A query I just got from one of our members here just reminded me that I was going to post this a couple of weeks ago.
The issue is on leader length. When I first started GT fishing, I used a horribly unsophisticated knot which was braid to a three foot leader by way of an double uni knot. Over time, as I learned more, I went to longer leaders using knots like FG knots and then twisted leaders and then the PR knot. The one constant for me today is that my leaders are all around three metres in length.
The advantages of the longer leader are that it is more abrasion resistent should the GT pull you through unfriendly territory. My experience is that I still get done regularly irrespective of the length of the leader.
Recently in New Caledonia, I noticed that the operators of Le Poisson Banane, use a rig that is about as sophisticated as the one I used when I first started GT fishing. Their rig consists of braid to solid ring, a 300-400lb mono leader of some four feet in length to another solid ring and that's it. I was shocked but these boys ARE the experts on big GTs and as I have previously written, if there is any operator who knows the behaviour of really big GTs as well as David and Rudy, I haven't met them.
We had some extended discussions on the merit of short versus long leaders and while it is apparent that some of their territory is more conducive to shorter leaders due to its depth, they are still firmly of the view that the benefits of the long leader are overstated. One thing is clear and that is a short leader does not result in anywhere near as many aborted casts due to the line catching on the stripper guide or tip. I suppose at the end of the day, it is all a compromise.
I've been thinking of going back to trying shorter leaders for a while and see how it goes. The only thing about it is I don't particularly like casting when my index finger is holding onto braid. Too used to feeling mono there!
What length leaders are people generally using and what is your experience with being burnt off and casting re wind knots and stripper guide/tip problems?