I unfortunately lost a possible trophy fish because of it.

Worst of all – it is 100% avoidable.

Here’s how to prevent this fishing line leader fail!!

Common Mistake That Loses Fish [VIDEO]

Advanced Knots Module [Fishing School]

Equipment:

• The Prawn USA Original – F.R.E.D.
• 1 oz. Hoss Weedless Football Jighead
• Braid – 30lb Daiwa J-braid x8 Grand
• Leader – 30lb Ande Monofilament
• Scent – Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Scent
• Rod – Prototype (MH Slot Machine)
• Reel – Daiwa Saltist MQ 3000

While I was out fishing a nearshore reef, I hooked into a GIANT keeper cobia.

After I took the hook out, I went and checked my leader line.

This is something you should be in the habit of doing.

I thought everything was fine with my leader so I kept on fishing.

Not long after that, I got what could’ve been the BIGGEST fish I’ve ever hooked into with artificial lures.

This fish ripped off drag and felt like a monster cobia.

It could’ve been my biggest cobia ever…

But I will never know.

Because I did not retie my leader assembly.

Although the line felt fine in my hands, the loop that wraps through the eye of the jighead was compromised.

That was the part that gave way when the fish was peeling off drag.

WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE:

• Retie the loop knot

I did not check the loop knot that was attached to the jighead.

I should have looked at that knot and retied it since it was compromised.

Even if it does not appear broken, it is worth retying.

• Used a bite tippet

This was one of the few times I did NOT use a bite tippet.

The bite tippet is a small 6-8 inch section of leader at the end of your normal leader to strengthen the entire system.

Always check the loop of your loop knots after reeling in big fish.

And using a bite tippet is recommended when fishing around hard structure for bigger fish.

This will ensure there is no failure up close to the lure.

FINDING THE FISH HELP

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. WEEKEND GAME PLANS (UPDATED WEEKLY)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. SMART FISHING SPOTS PLATFORM (UPDATED EVERY 15 MINUTES)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. COMMUNITY REPORTS (LIVE FEED)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

90/10 ZONE INSHORE FISHING NEWSLETTER

Oh, and be sure to sign up for FREE Access to Salt Strong’s 90/10 Zone Newsletter!

It’s the Ultimate Inshore Fishing Blast with the MOST RECENT on-the-water updates, weekly trends, hot lures, catches of the week, fish tales, conservation news, and everything else for Inshore Fishing…

Sent to your inbox free 2x per week!

90/10 Newsletter

The post Fishing Line Leader Fail [Common Mistake That Loses Fish] appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

I decided to hit the water this past week and fish WITHOUT leader line – just straight braid to hook.

Have a look below for the results of this test!!

Will Fishing Without Leader Have An Impact? [VIDEO]

Get Access to our Smart Fishing Spots Platform

Learn more about our NEW Referral Program (Prizes & MORE!!)

Setup For The Test:

• Lure: Slam Shady Mulligan
• Hook: 3/0 Hoss Helix Hook 1/8 oz.
• Mainline: 10lb PowerPro Braid
• Rod: 7’6 Century Weapon Jr.
• Reel: Shimano Stradic FL 3000

I was curious to see whether or not I could trigger strikes without leader and if I could land fish.

Typically, leader line serves two purposes: stealth and shock absorption.

Out of all the fish I expected to land without leader, I definitely would not put my money on snook.

But the first fish of the day happened to be a pretty decent-sized snook that I was able to get into the boat.

Snook have tough mouths that can easily break through line which is why having leader is so important.

Braid has very little resistance to abrasion so I was definitely shocked to have landed this fish.

After getting that fish released, I checked the line and it was slightly frayed up.

The first thing you should always do whenever you land a fish is check the line right above the hook.

If it is frayed and you continue fishing, you risk losing the next fish you hook into and it might just be that fish you’ve been searching all day for.

To be safe, it is best to cut and retie.

Palomar Knot Mini-Lesson

The knot I used on this trip to secure the line to the hook is the Palomar Knot.

It is very strong and super easy to tie.

To tie this knot, double the line over itself.

Then, pinch the end to form a loop and feed that loop through the eye of your hook.

Next, perform an overhand knot with that loop.

Now, take the loop and open it and slide the lure through the loop.

Hold the tag end and the mainline and cinch that knot down.

Lastly, cut off the tag end and you’re ready to rock.

Overall Conclusions

All in all, this was a success.

I was able to land a really solid snook without leader on the end of my line.

However, I would not do this if you can avoid it.

If you’re in a pinch and it’s all you have to fish, then it will get the job done.

If you’re plucking fish off of a big redfish school and you’re leader gets broken off, you can quickly retie to straight braid to continue to fish that school.

One other bonus to straight braid is you won’t pick up any floating grass.

Usually, the line to leader knot will collect grass floating in the water.

But without leader that is not the case.

Also, I recommend loosening the drag a bit more when fishing straight braid as opposed to having a leader.

Braid has zero stretch and heavier setups will put a lot of pressure on the hook which can pop it out of the fish’s mouth.

I highly recommend sticking to fishing with a leader line when using braid.

The stealth and shock absorption alone will give you more confidence to head out and target big fish.

One last thing – how would you like to win a private fishing trip with Joe & Luke?

Or… a $900 Daiwa Exist Reel?…and TONS of other awesome prizes?

It’s ALL possible with our NEW Referral Program!

Get all the details HERE!!!

Get Access to our Smart Fishing Spots Platform

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

The post Leader Line Experiment: Will Fishing Without Leader Have An Impact? appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

All of the lines are 10lb test and those included are PowerPro, Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand, and Fins.

We tested these lines a while back when they were brand new off of the spool.

But now we’re testing their castability after hours of on-the-water use.

Take a look!!

Used Fishing Line Casting Contest [VIDEO]

Become A Better Angler While Saving Time & Money

Check out the J-Braid VS. PowerPro VS. Fins Knot Strength Test

Featured Lines:

• Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand (10lb)
• PowerPro (10lb)

Some lines deteriorate quickly after use while others maintain their strength.

This test will expose the answers and show us which line is the better long-term option.

To start, we have equal amounts of line on all three spools.

All 10lb test and we’re using the same rod to cast switching out the reels as we go along.

I threw each line out 5 times.

The results were the closest we’ve ever had in a casting contest.

Right off the bat, the results were too close to call one of the lines a clear winner.

As far as what line is the best long-term option, you have to consider a few other factors.

Those being knot strength and on-the-water performance.

Additionally, I am pleased to report I experienced ZERO wind knots with any of these lines.

I over spooled the Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand to begin with in the first test which hinders castability.

But after weeks of on-the-water use, I did not run into any wind knots.

In terms of on-the-water performance, there was not much difference between the lines.

I can say the J-Braid felt the smoothest whereas the other lines felt a bit rougher.

In my opinion, this all comes down to knot strength.

With that said, the Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand is the conclusive winner.

It is the strongest 10lb braid I have tested after a few rounds of strength tests.

For these reasons, I’ll continue to use and rely on the Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand.

Do you prefer a different braid or one of the others in this test?

Please go ahead and let me know what you like to fish with and why below!!

Get the conversation started in the comments!

Become A Better Angler While Saving Time & Money

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

The post Used Fishing Line Casting Contest [J-Braid VS. PowerPro VS. Fins] appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

If you notice that sometimes your line looks out of sorts then it is probably twisted.

This is how to fix it!!

Quick Tip To Eliminate & Avoid Line Twists [VIDEO]

Become A Better Angler While Saving Time & Money

Get PowerPro Braid

Get Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand Braid

If your braid has a spiral appearance to it, then it is likely twisted up.

This can lead to wind knots and hinders your casting distance.

The first thing you want to do is make sure your lure is rigged up properly.

If your lure is not straight and rigged right, then during the retrieve it could start helicoptering and flip around which causes line twists.

To fix any twists in your line, cut the lure off the line.

Then, start your trolling motor or main engine to move in one direction while letting line off the spool.

The resistance of the water will naturally pull on the line.

Usually, the entire spool won’t be affected, just the first 50 yards or so will be impacted.

Another reason this helps is if the line was already too tight on the spool to begin with.

Let’s say you’ve caught a ton of BIG fish and the line has dug into itself on the spool, this will help loosen the line and shift it on the spool to lay evenly.

If your line is stuck on the spool, then you won’t cast as far as normal.

Once you’ve let out enough line, start reeling and that will eliminate any twists or wraps along the line.

When the end of your line is getting close to the rod is when you’ll feel the least resistance.

At that point, you should use your fingers to place some resistance on the line as you continue reeling.

You’ll notice the line will appear flat and symmetrical.

The last step is to tie on your lure and get back to fishing!!

Do you have any questions about this process or other concerns about twists in braided line??

Please let me know down in the comments section!

Become A Better Angler While Saving Time & Money

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

The post Quick Tip To Eliminate & Avoid Line Twists appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

How do you know to bump up your leader line BEFORE you miss out on fish?

Losing fish because of leader line break-offs is the worst.

But here’s how to avoid running into leader line issues!!

When Should You Upgrade The Size Of Your Leader? [VIDEO]

Find NEW Saltwater Fishing Spots In Your Area In 60 Seconds or Less!!!

Featured Line:

• 20lb Ande Monofilament
• 30lb Ande Monofilament
• 30lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon

You always want to choose your leader depending on the structure in the area and the species you’re fishing for.

If you are fishing close to docks and hook into a solid fish, you definitely don’t want to break any fish off.

Whenever I am fishing close to docks or similar structure, I bump up to 30lb monofilament leader.

The reason for using a monofilament leader is that it can stretch and acts as a shock absorber.

Fluorocarbon weakens after it is constantly put under stress.

Monofilament leader does not weaken and tends to stand up better against abrasions.

I normally fish with 20lb Ande Monofilament Leader for everyday, all-purpose use.

When fishing close to oysters, docks, or hard structure, bumping up the leader size is your best bet to avoid break-offs.

You should always be checking your leader line when fishing tight to such structures.

Moreover, another reason to bump up your leader is when you’re going after the BIG fish.

Big snook have tough jaws that frequently rub against and tear through leader line.

Bumping up your leader size gives you that extra strength needed to avoid losing fish.

On the other hand, there are reasons to use fluorocarbon over monofilament in some cases.

If you fish in super clear water, you can use fluorocarbon to prevent spooking off fish because monofilament tends to stick out a bit more under calm conditions.

Another reason to bump up your leader is when you’re fishing with topwater lures.

Topwater lures usually trigger some awesome bites and a heavier leader helps to wrestle in those big fish.

What leader material do you prefer to fish with?

When do you bump up to a stronger leader?

Please go ahead and get the conversation started down below in the comments!!

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

The post When Should You Upgrade The Size Of Your Leader? appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

This is a vital step to successful inshore saltwater fishing.

Click below to find out the reasons why!!!

Why You Should Use Leader When Fishing With Braid [VIDEO]

Find NEW Saltwater Fishing Spots In Your Area In 60 Seconds or Less!!!

Get Fluorocarbon Leader Material

Get Monofilament Leader Material

When you are fishing inshore, typically, it is with braided fishing line.

Braided line has various advantages like being very thin in diameter and strong.

This enables better casting distance and enables you to put more line on the spool if needed.

The downside to braid is it does not really have much abrasion resistance.

If braid nicks anything sharp or rough, it usually snaps very quickly.

Another thing to note is braid does not have any stretch in it.

When you go to set the hook or while you are fighting a fish, you can possibly pull the hook or straighten out a hook if you are fishing with heavier gear.

Lastly, braid is not as stealthy in the water as clear monofilament or fluorocarbon leader material.

If you are fishing with monofilament or fluorocarbon as your mainline on the spool of your reel, you really don’t have to use a leader.

However, you can add a small bite-tippet on the end with a stronger line.

This helps with abrasion resistance if you’re going after tarpon or snook.

Or you can downsize the leader if you want a more stealth presentation.

Why Use Leader Material

• Shock absorption

Braid does not have any stretch as I mentioned before so the leader material acts as a shock absorber.

• Abrasion Resistance

Fluorocarbon and monofilament are more abrasion resistant than braided fishing line.

I have found the softer the material you are fishing with, the better the abrasion resistance.

If you are fishing with a stiff and rigid leader line, it tends to chafe much easier.

• Stealth

Finally, leader material is more stealthy in the water.

Fluorocarbon tends to give off less glare in the water if the sun shines directly on the line.

Monofilament tends to be the cheaper option across the board.

This is a hotly debated topic.

I personally have always used fluorocarbon material and it’s just what I’ve stuck to and become familiar with.

Whichever line you choose, leader line has its advantages when inshore fishing with braided line.

Get Fluorocarbon Leader Material

Get Monofilament Leader Material

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

The post Why You Should Use Leader When Fishing With Braid appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

What happens to both mono vs fluoro soaked in water?

Will the lines absorb the water or will there be a different result?

This is an experiment you do not want to miss!!

Check this out!

Mono VS Fluoro Soaked In Water Experiment [VIDEO]

Find NEW Saltwater Fishing Spots In Your Area In 60 Seconds or Less!!!

Lines Used In This Test:

• 15-lb Ande Monofilament Leader
• 20-lb Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon

In this experiment, we are testing the line types to see how much abrasion is caused after they are soaked in water.

From past experiments, we learned mono absorbs water more than fluoro and over time will get weaker.

For this test, we are using a 15-lb monofilament leader versus a 20-lb fluorocarbon leader.

The reason for using different pound test leaders is that these two lines have the same diameter.

The Experiment

The lines have been sitting in the water for over a week.

First, we will test the wet lines, and then for comparison, we will test the dry lines for abrasion.

After running fluorocarbon versus monofilament on the first test, fluorocarbon broke on the 29th run.

Monofilament was still intact and able to maintain a connection.

Even though fluorocarbon is thicker and more expensive, it did not come close to performing as well as the monofilament after both lines were soaked in water.

To maintain accuracy, we tested the lines again but switched the lines.

Again, monofilament crushed fluorocarbon with ease.

In an effort to examine the effectiveness of monofilament on its own, the next test we ran was the dry monofilament line versus the wet monofilament line.

After the first run, the soaked monofilament won versus the dry line.

Now, we swapped the lines again and tested the dry versus wet lines a second time to confirm our results.

The wet monofilament line again beat out the dry monofilament line.

Moving on to testing fluorocarbon on its own, we did the same setup as with the monofilament by starting out with a dry fluorocarbon line attached to one weight and wet fluorocarbon attached to the other.

Fluorocarbon yielded an interesting result with both lines breaking off almost simultaneously.

After checking the replay, the wet fluorocarbon snapped seconds before the dry fluorocarbon.

Then again we repeated the experiment to observe the same exact result which was both the dry and wet fluorocarbon lines breaking simultaneously.

Final Results

Upon reaching conclusions after conducting the experiment, we can confirm fluorocarbon whether it is wet or dry does not matter when it comes to abrasion resistance.

The Monofilament line actually improved in performance after being soaked in water versus dry.

One other thing to note is the 15-lb monofilament outperformed the 20-lb fluorocarbon in every trial run.

Monofilament is the overall winner in terms of abrasion resistance both when it has been soaked in water as well as when tested dry.

Get Ande Monofilament Leader here

Get Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon Leader

The post Does Mono OR Fluoro Get Weaker After Soaked In Water? appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.

Have you broken off on a lot of fish recently?

It might be because of your LEADER.

Check this out!!

The Mistake That Is Costing You Fish [VIDEO]

Find NEW Saltwater Fishing Spots In Your Area In 60 Seconds or Less!!!

Check out Luke’s Fluorocarbon VS. Monofilament Leader Line Stress Test

Whether the fish are BIG or on the small side, you might find yourself getting broken off more and more.

But why???

Are you tying a new leader before each new fishing trip?

If not, that’s why!!

Before each and every trip, I make sure to tie a new leader.

You can sometimes use the same strand of leader line, however, make sure you are tying new knots.

If anything, I recommend replacing the entire leader complete with new knots and new line.

The longer your gear sits without using it, knots weaken and the leader line is not as fresh.

When you are fighting fish or even just simply retrieving lures, there will be abrasion on the line.

Especially if you use the loop knot to tie off your lures, that can weaken the line over time.

When it comes to your braid to leader knot, it will also weaken over time.

If you cast it through the guides and are consistently fighting fish, the line and knots may weaken.

You just want to be mindful of this and it’s a good rule of thumb to simply tie up new leaders and use fresh knots before each trip.

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform 

The post The #1 Mistake That Is Costing You Fish appeared first on Salt Strong Fishing Club.