Many anglers never use a leader between their fishing line and lure. Sometimes the conditions just don't require one, but at other times a proper leader will make the difference between having a great day and a disappointing one. In the Bottom Rig section I write about using leaders that are lighter than the main fishing line to protect it from snags. I will now talk about why you might need to use them.
Shock Leader
A shock leader is used when throwing heavy weights and/or when using light line to fish for heavy fish. The shock leader is a heavy line tied to the main fishing line. It is twice the length of the rod plus four or five turns on the reel spool. The key to this is a good, strong knot that is small enough to freely go through the rod eyes. I use my EZ Knot line tying tool for a line to line knot, but a double Uni knot also works. When tying a leader to braided line, use a drop of super glue on the knot to make sure it does not slip out.
When using a shock leader you can use a very light weight main line. Light line throws much further than a heavy line, giving you the ability to get way out there where the fish are. When landing big fish, the shock leader allows you to either grab the leader with your hand to land the fish, or tighten up the drag, once the shock leader is on the spool of the reel.
My favorite type of shock leader is braided Spectra®, it is very strong, yet very small
diameter and ultra-abrasive resistant, even to the point of sharks skin not cutting it.
Special Shark Rigging Tip
When shark fishing, a steel leader between the line and hook is required, and most fisherman make one long enough so that the shark's tail cannot cut their mono line during the fight. This happens more times than not when using a short steel leader. This leader sometimes needs to be over 8 feet. When the angler adds a lead weight at the point where the leader is tied to the line, this rig is very hard to cast. My solution to this is a 2- to 3-foot steel leader attached to the hook, then a 12 to 20 foot 100# Spectra® shock leader in between it and the fishing line. This casts easily, even from the beach. I have yet to have a shark cut this rig or have it fail, even when landing up to 600-pound sharks from the beach.
Hook Leaders
Many species of fish (musky, northern pike, and chain pickerel, for example) have a mouthful of teeth. Others have mouths that can abrade line. When fishing for these, the hook leader must hold up against cuts and abrasion. Sharks, of course, require heavy steel leaders. Single strand leaders are best for these. Other toothy fish can be caught on multi-strand steel leaders, many of these the Spectra® line works well on, some just a heavy Mono will work quite well. Check with the locals where you are fishing to determine what leader will hold up against the fish your going after, of course if you get cut off on one, you can always step up to the next stronger leader material, or heavier size, the next time you rig up.
Weight leaders
When fishing a three way or dropper rig, you want you weight leader to be smaller than your main line leader, unless you are throwing
extremely heavy weights, your weight leader must be able to withstand the whipping action of the cast.
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