Fly Fishing Leaders , Tapered Or Same Thickness Mono?

[mick1726 0]

hi, ive been using tapered leaders but recently found the cost going up slightly ,is there any real difference in using same thickness mono for river fishing and what b/s (been using 3-5 lb)

thanks for any input

[AirgunGuy 362]

If you're using a couple of flies you could step the leader down...say 6lb down to 5lb. As long as the diameters are similar then there's no problem

[mick1726 0]

thanks ,i usually only use 1 on point ,about 4lb tip to 8lb connecter, next time im out will give 4lb same thickness a go see if theres any real difference, thanks again

[northern lad 2,292]

Im no expert Mick,but you will probably notice the difference in the turnover whilst casting,if you are only using a fly on the point it shouldn't matter to much ,if you start adding droppers you will get more tangles/windknots than with a tapered leader.As AG said ,stepped leaders are another option,Ive done 8to4 and 6to3 and never had a problem (four turn water knot,plenty of spit )ATB Dave

[AirgunGuy 362]

Other than that you could try polyleaders...they will also give you a bit more control over depth. Used them for years when i used to fish for trout and use them 9 times out of 10 on my salmon lines. Great for depth control and turn over

[mick1726 0]

thanks , would using 6lb line with a 2mm ring and say 4lb tippet system be any better ?

[AirgunGuy 362]

Do away with the ring and just use a 4 turn water knot bedded down with a bit of saliva...1 knot instead of 2. Test the knot for strength a couple of times by pulling it til it fails before fishing with it to make sure its a strong connection and the tippet material is compatible with each other as some don't join well

[mick1726 0]

thanks very much for your input will give it a go this w/end

[AirgunGuy 362]

Let us know how you get on ;-)

[Acuspell 329]

Your tapered leaders should last you years. Buy a 9 foot tapered leader, ending in the tippet strength of your choice (5lb? 6lb?) THEN, before you ever use it, tie on a 3ft length of tippet material the same weight, or a little lower. That way you only ever nibble at the sacrificial end of the tapered leader - the extra tippet you put on. Tied, as said above, with a 4-turn water knot, when that working length gets down to about 16" - 18", snip it off at the knot and tie on another 3 feet or so of your tippet length. I have made tapered leaders last three or four years like this - i do the same with my saltwater leaders, - Orvis Mirage Saltwater Game bonefish leaders. They are 2 to a packet and you can even buy a kit with 2 leaders and a spool of tippet material (Mirage) the same strength - I tend to go for the 16lb now as I got smashed to pieces 2 years ago on 12lb and finally brought a bass ot hand that was well over 12lb, 14lbs possibly. I couldn't lift it all out of the water (I was waist deep wading) and I lost it as I fumbled to get my camera, holding it and my rod in one hand and trying to get the camera out with the other....it soaked e and the leader parted as I dropped it and it was snagged up on my waders braces.

 

Tapered leader every time EXCEPT on sinking lines. Then just a short straight length of mono. As I have described above - thet don't have to be expensive if you use them like that. The Orvis Mirage 2 leaders and spool kit is nearly £20 - but worth every penny and lasts me 2 years at least - so only £10 a year, hardly expensive.

[Nik_B 3,790]

Tried the rings but they are so damn fiddly I ended up dropping most of them in the grass....I'm too lazy to make up tapered leaders at home before I go out. generally I just use the same strength line with a single dropper on top of the point fly.

 

No doubt a tapered leader helps presentation especially with a dry fly but I still catch fish my lazy way.

[mick1726 0]

thanks acuspell and every one,i tried last w/end and this with 4lb fluro straight thu and had success a few small brownies on wf6 f line and dry flies ,but i think the little extra weight of a tappered line makes a difference in a straighter leader when casting, will try with a taper and added leader as suggested over the next w/end and see what results i get ,atb everone, tight lines,

mick1726

[AirgunGuy 362]

Just back from 3 days salmon fishing on the Aberdeenshire Dee and had 4 salmon from 6lb to 20lb. Full floater, long leader and size 14 flies.

 

My leader was 16 feet long and stepped from 25lb down to 19lb Seaguar and joined with a 4 turn water knot. No problems at all with stepped down leader ;-)

[barryt128 4]

i was given this advice and it works start off with a leader the length of the rod the breaking strain 1 higher or lower then the weight of the line ie 5wt line use 4 or 6lb line i used to use mono but changed to flurocarbon and i hardly ever knots and tangles and it rolls out well too

[mick1726 0]

thanks for all the tips,never managed to get out this w/end but will try some next week weather permitting ,atb mick