I fish with a 20 lbs test braided line with a 6 or 8 lbs diam. I hear that braided line spooks fish because it's so obvious in water and that I should use 20 lbs mono or flouro. I guess my question is wouldn't 20 lbs mono (which is about 3x the diam. of the briad) be just as noticable to the fish as my thin-as-hair braided line?

oops, I didn't finish my sentence...sorry. I meant to say that they say to use a 20 lbs mono leader attached to the braid.

Back before mono and spinning tackle, people used braided line.  Lots of people tied it directly to their lines.  I remember using Cortland Camoflage line, it had color changes about every three feet ( or maybe it was two, I don't feel like checking one of my old reels).    People used to use silkworm gut for leaders, fairly clear but could be fragile.  Mono and so forth were a tremendous improvement over direc tie of the line to lure and the old gut leader.   the difference nowdays is that the fishing pressure is huge compared to not that many years ago and with "Catch and Release", some of those fish get pretty well educated.     In essence, while Braids excell in strength, putting that bit of clear stuff on the end will improve your success in most instances.

I remember that old stuff, AZ!  My dad used to put it on the reels we used to driftfish with on the lakes up north (Minnesota, Wisconsin) when I was but a wee lad.  I also agree 100% that it's a lot better with mono.

 

Hey, Evvguy, how are you?  The strength of your leader doesn't necessarily have to be locked in at 20 lb.-test.  I carry five 100-yard spools of clear Trilene XT and one 100-yard spool of clear Trilene Big Game in my tacklebox:  4,8,12,17,25 and 50 lb.-test (the 50's the Big Game).  I let intended use, circumstance & my target species dictate just which strength I use for a leader.  I go heavier in snag-infested areas, or when pursuing large quarry such as muskies and northerns (that's what the 50 lb.-test is for... skis & larger pike in clear water, where a steel leader will spook them).  I go lighter when the target species is smaller, or when it's a situation that doesn't present too many snags or weeds.  I find that the weight I use most for leaders is 8 & 12.  I also use the lighter stuff (4 & 8) for tying weights onto Wolf River Rigs (or "Ledger" rigs), so if the weight gets snagged, it breaks off relatively easy.  And, with the exception of when I chase the bigger members of the pike family, I always use lighter test line than my main line for my hook/lure leaders.

 

So let conditions, use, & intended species be your gauge for what you tie to the end of that braid.  Don't lock in at any certain strength, or you'll hurt your versatility.

 

Tight lines, guys.

 

If I'm not fishing, I'm thinking about it. Keep the line fresh, the hooks sharp, and have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny, Life Member since 2002

Allen and Jig, I thank you for your replies. I guess that I locked myself in at 20