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Thread: Leaders for saltwater

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    345

    Default Leaders for saltwater

    I have a question about saltwater leaders. I started fly fishing the salt last year..mainly sheltered waters here on Long Island for stripers, bluefish, weakfish and summer flounder. How do you guys handle your leaders? I've been told everything from use tapered fluorocarbon or mono leaders, to just use a straight 6' shot of 20 lb mono. I picked up some tapered leaders from Orvis, and when i snipped it back far enough to lose the tippet, I just put a double surgeons loop in the leader, did likewise to the tippet mat'l (12, 15 or 20 lb mono). Is this the most cost effective way of doing things? Would tying up my own leaders be better than purchasing tapered ones? Any help is appreciated. Oh, forgot, I'm fishing a 9' 9wt with either a WF floating line or an intermediate line with a 1.5 IPS sink tip Thanks for looking.

    Ken
    "Fly fishing is the most fun you can have standing up" Arnold Gingrich

  2. #2

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    Ken- What I use is some 40 or 50 # Berkley clear mono and tie a 4-turn surgeons knot loop in both ends for the butt section of my leader. To this I add my tippet via loop to loop (I tie another 4-turn surgeons knot loop in the tippet) and leave the tag end in place to use for tying on the dropper. The butt section is usually about 30" long and the tippet is about 36" long and generally 30# test Berkley or a camo line. The heavy tippet allows for two stripers fighting in opposite directions without breaking the tippet. I have no trouble fishig this set up on a floating line from shore. Its an easy leader set up and turns over in a head wind nicely. I also whip a loop in the end of my fly line to accept the loop in the butt section. rel

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Havre, MT, USA
    Posts
    899

    Default

    Ken,

    I tie up all my own saltwater leaders. I start with a fairly stiff butt section to help it turn over smoothly, and then I go to a lighter mid section, sort of taper it myself, and then the tippet. I usually use an 8lb tippet. On the end of the tippet I'll tie on a 2ft section of 30lb florocarbon for a bite/shock tippet. I've never lost a fish to one of my leaders breaking. They seem to cast really well for me, and are way more cost effective than purchasing new everytime. I have yet to run completely through a spool of the line that I purchased for making my leaders.

    I use a double surgeons knot for all the connections. If my memory serves me correctly I start with a 20lb butt section, go to 17lb, then 8lb. 12lb might work even better.

    Good luck,
    TT

  4. #4

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    In the long run, you will save yourself a ton of money making your own leaders. For your floating line, start with 4 feet of 40-50lb, tie that to a few feet of 20-25lb down to whatever size you want to end in. I use 15lb next. Join them with double uni knots and put a perfection loop in the end of the but section.

    You will not need as long a leader on the intermediate line but I would still use at least two sections that taper down.

  5. #5

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    Lots of ideas and they all work.You can use a 6-7 ft piece of #20 mono on your floater with no problems.For my intermediate I use about 5' of #15 mono for my 8wt and #12 for 6 & 7 wts.If you want to tie your own leaders,use a 60-20-20 formula.Make the butt section 60% of the leader,the mid section 20% and the tippet 20%.For this I have used 4' of #30 mono for the butt,2' of #20 for the mid and 2' of #15 or #12 for the tippet.I use a surgeon knot for the butt to mid and a perfection loop for the mid to tippet.My feelings are that floro is mostly hype and is not needed so I go with mono.Its cheaper and the fish just dont care.

  6. #6

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    I build my own saltwater leaders with fluoro.
    Simple 4-1-4 or 60%-20%-20% formulas.
    I use this one:
    http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...-box.jsp.form1

  7. #7

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    what's the 4 1 4 formula?
    I believe I can fly fish

  8. #8

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    Martin...4ft, 1ft, 4ft, Butt, transition, tip.
    Good luck

  9. #9

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    That sounds like an easy formula. I need to tie some leaders for the surf also, what wold you recommend for # 4 and 6 flies?
    I believe I can fly fish

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2000
    Location
    Pacific
    Posts
    1,351

    Default

    Martin,

    For So Cal surf fishing with a sinking line. I just just a straight piece or 10 to 12lb test mono about 6 feet long. If you use a heavy butt section it will actually impair the sink of the leader and thus the fly too.

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