Fireline for a Leader

[cycler68]

I've been using about a 6 ft. leader made out of Fireline when fishing topwater flies for bass. Earlier this year I was using the standard monofilament leaders and getting strike after strike but few hookups. I finally started pointing the rod at the popper, removing all slack and then strip striking. I started getting more bass but still a frustrating number of misses. Then one day I was out trying a new 10 wt. I had just bought and getting many more hookups and that got me to thinking that 10 wt has a much stiffer tip that my 8 wt that I had been using. So I began using my 9 wt and getting still more hookups but still missing and loosing more fish that I liked. Then I noticed all the stretch in mono and thought I'll try Fireline as that has no stretch but is quite stiff. I made a leader using about 4 ft of 30 lb. test and then, because 30 lb test Fireline so stiff and heavy, added about 2 ft of 15 lb. test crystal Fireline using a double surgeons knot and then tied the bass bug on using a no slip loop knot. Eureka! Sucess.
Now I rarely miss a strike and the fish stay hooked ;also I don't have to set the hook nearly as hard as when I was using a mono leader. When I get very few strikes a night as I am no it's nice to know I can hook and land nearly all the fish that bite.
Has anyone else tried this?

[ducksterman]

Furled leaders made with crystal Fireline have those qualities.

[Micropteris]

I love fireline.

Don't like the crystal though. It doesn't behave like the dark stuff.

I also like to play with trolling wire for deeper presentation leaders too. It also doesn't stretch.

Sticky sharp hooks are still important for hooking fish though.

[shorthaul]

A charter capt that fishes for musky uses 50# fireline for leaders with no wire---he says they cant bite it off.

[rrhyne56]

Looks like I need a spool of Fireline

[Normand]

Furled leaders made with crystal Fireline have those qualities.

u make furled leaders with 30# fireline??

[ducksterman]

Nope ....4#

[cycler68]

Ducksterman, I had no idea furled leaders were, or could be made of fireline. Are these leaders you made yourself or can you buy them?
Shorthaul, I suspected fireline would make a passable bite leader for pike since it so so tough but muskies? 50 lb test must be really tough. Now I'm wondering if 30 lb test would be heavy enough to use for pike so I could dispense with wire.
I'm so pleased with the results I'm getting with fireline leaders that I may give up mono leaders except when I need a leader that fish can't see or need the cushioning of mono for one reason or another. And, of course fireline isn't as flexable as mono either but for bass and bluegills it doesn't seem to be much of a handicap as a no slip loop knot seems to let the flies work the way they are supposed to. At least the fish are still biting on my flies
My opinion may change as I gain more experince but for now this is what it is.

[OttoDita]

Looks like I need a spool of Fireline

Couldn't have said it any better myself
Shane

[Whitefish]

I have used 30# fireline for pike and have had bite-offs - and these were not large fish. Also tried 30# flourocarbon and had the same experience (two in one morning before I switched). I keep defaulting to wire, even in bass/pike situations where I'd really rather leave the wire at home.
Years ago I got some heavy kevlar tippet material, which, unfortunately, I can't seem to find anymore. It works great for pike - have not had a bite-off yet but it will fray over time....TIM