The basic answer is that you can use fluorocarbon line as your leader material, and I do 90% of the time. Regular fluorocarbon is equally abrasion-resistant as fluorocarbon leads but significantly less expensive. You can also use nylon rope or webbing if you prefer. Just make sure it's not too thin; you don't want a lead so thin that a big fish can snap it.
Here's how to choose a leader length: Take your rod weight in ounces and divide it by two. That's how many feet of line you need. So if your rod weight is 15 oz. , you'll need about 5 feet of fluorocarbon line.
If you plan to use larger hooks, go with a longer leader. If you're using small hooks, you can get away with shorter lines. But regardless of hook size, always have enough line on your reel to be safe. It's better to have too much than not enough.
Keep in mind that thicker line is easier to work with when making knots and such. So if you can afford it, get fluorocarbon 20-pound-or-better test line instead of regular 10-pound-test stuff. That way you won't have any problems if you need to make a long cast.
Finally, don't forget about your swivel!
Gather Your Leadership Materials and Tools. To construct the various portions of the leader, you'll need a few different types of line in various diameters. You can use either monofilament or fluorocarbon, but to keep things simple, we'll stick to nylon monofilament.
Fly leaders are usually made out of three sections: a shank, a tip, and a body. The shank is the part that goes into the water first; it should be long enough so that if you don't catch anything after putting a hook on it, you won't waste any more of your precious time by sticking it further down into the water. The tip is what contacts the fish. It should be sharp enough to cut through the skin but not so sharp that it will injure the fish upon removal. The body consists of a thin section of line between the tip and the shank that controls how far back the leader will slip off the end of your fly rod. Some people also call this portion of the leader the throat because it helps guide larger fish to your fly.
You need to make sure that you leave enough room at the end of the shank for you to attach a hook (usually a split-shot hook). This way, you won't have to buy extra hooks for different lengths of leaders.
Now that you have your materials gathered, let's go over some basic leader construction techniques.
Fly fishing requires a leader line because the heavy colored fly line used to cast lightweight flies is too thick for tying on small flies and is immediately recognized by fish. When I fly fish for trout, I normally use a 9-foot leader of 2- or 4-pound fluorocarbon line. This is strong enough to withstand the strain of a large trout while still being flexible enough to float downriver if the fish spooks its prey.
The best kind of leader to use with fluorocarbon line is one that is not too stiff. If the line feels rigid when you pick it up, then more line will be required to make your fly look like food. A slightly flexible leader that is not too thin or thick works best. You can buy pre-made leaders or make your own from braided fishing line.
Trout are sensitive predators. They want nothing more than a chance at taking a tasty meal so they will often ignore anything that does not smell or taste like food. This means that if you were to catch your first trout with a bare hook, then you would probably just throw it back in the water without even thinking about it. However, if you did happen to catch a beautiful rainbow with a plain old brown hook, you would probably feel guilty enough not to do it again!
The point is this: unless you plan to eat your leaders, there is no reason to use hooks on them.
The basic answer is that you should use a leader 90 percent of the time when fishing with braided line. Braid provides several advantages, including increased casting distance, strength, and sensitivity. It also helps prevent entanglement in underwater vegetation.
The other 10 percent of the time, you should use a straight line. A straight line is easier to cast than a braid, and it's better for keeping track of large fish such as bass or trout. However, when using a straight line, you need to be careful not to drift into unwanted areas like shallow water or reefs. If this happens, your line will wear out before you catch anything important.
The length of time you should keep a leader on a braided line depends on what kind of game you're after. If you're simply looking for fun and exercise, then a short leader is sufficient. But if you want to be able to pull in big fish, then you should use a leader at least as long as I described above. The more times you cross-over your line, the less likely you are to catch something!
Clear monofilament or fluorocarbon leader weighing 40 to 50 lb. The higher weight leader line acts as a shock absorber during vigorous strikes and provides increased abrasion resistance for a catfish's rough mouth. Simply match the swivel size to the size of catfish you intend to catch.
A leader is a piece of fishing line that attaches a hook to a bait or lure. Leaders are used when trying to catch fish that are not easy to catch with a hook and line alone, such as large game fish or sharks. Fish feel secure while feeding on a bait or lure, so they are less likely to bite off their own head if it tries to eat something nasty. However, if you do want to catch some very dangerous fish, then a leader is necessary for your safety as well as theirs.
There are several different types of leaders, depending on what type of fish you are trying to catch. Flourocarbon leaders are the most durable because they are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. They will also stand up to high temperatures like those found in an oil spill. Clear monofilament leaders are next in line after fluorocarbon leaders. They are used primarily for freshwater fishing because they are more flexible than their saltwater counterparts. Saltwater anglers should use nylon leaders because these leaders can withstand the corrosive effects of sea water.
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