Follow the leader.....

[rford]

All the tippet talk on the catch22x post, has promted me to take a step back and think about my leader. Just was wondering what most of you use.


What is your connection to fly line: Fancy braided store bought loop, Heavy Buttend w/ loop,
Leader to Flyline connection with nail knot, leader to buttend w/nail knot.

If you know, you are going fishing, and you need to put new leader on, and odds are ,you are gonna be nymphing or streamer fishing...do you put on

a pricey tapered leader
old fat end of a halph spent leader, with an added on tippet as needed
or f-it just run some straigt lbs test mono or floro , and finish with a tippet as needed.

I Hate loops.
I almost always tie directly to fly line, add a little zap a gap, one for the knot, one for me...
When I am dry fly fishing, if I know i am gonna start with 6x I put on 9 ft 5x and add 2 ft of 6 x, and so on.
If I am nymphing I usually use fat half of old tapered leader alread on , and adjust tippet to stream depth/current/ dropper ig or whatever.
However, recently I have been using more of the straight run of a sigle lbs test mono or floro line straight from line, mostly because there have not been left over leaders I used from dry fly fishing, and I have figured .." why waste a perfectly good leader to Nymph.
I actually think the reward has been better than just saving $.
It seems that with the straight leader without the heavy butt end of a store bought leader I am either getting more hits or feeling more hits... What do you think?
On Streamers, Im a pig, I use heavy x or 4-8 lb test and never more than 4 feet from end of line, experimented with sinking line ( not sink tip) at Connetqout last weekend Still don't like it, Am I missing something?


Just want to pick your brains...!

Ralph

 

[fcch]

Hi Ralph,

Leaders, what a debate, may as well ask about C&R vs C&BBQ

What do I use. I tie my own leaders out of Maxima. I attach to the fly line with an Albright knot.

My leaders taper. On a 5 wt XP 8.5ft long, I start with 30lb maxima about 3 ft long, 25lb x 2 ft, 20lb x 2 ft, 15lb 18", 12lb 18", 10lb 18", 8lb 1 ft then tippet of 6, 4 or 2 lb. (18").

That makes about 13ft of leader + tippet.

That's about standart for me I like to string up with a minimum 1.5 - 2x the lenght of the rod (so my 10ft has 22ft of leader+tippet).

Stiff butt, yes, but I cast lots of big bushy flies.

 

[cingras53]

leaders

I use a Feather-Crafter "Lucky dog leader" which tapers down to 3x and then forms a very small loop. I loop on whatever tippet size 5x to 7x , about 30 inches or more. When I snip back the tippet too far I just put on another loop to loop connection. At the top of the leader I use a bungee butt section with a 4 inch section of elastic material also loop to loop.
I don't feel a hitch in my cast at all and the bungee butt protects my light tippets. I have never had a break off and have horsed fish in to avoid exhaustion. You can tie up some extra tippet loops before going on the stream which cuts down the fumbling when the fish are showing and your knees start knocking.

 

[Soft-hackle]

Ah leaders

Hi,
Leaders are the subject between fly anglers all over. As for me I like Maxima Chameleon, too, but use different tippets depending what I am trying to accomplish. Sometimes I use the Maxima material for tippets and other times I use softer tippet like Climax or Cortland. Oh, yes, I tie my own leaders, and I believe that saves money for me. I believe tying your own gives you more versatility. When the water gets low, I can go to twelve or fifteen foot leaders. In addition I can add droppers easily if I want to fish two or three wet-flies at once.

There are a lot of leader formulas available, and I've got a little collection going. Some are tapered, some are actually tied like weight forward line. I guess it's a matter of preference.

As for line to leader connection-I use a nail knotted piece of 30# test leader material with an end loop on the end of the line. Then I tie an end loop in my leader butt and connect loop to loop. I've had no trouble with this rig.

Mark

 

[RickW]

I am still looking for the ultimate setup. I have used knotless tapered, I have tied my own (Chris's formula rings a bell, 2', 2', 2', 18", 18", etc.). For connecting the leader, I have used nail knots, perminent leader butts, "epoxy splices", even one of those little barbed thingies with an eye (years ago) LOL.
Right now I like the braided loop, because it gives me max. flexibility, and I can put a sink tip on if I want. This year I will be trying a furrelled sp? leader with tippets connected w/a loop.

Maybe I'm too much of a hack to notice , but as far as casting goes, I really can't tell much of a difference, as long as the leader butt somewhat matches the flex of the line tip, and the tippet is apprpriate for the size and type of the fly. What I'm looking for is an easy to manage system that provides flexibility for changing situations.

 

[FearTheHenry]

Leaders

I use Doug Swisher flat butt's most of the time. I nail knot the line connection to another piece of yozuri with a loop. Tippet - orvis,maxima.

When I fish the Potomac for smallies I use straight yozuri hybrid or straight mono for top water

 

[NJFred]

I use a crazy glue splice to connect the leader to the fly line and there it stays for the year. I tie my own leaders. Hard stiff for the butt and stuff near the fly line and more supple torward the tippet. I tie a couple of different types of half leaders and tie them one from time to time as the old leader gets messed up or I really need to shift to something different then I have on.

 

[Scott]

For most all trout fishing I like to use a braided finger-trap type flyline/leader loop connector, either Orvis or Cortland, but I use the Orvis sleeves. I like the Orvis braided leaders, I get the 6x 9' one & toss the tippet away.

I use Frog Hair tippet material & connect with a loop connection using a 2x Surgeon's knot.

When I want to alter leader length, I add more tippet in decreasing diameters. e.g. if I want to use a 12' leader, I'll use the braided leader (about 5' I think), 2' of 2x, 2' of 4x, and finish off with whatever I want - usually 5x or 6x.

For streamer fishing, I use a braided loop connector to a level leader (no taper) of 4-6# flurocarbon. Right now I really like P-Line. I can alter my cast for a little more speed at the finish so the fly extends out fully just fine.

I played around with a short butt section, which I think I liked, last fall. I used a 4' length of 14# P-Line FC line, and about a 4-5' tippet of 6# P-Line FC for tippet.

Landlocked salmon are not known to be leader shy, but I seem to do a little better when I use flurocarbon leaders.

My $0.02... YMMV...

 

[Big_Spinner]

Super glue splice is the best for me. smooth through the guides!

I use 9 foot 4x or 5x tapered leaders. I will just add tippet to keep the leader between 8-10 feet. Too long a leader is not as accurate.

The super glue splice and tapered leaders means the olny knot is to the fly. Or after a fish it awhile I will have a blood knot for tippet.

If you throw tailing loops this knotless system will really reduce frustration level!

Jim

 

[fcch]

Jim,

Too long a leader is not as accurate

I agree, but I usually throw straight casts for dries and swings for most other presentations, so my relatively long gleaders aren't a handicap.

 

[Big_Spinner]

Hi Chistopher,

When is a good time to come and fish.

I fished the Miramachi last year in July and had alot of fun. May want to try a trip agian this year.

Thanks,

jim

 

[fcch]

Jim,

When depends on what you want to fish for.

My home waters are different from the Mir.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/homewaters/RvSteMarguerite.html

In the attached graphic, you'll see the daily and cummulative stats for sea run brook trout and a second (salmon2.jpg) for salmon. Success rates were average last year even with a small number of anglers.


Give me a day and I'll get back with a better reply.

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

Pepsi Challenge

I Hate loops.
I almost always tie directly to fly line, add a little zap a gap, one for the knot, one for me...



Why? If you had your eyes closed and made a cast with two rods, one with a loop and one without would you be able to pass the Pepsi Callenge?

 

[GARYB]

I don't like loops either, not for casting but when bringing in a good size fish.
If you bring the loop thru your guides the fish could run one last time and .......bye,bye.
The one thing I do is use the heaviest tippet at all times. (midging don't count) The
lightest I go is 5x for #18 bwo's and sulfurs.