experience any arm or hand fatigue except when fighting a few fish! The bail is solid and feels strong when engaging by reeling and manually closing the bail by hand. The large rubber handle grip is very comfortable. It's got a powerful drag, silky smooth reeling, and feels very comfortable in the hands. I recommend it!

[@BostonFenian]

Best video on this subject I've seen yet. I'm in the same position Mark started in, where I'm just spooling up straight fluoro, having issues with line twist and friction affecting my casts. I see a lot of anglers use this braid setup with a fluoro leader but no one ever explains *why* they do that, what the advantages are, etc. Mark articulated clearly and explained in detail all the logic behind every part of this setup, down to the advantages of the FG knot, and I really appreciate all that specificity.

[@rileythomas9735]

Great video man. You brought my fishing to a whole other level. Keep the videos coming!

[@stevestokes1123]

Very informative video!! Thank you so much for making it easy to understand and grasp!!

[@williammurphy188]

I've been fishing with upholstery thread long before they come out with braided line. great video

[@rainbowpainterboy]

Amazing setup ! ☆☆☆☆☆ Thanks for sharing with us!

[@MrJayt0625]

Brilliant idea. I am going to try this idea on my finesse rod. Fluorocarbon is so damn pricey so this will help ease that price pain!!!

[@kenjr]

I just never bother with any of these leader set ups for Bass. I use mono and fluorocarbon in open water and straight braid in heavy vegetation. I don’t use light lines either. No complaints after 35 years of Bass fishing. Guess it is hard to train the old dogs. It’s a good informative video!, Thank You!

[@aprilpreston4089]

Ken Jr I haven’t either and caught monsters

[@leticianunez3822]

Thank you my fishing friend for the tip great vid i Have a question when fishing for big pike and muskys what line set up would you recommend

[@edwardlewis980]

I tie off with two knots the uni to uni and also the GT knot with excellent results

[@albukhariidjirani6045]

New to fishing here, I recently bought my first fishing gear and my line is a 25 lb braid , didn't knew that I would be needing a "leader" for it until I saw your video "How and why to use braid and a long fluorocarbon leader". My query now is what diameter and lb my flourocarbon leader should be that would match my 25 lb braid. Great video and truly educational.

[@jonnychrist69]

You don't need a leader at all if you are new to fishing this is a more advanced technique.

[@JoeHollandFishing]

Very informative, thank you

[@kentyler966]

I use the uni to uni knot for leaders with good results as well. Too lazy to learn a new knot. Will check out the knot you recommend to see how difficult it is to tie.

[@slougo5909]

Had left hand. Use uni to uni cause it works and Easy. Oh, I'm in NY state those Huge Florida everglade bass aren't biting my line any time soon.

[@slougo5909]

Bad

[@jooky5]

Yeah double uni has worked fine for me for 25+ years

[@lmsmbassaddict7779]

I've never had to change a spinning reel every day using pure FC. But I do generally use braid to FC because it's my favorite way to fish. But before all this braid jazz I would fish spools worth of FC and never get line twists like that.

[@justindesign]

Thanks for the video. Would you ever consider a similar rig for trout? Something like 8lb braid to a 4lb fluor leader on an ultralight set up?

[@mojoriden]

I use that all the time for trout. 10lb braid to 8lb mono or 15/8. 10 is really thin and will slice you up quick. I prefer 15 for that reason alone. I found that a 15/8 (sufix832/ seagur abraz) setup works for walleye, bass, and trout, pretty much everything I go after. If I fish slop for bass i just go straight to braid. Also, get some kvd line conditioner to keep the line casting extra smooth.

[@5150roc]

So what you're saying is, when figuring out what leader size to use, you go by the bradded line's test straight, not bradded line's diameter? So theoretically, you can have a leader diameter that is larger then the bradded line's diameter?

[@Larry77777]

Hey Michael: The FG knot works well with 15lb braid to 15lb fluoro leader. It works well because the .008"D braid neatly digs/grips into the .014"D leader. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppvdhpVrhrd-q80

[@josiahmcctchn]

Will you use 25' of f.c no matter how deep you fish?

[@dustyhill9379]

So your leader should be less weight than your braided line? I'm new so I want to make sure I'm understanding that right. Is that only true with Braided?

[@carolsettles8741]

what about 30 pound braid?

[@J_pearce01]

I cut my tag end as short as possible an then tie two overhand knots over the top of it.

[@evanmadson]

If I’m running 8lb test braid what size fluoro would y’all throw on, I’m up here in Minnesota and definitely have grown to like 8 more than the 10lb I used to always run

[@pat2430]

I use 15lb braid with 12lb flourcarbon

[@miked9918]

You don’t pop your line setting the hook with 6lb test? What about your drag?

[@ArizonaMMJ]

I have 20lb braid and some 8lb Flouro and the flouro is the 15ft leader. Will that be ok?

[@miked9918]

The Happy Hour Hound you may get popped lines when you set the hook.

[@sitbone3]

Use a swivel behind your bait. No line twist.

[@ColFrankFitz]

What's the benefit of the leader? Why not just straight braid?

[@DjkFarmdunn]

i like them thin slick and long

[@rogerbolman2718]

Sorry for the dumb question but I’m new to fishing . Why have a leader why not just fish straight florocarbon

[@bryce8174]

Flourocarbon doesnt cast well because its stiff and has bad memory

[@slougo5909]

I'm using 8# braid on daiwa bg 3000. Is a 10# flouro leader big enough?

[@slougo5909]

Or to big?

[@touki7899]

It's good. Line size depends if you're fishing cover or not.

[@slougo5909]

Thanks

[@ColFrankFitz]

So braid has no twist, better hookset then why bother with a leader?

[@loudguitar]

I'm sure this is beneficial, but using straight braid is too easy and I still catch a lot of fish worm fishing or using Senkos. I am a little confused with using 25 feet of leader. A lot of my worm fishing, especially with wacky rigged Senkos, isn't much further out than that. Seems like the braid is still on the reel and you are essentially just using fluorocarbon. This seems to defeat the purpose of using a 40 pound braid in cover. Like the gentleman here, I use spinning gear, a bigger reel and a medium heavy rod. I tie a Palomar knot to the hook and if it is tied right, I have never had one fail.

[@nickmartyn9610]

Why don’t u use a swivel your going to keep twisting your line with the fg to the leader the lures twist your line

[@mojoriden]

the twist happens at the reel not at the bait

[@chrisgibbons9277]

why such a long leader?

[@danyahlayahudah7507]

The only thing he said that he came wrong with is that you have to use a FG knot that's not true I use the same set up and I use the Uni to Uni or yukatan knots everything else is correct

[@danyahlayahudah7507]

What about when you fish heavy cover that 10 lb test will not work what you use then you are talking open water attack for if you are using that 10lbs in heavy cover you would be done fish gone with that part of your line

[@Thwarptide]

Just one more weak link to worry about. Apparently fish see but don't pay mind to those lures that are definitely not real looking (spoons, spinners etc) and let's not forget those highly visible treble hooks. Everything is obviously fake looking, yet fish, especially bass with their keen eyesight and knowledge of what's real and what's not in their realm will bite em. Explain that (they're either desperately hungry or defensive). I've used straight braid, no mono leaders, no weak links. Those links can fail as anyone who uses em can attest too. On a long enough time line, you'll eventually experience that weak link failure. Get some appropriately colored braided line. Learn to tie uni knots and their slight variants and go fishing. You'll catch just as many.

[@Beerhanded]

Hell yea! I fish all braid all the time myself... Only use mono/fluro for topwater personally

[@wheelieking3976]

What’s all that in English. Lol.

[@DavideSchachterJazz]

Sorry man but knots should always be out of the guides even when the knot is a FG or PR because sooner or later they will damage the tip and/or the guides.

[@williamjenkins3720]

DavideSchachterJazz I’ve had zero problems using his advice/suggestion or method, sorry bud but it works . Sure it’ll damage but not before we’re ready to re tie a new one.

[@colbs6726]

Not with current technology guides

[@jongenness3509]

@@williamjenkins3720 is this for bass fishing? What would you do for trout fishing? With braid

[@williamjenkins3720]

@@jongenness3509 I have no idea what how to use this method when trout fishing, sorry.