Fishing Leaders 101: Your Guide to the Perfect Fishing Setup

A leader is one of the most useful parts of any fishing setup. But what is a leader, and when do you need one? This beginner-friendly guide covers the basics.

What Is a Fishing Leader?

A leader is a length of line tied between your main line and your hook or lure. It's usually a different material than your main line, and it's used to lower visibility, add abrasion resistance or protect against sharp teeth. A common setup is a braided main line with a fluorocarbon leader: you get braid's strength and feel with fluorocarbon's low visibility at the business end.

Types of Leaders

1. Monofilament Leaders

• What it is: A single strand of nylon.
• Benefits: Stretch that absorbs shock, decent abrasion resistance, easy to tie, and it floats, which is great for topwater lures.
• Drawbacks: More visible underwater than fluorocarbon, and breaks down over time with UV exposure.
• Best for: General fishing and topwaters, when stealth isn't the top concern.
• Size: 6-12 lb test is common for general freshwater fishing. Go 20-40 lb for bigger fish and saltwater.
• Examples: Bass, trout and panfish in freshwater; redfish, snook and striped bass in saltwater.

Shop Reaction Tackle monofilament.

2. Fluorocarbon Leaders

• What it is: Made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is hard for fish to see underwater.
• Benefits: Low visibility, excellent abrasion resistance, less stretch than mono and it sinks.
• Drawbacks: Stiffer than mono and costs more.
• Best for: Clear water and line-shy fish.
• Size: 6-12 lb test for general freshwater fishing, and 20-40 lb or more for saltwater and bigger fish.
• Knots: Wet your knots and cinch them slowly. The San Diego Jam, Palomar and improved clinch all work well.
• Examples: Trout, walleye and bass in freshwater; bonefish, sea trout and tuna in saltwater.

Shop 100% fluorocarbon line, sold in 50, 125 and 300 yard spools depending on size, from 4 to 200 lb test.

3. Wire Leaders

• What it is: Thin strands of stainless steel or titanium.
• Benefits: Bite-proof against sharp teeth and very tough against rough structure.
• Drawbacks: More visible and can kink. Standard fishing knots don't work well on stranded wire, so use crimp sleeves or a wire-specific knot.
• Best for: Pike, muskie and gar in freshwater; barracuda, kingfish and bluefish in saltwater.

For trolling, see our stainless steel trolling wire, and learn more in Specialized Fishing Lines: Stainless Steel & Copper.

Do the Main Line and Leader Need to Match?

• Lighter leader: A leader a bit lighter than your main line breaks first on a snag, so you lose only the leader and lure, not a big chunk of braid.
• Heavier leader: For abrasion resistance around rocks and wood, or toothy fish, go heavier than your main line.
• Balanced setup: For general fishing, keep the leader in the same range as your main line. Remember that braid is much stronger for its diameter, so a 30 lb braid with a 12 to 15 lb fluorocarbon leader is common for bass.

How to Attach a Leader

1. Swivel

Tie the main line to one end of a swivel (a Palomar for braid) and the leader to the other end. Swivels help reduce line twist and make leader changes quick.

2. Line-to-Line Knot

Join the lines directly with a double uni, Albright or FG knot. This makes a slim connection without hardware that passes through your guides more easily.

3. Loop-to-Loop

Tie a loop in the end of both lines with a surgeon's loop or perfection loop, then pass one through the other. Quick leader changes, but a bulkier connection.

Tips for Using Leaders

1. Match the leader to the fish: Heavier for big, toothy or hard-fighting fish.
2. Check for damage: Run your fingers down the leader after every fish or snag, and retie if you feel any nicks.
3. Use the right knots: See The Top 5 Knots Every Angler Needs to Know.
4. Adjust length: Longer leaders for clear water and spooky fish. Shorter leaders are easier to cast and keep the knot out of your guides.
5. Cut cleanly: Braid scissors make clean cuts on both braid and leader.

The right leader can make a big difference, whether you're fishing clear lakes or chasing toothy predators. Shop all fishing line.