I use a leader about 90% of the time when fishing, and almost 100% of the time when flathead fishing. Sometimes its mono sometimes it's braid, but it is always lighter than my mainline. When flathead fishing 95% of the time you are in thick cover or have thick cover nearby and that to me means tons of nasty snags to donate tackle too. I use the leader as a breakaway on a slip or carolina rig so if my hook gets snagged I only lose a hook and only have to replace a leader hook and bait, when using a three way rig I use two leaders of different strengths my mainline is heaviest then the hook leader gets a lower weight line to the swivel and then the sinker gets an even lighter leader to the swivel, this way the weight will break off easily and not disturb things and the hook if hung up will break off and save the weight, while still retaining enough line test going to the hook to handle the big fish, slip float rigs are strung on the mainline except for the hook as the rest can usually be saved if hung up. Another reason to do this is I'd rather leave a foot of mono or braid in the lake or river if I have to than having it break at the rod or reel and dumping 50 or 60 yards of line into the fishing hole, just helps keep trash out of the water and I hate it when I get snagged on someone elses old braid line tangled on the bottom. I've watched people using heavy braid get hung up and couldn't break it off and just cut it at the rod tip and leave it in our water, not cool! anyway these are a couple reasons I use leaders almost all the time.
Oh yeah the cons, If you forget that your using a 40 lb leader to the hook and fight the fish with say 60 lb. test mainline theres a chance you might break off, always fish your leader weight not mainline weight.

 

Bert,

Catfish especially flatheads are not lineshy! If catfish were lineshy, no one would ever catch one with a trotline or limbline. I've seen people use heavy dacron as leader for fllatheads.

It should and will work.

 

Bert,

Catfish especially flatheads are not lineshy! If catfish were lineshy, no one would ever catch one with a trotline or limbline. I've seen people use heavy dacron as leader for fllatheads.

It should and will work.

Good Point - Makes a whole lot of since to me Blacky.
:winky:
Thanks

 

I like this thread. Hopefully we can get some more feedback.

 

I like this thread. Hopefully we can get some more feedback.

Hey Big Sean,
"That's the name of the game Buddy"!
(lol)
We have the "Best Of The Best" here at this site when it comes down to the right & wrong way of doing things - So when I go down to the river this year
"I'm not pulling any punches this time around" - so I'm going to ask questions - Remember:
"A closed mouth don't get feed & I'm hunger as hell Buddy"!
:winklol)

 

I've tried using braid for my leaders and it never worked out for me, It seemed like it either got shredded by rocks or gar, or ended up a tangled mess my brain was not powerful enough to comprehend. Now I strictly rock mono leaders due to the price, I love flourcarbon but it's too pricey for me. I've also fished steel leaders and I think if you had the tool to crimp your own the would be pretty alright, I just don't like having my hook on a snap swivel.

 

Hey Big Sean,
"That's the name of the game Buddy"!
(lol)
We have the "Best Of The Best" here at this site when it comes down to the right & wrong way of doing things - So when I go down to the river this year
"I'm not pulling any punches this time around" - so I'm going to ask questions - Remember:
"A closed mouth don't get feed & I'm hunger as hell Buddy"!
:winklol)

I'm reading and trying to soak it all in. We'll have to lead the pack down there because my uncle and Fred are rookies to the flathead game.

 

I use a different take on leaders. I use leaders stronger than my main line.
I seldom catch but I am fishing for the largest cat in the river.LOL. I feel
that the first few feet of line take more abuse than any line on the spool.
Those bastard file lips of a catfish are really tough on line, plus the rocks.
I use braid a lot for leader. If you use lightish leader you had better check
it after every fish by slideing it between your thumb and forefinger feeling
for worn places. The down side of useing a heavy leader is sometimes you
loose a lot of lead.LOL

 

I agree with flourocarbon being the best leader material for hooks, and I also agree that it's to pricey, at least for a cheapskate like me.

 

poppa, I have to ask what size line you normally use for your mainline? I've seen this done your way also, but usually by guys using lighter line for mainline. I'm not saying either way is wrong,just different! I agree that the leader will take some abuse, but I do change them often, and where I fish snags are every other cast.

I can also proudly boast that at the end of the season using slightly lighter leaders that my reels full of expensive mainline are still plumb full,because all I ever lose is my leaders. with the exception of the few feet I cut off now and then to get past any nicks in the mainline of course!

Also when I spool up with fresh line on my flathead rods I do so with the leader size I want to use in mind, like if I want to have a 60 lb. break strength then I'll get 80 lb test mainline, or if I want 40 lbs. of line strength my mainline purchase will be 50 or 60 lb test line. etc. etc. Take my channel cat poles right now I'm running 25 lb test mainline and using a 15 to 20 lb test leader, even with only 5 lbs. line test difference it always breaks at the leader.

 

One of the main reasons that I use a leader is to have a "handle" of stronger line next to the fish that I can grab (gently!) for help landing the fish (the other reason for a leader is just to have heavier line there to prevent cut offs from the fish or from snags, rocks, etc). Anyway, the lower diameter of a braid would make it bad for a "handle" because it would be more likely to cut me when I went to grab the leader while landing the fish. Of course, that's just the way I do things. Some folks will tell you not to grab a leader at all...

JMHO

 

poppa, I have to ask what size line you normally use for your mainline? I've seen this done your way also, but usually by guys using lighter line for mainline. I'm not saying either way is wrong,just different! I agree that the leader will take some abuse, but I do change them often, and where I fish snags are every other cast.

I can also proudly boast that at the end of the season using slightly lighter leaders that my reels full of expensive mainline are still plumb full,because all I ever lose is my leaders. with the exception of the few feet I cut off now and then to get past any nicks in the mainline of course!

Also when I spool up with fresh line on my flathead rods I do so with the leader size I want to use in mind, like if I want to have a 60 lb. break strength then I'll get 80 lb test mainline, or if I want 40 lbs. of line strength my mainline purchase will be 50 or 60 lb test line. etc. etc. Take my channel cat poles right now I'm running 25 lb test mainline and using a 15 to 20 lb test leader, even with only 5 lbs. line test difference it always breaks at the leader.

Don I use 25 to 40 lb. big game or cajun red mainline depending on what i'm fishing for. I would
go bigger but my ambassadurs don't like mono much bigger. I have not gone to braid on my reels.
I pretie my rigs. I snell my hooks with 60 lb. flourocarbon or 80 lb. braid. Like John said that big
leader does make a good handle when you get the fish close.
I am not dogmatic on my fishing. I am always looking for ways to get an edge or to improve
my tackle and tactics. I might have a different opinion next year. I think when a man gets to
where he thinks he knows it all, he stops improving. There is a lot of info on the USCA and
I learned a lot since becoming a member. The only thing holding me back is time and money.
LOL

 

exactly poppa, we all learn new stuff all the time, it's part of what makes things get better for us. I know alot of the leader question depends on where folks fish and all waters are not created equal,thats for sure! If I ,for instance, were to use your technique on my water that I like to fish, I would have to respool my reel halfway through the night, as I would lose so much mainline to snags it would have my reel sitting on empty. Now not everywhere is like that at all, some waters never claim tackle like others do, and some only occasionally. Guess what I'm saying is that there is no right or wrong when it comes to leaders, everyone just has to tailor their rigs to their lakes and rivers. and knowing a couple different methods never hurt anybody, thanks!

 

All of my catfishing is done with braid leader. Channel cat setup is 20# mono main line, and 50# Cortland Greenspot Dacron Trolling Line. Flathead setup is 30# mono main line, with 54# Mason "big Cat" Braided Nylon Polyester. I have also used Cabelas branded dacron braid in 30# & 50#, but prefer the before mentioned products because they are thicker and easier to handle for me.
My only issue with braid leader is my desire to snell hooks. I have yet to find & properly tie a snell knot that I am confident with.