Flouro leaders - what is your opinion

[OneWay]

I have read some posts which claim that flouro leaders produce more fish than steel leaders. I might consider purchasing some if I had the confidence that I wouldn't get "bit off". Can anyone shed some light on this topic from their own personal experience.

[PDXFisher]

You won't get bit off. If it gets nicked, it's obvious and you'll swap it out. Most of the top guides are using fluoro now, good enough for them, good enough for me. I've had no problems whatsoever in two years of using 130lb stealth leaders.

[Rebel9921]

I make my own Fluoro leaders and dont see any reason to switch over to steel leaders... PDX stated some good reasons... and to add to the list... Fluoro cuts into the fish way less than steel does when they roll... and with Fluoro, theres no kinks or bent area to worry about like you would with steel...

[MUSKY18]

After talking to some folks, I purchased a few of the Stealth Floro leaders. Just got them and can't wait to get out and try them. They seem like they are going to be really good with my bucktails and cranks. Won't use them for my jerk-baits, as I like to have the stiff wire leaders for that application. Like stated above, many guides have switched over and they fish everyday, so they must be good.

[Bemidjifisher]

I use all flouro leaders with the exception of "walk the dog" style baits for which I use stiff wire leaders.

I use 12" 130lb for casting everything

I use 60" 200lb for trolling

Never had one break yet.

[10,000 Casts]

I use Flourocarbon leaders for everything except jerkbaits and walk the dog baits. It's because they get fouled up easily. I really started using them last year and I didn't have any problems with them so I will keep using them. I never use anything below 130lb test. 9" or 12" is fine. Not all leaders are created equal. I have used the crimped ones without any problems but many people have had breakage and slipage problems. (Flourocarbon has been known to slip and crimps have been known to break) A guy that I work with is making flouro leaders and they are awesome, he ties and crimps them then he mushrooms off the end so there is no slipage, they are the best leaders that I have ever seen. All the components are top of the line and I can't wait to use them.

To be honest, I fish some very clear lakes and we boat just as many fish on sevenstrand and solid wire leaders. But Flouro is definitly a good way to go, just make sure it is a quality leader with quality componants.

[10,000 Casts]

BemidjiFisher,

Great idea on the 5 Ft trolling leader.

[AWH]

I don't have any evidence to say that I catch more fish on fluoro. But I go through far fewer leaders. And throwing plastics like Bulldawgs and Curly Sues, there's no way I will ever use those with wire leaders again. Get a "dawg ball" and there's a good chance your wire leader will have a kink or a slight bend. No worries on that with fluoro.

Only use a good quality fluoro leader. There are a lot of very inferior ones on the market. There are only a few that I have come across that pass the quality test in my opinion, and none better than the Stealth Leaders that I've found. 100# is the bare minimum to use for musky applications. I use 130# Stealth and now that he's making 150# this year, I'll likely be using them.

The most common failures when it comes to fluoro that cause people to think they're a bad thing: Component failure, using too light of fluoro (less than 100#), and not inspecting your leader for nicks. If there's a bad spot, change it. It's not worth the risk of losing a bait. And most importantly, it's not worth the risk of leaving a bait in a fish's mouth.

ALL leaders can fail: wire, fluoro or mono. Take the proper precautions and fluoro is no more likely to fail than anything else.

Aaron

[cjac]

Ditto what Aaron said, thanks for posting.

Outside of WTD topwaters and such, I'm primarily flouro. Less kinking, less lure wear and cuts on plastics, etc. I have used the 80lb on light stuff, but it gets a little "iffy" at times. Going to a 100 min this year.

Most of mine are from Thorne, but will be making my own in '08. The right saltwater crimpers, sleeves, snaps, and I'm all set.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

I use floro for EVERYTHING. I haven't used a wire leader in a few years. A heavier floro leader is plenty stiff for gliders and WTD topwaters.

I use floro from 100-250 lb test

[Dano_the_jigasaurus]

Mojo,

Where are you getting 200+ lb floro, if you don't mind me askin??

dan

[MuskieMojoTackle]

Thorne Brothers has Seguar in 200 and, I think, higher

[Cooter]

I still have a flouro phobia. Vast majority of the time I fish stained river or resorvoir water - so thats my excuse for the paranoia.

[Cooter]

I did get some stealth leaders and have both hard mono in 80lb and flouro in 100 at home - need to get a nail knot tool. I'll face my fears one step at a time

[Nick Kuhn]

 Originally Posted By: Cooter

I still have a flouro phobia. Vast majority of the time I fish stained river or resorvoir water - so thats my excuse for the paranoia.

Spending too much time on Holcombe? No arguments on it being stained...

[Cooter]

Wissota and the Chippewa River mostly but I hit Holcombe a couple times each year.

[b1gf1sh1]

yeah, i think i'm going to buck up to 80 at least this year. i'll still direct tie or crimp 60 to suspending lures but the rest will be made 80. i might even horse a few in with 120 who knows. fluro is the one to use, unless you don't want too.

[cjac]

Mojo,

What test are you using in flouro for the topwaters? 200 or even up to 250? Sleeves from Thorne too? I like the idea....

[MuskieMojoTackle]

 Originally Posted By: cjac

Mojo,

What test are you using in flouro for the topwaters? 200 or even up to 250? Sleeves from Thorne too? I like the idea....

The 250 is generally reserved for trolling leaders, but I have used it for jerk-baits and Weagles. I generally use 130-150 on all of my casting rods. I can work any bait in my box with these leaders.

You can get everything you need to make these leaders at Thorne Brothers.

[10,000 Casts]

Gamma makes a 200 LB Flourocarbon. Comes in 15 yard spools for about 40 bucks.