Fireline Setup

[FlatsDan]

Hi Everyone,

I'll be suiting up for stripers for the first time this year and plan on going with Fireline (14-20 pound).

One of the benefits I read about is increased sensitivity, but I also read to attach a mono leader at the end of the fireline. Wouldn't this reduce the sensitivity? especially if attaching the two lines with a barrel swivel?

Is it a good idea to not have the mono leader? What are the pros/cons?

thanks a lot I'm hoping to get out for my first flats trip the weekend of march 31.

Cheers,
Dan

[CowHunter]

Dan, I always use a leader, all the braids / fireline arent as abrasion resistant as mono or floro. If you tie fireline direct you will loose big fish. Big bass do have lot and lots of very small teeth and will easilly cut through braid if they inhale bait or jigs. If you are pluggin, you will still need it in my opinion, especially if you are fishing structure... 20lb Fireline is what I use on my surfcasting outfits, especially when I am fishing rocky shoreline....

[Grass Sound Bass Bagger]

FlatsDan,
I also use Fireline and always use a Spro barrel swivel and a Flurocarbon leader when plugging. Not only is it abrasion resistant to also can't be seen as well as the braid by the fish. I use about three ft of fluro when plugging.

GSBB

[logic186]

I always use a mono leader with the fireline. The stretch of the mono gives you a little bit of a shock absorber at the end of your line, which may help prevent you from ripping the hook out of a fish's mouth on the hook set. I don't think the leader reduces the sensitivity of the braid at all. Also, with sub-legal sized fish, I just grab the leader to land the fish. If you grab the fireline and the fish flops around, the braid can cut you like a knife.

[capt. ed]

No need for a swivel in order to attach a leader. There are several good knots that will make the connection and not fail you.

double uni
10 X 10
J-knot (new one from Berkely)

[FlatsDan]

Awesome, thanks for the tips. Sounds like the mono leader is the way to go!

Cheers,
Dan