Noob fishing question on use of leaders

[Mykell]

I don't know the first thing about real fishing. My only experience being 50 years ago with a cane pole. So, in that context:

What are leaders used for, when are they needed, what rods/setups do they get used on?

I see where they go because when I pull a grayed out one over toward my rod the spot lights up, but nothing I've tried will allow me to attach a leader. I don't know if this is because there are certain things that must match up that only the initiate know? Like, weights or diameters or material of the line. I've tried all sorts of combos but nothing seems to work.

Two have already helped me with the inability to attach jigheads, and that is now resolved, thanks to them. However, we didn't really speak of the application of the leader, so maybe I just completely misunderstand what I'm trying to do. It seems so straight forward that it must be just my lack of knowledge that is getting in the way.

PS: I've looked in the Guides but haven't found anything the addresses these basics.

Thanks!

[Catfish_Hunter1972]

A leader should be the weakest link in your setup so at worst you lose a lure or hook/bait and don't end up with a broken rod or reel. I am not sure leaders can be used on every type of setup though. I will have to refresh my memory after my current fishing trip but I think there were certain rod/reel combos that I could not use a leader.

[skullius.max]

hello!
bottom, feeder and carp setups always needs a leader to work. (carp leaders are for carp rods only. the system wont let you put a carp leader on a bottom or feeder rod, or put a mono/fluoro/titanium leader on a carp rod)

titanium leaders are for any toothed fish like pikes or gars. you can use them on spinning, casting, feeder/bottom and bobber setups.

flouro is mainly used for fish with good sight like trouts. again, you can put them on spinning, casting, feeder/bottom and bobber setups.

mono is for anything else like carp or catfish. you cant put a mono leader on a bobber or a carp setup

ofc, you can land a pike with mono or fluoro.. but the chance that the fish cuts your line will be high.. also you can catch trouts with mono or titanium leaders, but the bite rate can be lower than using just a fluoro line or a braid line + flouro leader..

hope that helps, good luck! :)

[Mykell]

Originally posted by skullius.max:

hello!
bottom, feeder and carp setups always needs a leader to work. (carp leaders are for carp rods only. the system wont let you put a carp leader on a bottom or feeder rod, or put a mono/fluoro/titanium leader on a carp rod)

titanium leaders are for any toothed fish like pikes or gars. you can use them on spinning, casting, feeder/bottom and bobber setups.

flouro is mainly used for fish with good sight like trouts. again, you can put them on spinning, casting, feeder/bottom and bobber setups.

mono is for anything else like carp or catfish. you cant put a mono leader on a bobber or a carp setup

ofc, you can land a pike with mono or fluoro.. but the chance that the fish cuts your line will be high.. also you can catch trouts with mono or titanium leaders, but the bite rate can be lower than using just a fluoro line or a braid line + flouro leader..

hope that helps, good luck! :)

This is extremely helpful information. Thank you. So, according to the above, I should be able to put a mono leader on a spinning rod set up with mono line, say, to use a spinner or spoon for trout, for instance? I've got a light spinning rod that I used in Colorado for trout but I cannot attach a mono leader to it. I also have a casting rod set up for heavier fish like large bass with braided line but cannot attach any leader to it as well. If I understand you correctly, I should be able to attach at least a mono leader to either rod, right?

[Mykell]

Originally posted by squashed_possum:

A leader should be the weakest link in your setup so at worst you lose a lure or hook/bait and don't end up with a broken rod or reel. I am not sure leaders can be used on every type of setup though. I will have to refresh my memory after my current fishing trip but I think there were certain rod/reel combos that I could not use a leader.

Yes, which is why I'd like to start using them. However, I can't seem to get any kind of leader to attach to either my spinning or casting rod.

[skullius.max]

im sorry, i didnt check about the mono leader before posting

today, with a few screens you can see wich ones you can put on your setups:

https://imgur.com/a/e0odZom

PS: thinking about it.. another difference about carp/mono leaders and fluoro/titanium leaders is that you can play with the length of mono and carp leaders, while titanium and fluoro are fixed to 25 or 50 cm..

[Mykell]

Originally posted by skullius.max:

im sorry, i didnt check about the mono leader before posting

today, with a few screens you can see wich ones you can put on your setups:

https://imgur.com/a/e0odZom

PS: thinking about it.. another difference about carp/mono leaders and fluoro/titanium leaders is that you can play with the length of mono and carp leaders, while titanium and fluoro are fixed to 25 or 50 cm..

Oh wow, this is so helpful! Thank you. Now I understand. Really, for the sake of us new fishermen your two answers should be a Guide on the use of Leaders, if you don't mind me saying so. Very plainly presented and highly descriptive. Parts of fishing can seem a bit arcane to the neophyte.