Choosing the right popping cork leader length for redfish or speckled trout is easy, but these other things should come first.
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How long should your leader be?
Short answer: two to four feet.
Long answer: I'd use two feet if throwing live bait against a shoreline for reds, and sometimes four feet does better during the summertime for speckled trout.
Anything longer becomes a pain to cast and is more likely to tangle. A slip-cork is a better rig for fishing deeper while still using a popping cork.
I feel experimenting with leader line sits right there with lure colors: you can change it until you're blue in the face and it won't make a difference if other things are not happening in the first place.
Let's cover each.
Are you even on fish in the first place?
It really doesn't matter what tackle, lure, leader line, leader length or whatever you are using if you are not on biting fish in the first place.
Luckily, I already have a guide to finding fish that covers this in detail.
Correctly Fishing Each Spot
I see it happen all the time: people will be right on biting fish and still fail to catch them.
This usually has something to do with the position from which they are casting as well as the sinking weight they've selected (when not using a popping cork).
How to do these things right is described in detail in this free fishing course.
Knowing When To Leave
How do you know when you should leave a fishing spot?
Well, when you're not catching anything!
But it's not always that obvious: sometimes there are nibbles here and there, or a keeper is finally caught (but no more bite after that), or throwbacks that are just barely under the limit keep biting, and you and your friends keep casting hoping your luck will change.
Does that sound familiar?
Fact of the matter is that the proverbial "time vampire" keeps inshore anglers from moving to find where the fish are biting.
If you watch my fishing trip reviews, then you know that I will pick out more than a few spots to try when planning a fishing trip.
Sometimes I'll pick as many as thirty to sixty!
Now, not all those spots will see a wet line, but the point is that I have lots of options when out on the water and know where I am going when I leave a spot because nothing is biting.
Chime In & Tell Us What You Think
Do you think having an exact leader length is that important?
Are the points made in this guide good ones?
What leader length do you use for your popping corks?
Tell us in the comments below!
