when it comes to braids it matters which rod you have quite a bit. i have a fast action tip rod with a medium action backbone. the rod is nearly as sensitive as my jig rod and loads real smooth and fast. the rod tip makes up for the lack of stretch in the braid. also when trolling i have the drag set pretty light so when a decent fish hits, the drag gives a little line back. when i set the hook i thumb the spool which gives a little play, but not as much as the drag would normally allow. its not that i need to compensate for the braid, its just the way i fish suits it perfectly.

also, im the lucky and unlucky kind of guy at the same time. i seem to find the hot lure, but i have the bad luck of always hooking into pike no matter where i am or what im doing. they just love to eat my lures, and with that i run an 8" leader. usually south bends invisaleader. people that are lucky and can avoid the pike can get away with not running a leader, but something about me must draw them to my stuff. i just cant afford to not run the leader, and because of that, i tie the braid straight to the wire.

with that said, however, i went to gander yesterday and picked up a small spool of the P-line flourocarbon and some tiny barrel swivels. i tied a 2 foot section of flouro as a leader. i ended up getting 12# stuff because it was in the clearance bin. i had some trouble tying the polomar knot, which is what all the internet sources recommended. i dont know if it was just because it was 12# test or if all flourocarbons are that hard to tie? any advice would be great. took me 15 minutes and 2 pairs of pliers to get 2 good looking knots...