Braided line is much stronger than mono so I only use a leader if northerns are on the catch list.  If I use a leader I would tie the line directly to the leader.  If I am not using a leader, I would tie directly on a small snap.  The snap allows me to change lures with no need to retie.

For braided lines I have used a 6-8 foot leader of fluorocarbon for its abrasion resistance and lower visibility, but I've grown tired of it's unforgiving knot strength.  For those using braid do you tie directly to a metal leader?

Quote:

Not at all.

PJ,
Maybe I need to dust off my Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 CS3 and 7 foot St Croix rod for trolling in Quetico.  I received the rod and reel as a present over 20 years ago for fishing for muskies on Leech Lake when we had a place on Leech Lake.  I never did catch a muskie, but we spent more time water skiing than we did fishing.  I also thought that the rod and reel was too much beef for fishing in Quetico.  Maybe I will give it a try this July when my wife and I head into BH and Quetico Lake.  Do you lose some of the fun catching fish when you use such a heavy setup?

Thanks PJ,
I use a 7 ft Ugly Stik GS2 medium heavy 1 piece as my trolling rod.
I use a spinning reel with #40 PowerPro (mono #10) because being solo, I got tired of breaking line/losing lures if I hit a snag and couldn't react fast enough.

Now unless I have a tailwind, the lure either pulls free or the canoe stops and I can go back and retrieve my lure. Haven't lost a lure since I made this switch.

I suppose I'm losing fish with the heavier line but then fishing isn't my main goal anyway.

solotripper wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2017 at 9:32pm:


Yes.  While not as supple as powerpro, if all you're going to use it for is trolling for big fish, yes!

PJ,
Is that P-Line superior enough to say PowerPro you would make the switch come time to re-fill, the price being about the same?

Used 20# P-Line TCB (teflon coated braid) with a 7' Med-Heavy action St. Croix Baitcaster, Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 with titanium 10" leader for trolling.  I doubt I will use anything but P-Line from now on.  Nano may still have the quietness and castability advantage but as far as strength, knot tying and abrasion, P-Line is the way to go when fishing the canadian shield.

I've switched to titanium leaders and braid line.  I like the braid for hook setting when trolling a long line.  Gotta make sure to check the drag often though.  I use 14lb. on a 7' medium heavy rod when trolling for the big ones.  8lb on a medium 7' for jigging and bass.

Westwood wrote on Jun 30^th, 2017 at 8:55pm:


Depends on whether you want stretch (mono) to absorb shock of strikes or no stretch (braid). I find mono more forgiving. I need lots of forgiveness.