Leaders are a preferred tool of many sports fisherman. Each kind of leader has a unique purpose. Whether you are a greenhorn or a weathered fisherman, recognizing that leaders (the line that connects bait and mainline) are a very useful tool under certain circumstances will help you be more equipped to establish which leader is suited to meet your needs.

Do I really need a leader?

You may one of many who doubt whether or not a leader is in fact a needed piece of equipment. Although they are not a mandatory solution in every situation, a leader can be a valuable part of keeping your main line safe and sound. Not taking advantage of a leader can give rise to a snapped line during a battle with an aggressive fish.

Utilizing Leaders

If you are fishing for a kind of fish that is somewhat line shy, a leader can be priceless. For line-shy fish a fluorocarbon leader is best since leaders can be fashioned from any kind of line. There are two main reasons for using fluorocarbon leaders. The first is that fish such as false albacore, bonito and mackerel have exceptionally good eyesight. Secondly, they have a tendency to have magnificent visual acuity. Therefore, if your bait looks unusual in the slightest these fish are going to ignore it and press on toward greener pastures so to speak.

The premise behind fluorocarbon is simple – it provides infinitesimal light refraction meaning that the fish can’t see it. Since the fish that you’d use this type of leader for tend to run less than ten pounds, a twenty pound fluorocarbon leader is ideal. For a measurement of how effective they are, consider fishing alongside someone who isn’t using one and see what happens. The proof will astound you. Since these fish tend to go after bait-fish as their main source of food, a fluorocarbon leader can be the ideal tool to increase your catch. Make sure you are using a lead that is not smaller than three feet and not larger than four feet for optimal results.

Braided line admirers will discover that monofilament leaders are preferable. This kind of leader is less visible than a braided line and more flexible than a braided line. Monofilament leaders suck up the shock of an aggressive fish, and are invaluable for those preferring the lighter graphite or fiberglass rods. A monofilament leader should be constructed with a bare minimum of three feet and a maximum of five feet in length to lend a hand with snagging a big fish on a small line.

Sports fisherman especially those who enjoy pike, barracuda, bluefish and muskellunge are fully aware of the oversized teeth these breeds sport. Combine these teeth with their love of a fishing line and chances are that you’re preference would be a steel leader. Steel leaders are crafted from twenty or thirty pound weight – and are highly visible. For more aggressive fish like bluefish you’re safer with a forty to sixty pound weight and if barracuda is your preference you’re better of with something even heavier as a barracuda is likely to snap through a single strand of eighty pound leader as if it were regular line. The lighter weight is ideal of pike and muskies (they have needle like teeth) and the heavier the better is ideal for bluefish and barracudas.

Do not make a judgment error and use the wrong type of leader for the fish you are hoping to land. The correct leader will just about always mean the difference between a victorious fishing expedition and a fruitless outing. In fact, many experienced fishermen have learned that it doesn’t hurt to bring a selection of leaders in case the opportunity arises to make use of them. Keep in mind: the wrong leader can make the difference between a fish tale and having fish for dinner (or bragging rights).

Fishing can be a very exciting and relaxing sport. Making sure you have proper equipment such as Penn Fishing Reel, Daiwa Reels, and Shimano Reels can be extremely helpful.