Leader Question
What is the best all purpose, reasonably priced, saltwater leader available? I'm on a budget and can't afford to have more than one spool, so I need a leader that will work inshore and possibly offshore (no big game fish). I'll definitely be fishing inshore and I might take it with me when I go offshore with my wife's uncle.
I'll be fishing in the Wrightsville Beach area of NC.
probably one thats hand tied
Wow, that's a tough question to answer. I don't know that it's really possible to answer with just one suggestion because there are so many different variables to each fishing situation.
If when you say "leader" you are talking about the tippet, and not the butt section of the leader, then you still limit yourself. I think a good allround choice would be 12lb line. I use plain old Stren, but I've got it tied to a 17lb line that is a bit stiffer for the butt section, and then I've got 50lb flourocarbon tied onto the 12lb for a shock tippet. So you see, I already have 3 different lines for my leaders.
If you're talking about buying pre-made tapered leaders, I'm afraid I don't know how to answer that question. I would definatley recommend that you have some heavy flouro for a shock tippet depending on which species of fish you're after, and maybe even a wire leader or two tied up and ready to go in case you get into some really toothy fish like mackarel or blue fish.
I have found that in all my saltwater fishing I very rarely change my leader, but I do change the shock tippet and wire bite leaders fairly often, so 1 leader could potentially last a long time as long as you're not damaging them too much on coral and other underwater obstacles. I usually make up a dozen or so leaders and keep them in a little pouch so that if I do need to change, I just take one out, and loop-to-loop it to my fly line, tie on a shock tippet, the fly and I'm fishing again.
I hope this helps you and doesn't confuse you too much,
TT.
I recently decided to follow up on saltwater guru comments re saltwater leaders. These guys tend to stay simple, i.e: a 5-6' length of 20# Ande or other mono as a leader. I attached the 20# length with a double surgeon's loop to my fly line and casted away.
Casted beautifully with good loops, etc. straight line at "plop down" and now that's what I'm using as a leader.
When the 20# leader gets shorter, I can always attach a 15# length of tippet to my fly.
Thumbs, so correct me if I'm wrong but do you simply tie different strength mono together to form your "leader" and then attach another section of heavier mono or wire for a shock tippet? I have mono of all weights, so putting together a "leader" such as that would be no problem. I was inquiring about pre-made tapered leaders, but I wasn't too dead set on them. I just want something that will work.
Really, I think I was trying to get someone to tell me that I didn't need a pre-made tapered leader.
You don't need a pre-made tapered leader.Originally Posted by NCVirginian
Most of the fishing i do is for stripers and stuff up here in the Northeast. I use 2 different leaders-- one with floating lines and one with intermediate/sinking lines.
With floaters, a 9' 4/3/2 leader with a 4' butt section of 35 or 40lb mono, 3' mid section of 30 or 25lb mono and a "tippet of 2' of 20 or 16lb mono. I generally use clear or Ande.
With intermediate and sinking fly lines I just use a short, straight shot of 20lb Ande, (not tapered) anywhere from 4 to 6' long. The short leader prevents flies from rising up defeating the purpose of a sinking line.
I often fish this as is with out a shock or bite tippet for stripers. But, depending on what I'm fishing for, I might add a short 60lb mono shock leader if there are big fish around, and for toothy fish like bluefish, I have simple flies pre-tied to 4-6" of single strand wire with a haywire twist, but you could carry a knot-able wire like Tyger Wire to rig up quickly on the water.
Leaders in SW can be a lot less complicated than the ones used in trout fishing where they need to turn over small flies, and provide drag free drifts. SW flies will generally have enough weight to lay out pretty well, and even if they don't they are usually actively retrieved when you strip them in, or swung on a tight line.
Good luck,
Mark
Last edited by peregrines; 05-08-2010 at 04:24 PM.
.....what Mark said
I'll also use 6' straight 20# mono on a floating line if I'm planning on fishing a popper
Ande or Trilene Big Game
There's guys around here that when fishing a rocky area, will just use a leader of about 8' of straight 30# mono and tie an overhand knot in it to weaken it ( I know !)
That way they can dispense with the bother of a separate shock tippet
The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
--- Horace Kephart
Yup, you don't have to have a pre-made tapered leader. Mark gave you a great recipe, you can go lighter too it you want. I will also use just a straight lenght of line for a leader if I'm throwing a popper. You should be fine if you make up a few to take with you.
I attach all my lines together using a double surgeons knot. I've never had one come undone, and they are super easy to tie. I always use a shock tippet, but you certainly don't have to.
Glad we could help.
TT
I appreciate all of the help. I'm trying to get everything in order sooner rather than later. Looks like I'm going to be tying up some leaders here in the very near future.
Thanks again.
Mark C
NCVirginian: I agree with all suggestions from FAOL posters re your question and, I, too, have started to use a straight length of 20# Ande for my leader and have found it to be satisfactory, as I posted.
However, if you don't want to be bothered with tying your own leaders from several pieces of mono in different pound tests, you can purchase, when available, Scientific Angler or Rio or Orvis tapered leaders from sierratradingpostdotcom who often has very good prices on tapered leaders. When they have a sale, I buy a dozen or two for me and my fishing buddy. All perform very well.
Ron
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