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In fishing in unobstructed water with light test lines, a leader is unnecessary, nylon monofilament or platyl is leader enough. However, where obstructions exist such as sharp rocks, lily pads, and logs, it behooves the angler to barrel-knot on a 3-foot leader of slightly heavier line. In ovean fishing, where there are barnacles, sharp rocks, and tidal reef flats, bend on a longer leader, even up to 20 feet. For the tooth-filled jaws of the muskellunge or pike use a 6-inch length of fine braided wire leader attached to the line by a snap. When going after large fish such as steelhead and salman, it is not necessary to change to heavy distance-consuming line. Simply keep your reel threaded with 4- to 6-pound test monofilament and tie to the end of it a 6-foot trace of 6- to 8-pound test monofilament. This trace will enable you to land the majority of your large fish without line breakage because most of the strain is exerted on the first feet or so of your line. Where length of backing is not an important factor, the angler can save himself money by using a cheaper though heavier braided nylon backing. When the length of backing is most vital, as in bone-fishing, where the fish may open the contest with an 800-foot sprint, splice in an even slightly lighter line, because the strain is never so great here as it is toward the front of the line due to friction in pulling through the water. With this finer backing, the spool will hold more line.
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