Use of Furled Leaders

[supersenior]

I just purchased a package of (yellow thread) furled leaders for a 4 weight rod.
They're 7' long so I would add approx 2'-3' of tippet.

Question..if one is dry fly fishing in very clear water to wary trout, wouldn't the leader spook the fish as opposed to a regular 9'-10' mono tapered leader?

[Cold]

Will it spook wary trout in clear water? Maybe.

As opposed to mono? I doubt it.

If you think it'll help, dress with mucilin to increase floatation and decrease water retention, and hence spray.

I think the soft laydown of a furled leader more than makes up for its perceived bulk in terms of putting fish down.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

My favorite thread furled leader is Hot Orange. Helps me see the approximate location of my fly. Does it scare the fishies in gin clear water? Not that I've noticed.

REE

[Jack Hise]

In calm conditions over 4' of tippet can be used as the furled leader will carry it. As the winds increase reduce the length of the tippet.

When fishing wet fly's I'll use up to 6' of tippet attached to a flurocarbon furled leader.

[supersenior]

Gentlemen:
Thank-you for your replies.
I'm going to test the theories on Friday.

BPZ

[Chuck441]

Please let us know your results.

Chuck

[Mojo]

SS, you can add up to 6' of tippet and it should be good for spooky fish. I prefer 5' furled leaders of Uni thread and then tippet to match the fishing condition.

[Steven]

I just purchased a package of (yellow thread) furled leaders for a 4 weight rod.
They're 7' long so I would add approx 2'-3' of tippet.

Question..if one is dry fly fishing in very clear water to wary trout, wouldn't the leader spook the fish as opposed to a regular 9'-10' mono tapered leader?

Last week, my son and I went double digits fishing dry with an Airflo poly leader - I think those things are even thicker than furled leaders.

If fish spooked every time something hit the water, they'd starve.

[Cold]

Last week, my son and I went double digits fishing dry with an Airflo poly leader - I think those things are even thicker than furled leaders.

If fish spooked every time something hit the water, they'd starve.

Good point. I'm convinced some larger trout get to the point where the sound/light/reflection disturbance of a small object hitting the water gets interpreted more as a dinner bell than an intruder alarm.

I've started using an AirFlo poly leader for dries as well, and so far, I'm pleased. Not as smooth casting as a furled, not as graceful of a lay-down, but once its on the water it floats higher for easier mending, has a nicer lift-off, and almost no spray.

[Bamboozle]

I fish a lot of small streams. Before I got my hands on some really short (3') furled leaders, I routinely used 5-6 feet of leader material tied directly to the end of my bright chartreuse fly line. The fish didn't care one bit.

At the same streams I now use 3' furled leaders attached to the same hideous colored fly line with 2-3 feet of tippet and the fish still don't care.

When you think about the fact that the fish that the "experts" keep telling us about that are super intelligent, super wary, super selective, impossible to catch except when wearing a ghillie suit while casting 100 feet using a 25 foot leader; are STILL being caught using something attached to fishing line with a curved hunk of metal hanging below it...

...it makes you wonder who is dumber, the fish or us for believing all of that nonsense.

Call me a heretic but all of warnings related to trout fly fishing practice like avoiding short leaders, heavy leaders, heavy line weights, line spray, bright colors, etc...

...are just an fancy way to excuse yourself from a lousy presentation or being outsmarted by a pea brained fish.