The braid is nowadays almost indispensable for fishing with a rod and reel or with a plumb line, rod in hand. It offers many advantages, in particular the advantage of offering a direct contact between the angler and the leader. However, it does not stand up well to rubbing against obstacles on the bottom and it vibrates in the current.
Braid and friction do not mix
The braid has a major defect: it does not support friction. A taut braid should never touch an abrasive obstacle. Indeed, when a nice fish touches it, it sometimes goes directly to the rocks, the wreck or any other abrasive habitat at the risk of cutting the line. To fish as close to the bottom as possible, you should use a leader that is resistant to friction. Nylon and fluorocarbon are monofilaments that meet this need.
Fluorocarbon is the best answer for fishing abrasive bottoms
Among these two monofilaments, fluorocarbon is more discreet in water thanks to its refractive index close to that of water. It is under water that the difference is made, it becomes hardly perceptible to the eye of fish.
It offers to the lures a natural aspect thanks to its rigidity. Indeed, most fluorocarbons are rigid and do not twist.
The longer the leader, the more touch
The longer the leader, the more discreet and effective it is. I recommend a leader of at least 3 meters and ideally 5 meters long!
To be successful with lures, you should use a long, thin leader. Test on the ground. One angler uses 1.5 meters of 0.35 mm fluorocarbon and the other uses 4 meters of 0.28 mm. With the same lure, the difference is usually radical in terms of number of hits! The premium goes to finesse. It remains to find the right balance not to break a nice fish.
The right braid - fluorocarbon knot
Finally, it is necessary to find the good balance in the choice of the diameters of the braid and the fluorocarbon. It will be necessary to avoid redoing the knot of connection to each break in order to optimize the success of fishing! The objective is to save time, or at least to lose as little time as possible. Ideally, the breakage is recorded on the fluorocarbon near the lure or bait. It is necessary to avoid a fluorocarbon too robust compared to the braid.
The ideal connector knot is the FG knot, for Fine-grip. It guarantees 99% of the strength of both lines. However, it is difficult to tie. It should be tied quietly at home. Once on the water, the smooth "Peixet" knot provides good resistance and is quickly made in fishing action. If you are fishing over the side of the boat, without casting, the albright knot is also suitable.
