Floating versus Submerged Furled Leaders

[JohnScott]

This topic has come up any number of times within various threads on furled leaders. Now that we have a Furling Forum, it seems it is time to devote a thread just to this topic.

It's clear from past discussions, that the majority prefer floating leaders for fishing dry flies and all around use, and that a small minority prefer leaders that submerge for all around use.

Personally, I prefer a thread furled leader that submerges for fishing for trout on moving water. My leader material of choice is 210 Danville Flymaster Plus. This material submerges, but does not really sink. It is possible to fish a size 20 dry fly, at least on fairly soft water, with this leader when it is fully submerged - it goes under but it does not sink the fly. On the other end of the spectrum, it is possible to change out to a suitable tippet and fish a couple large weighted nymphs under an indicator with the same exact leader - may not be too pretty sometimes, but it gets the job done.

There are situations where I can see some advantages to a floating leader. Maybe a good discussion here will lead us all to be more flexible in how we approach making and fishing furled leaders.

John

[Jack Hise]

Most of our fishing here is wet flys. For a fast deep sinking leader Berkley "Transition Gold/Red" 4# test fluorocarbon has proven to be the best to date. To avoid the line twist you get when swinging wet flys I have been adding a small swivel to the tippet end



When I do get the chance to fish dry flys I use Uni 6/0 and float it.

I understand your method and hope to learn a little more of it when Kaboom1 and I get out your way this September.

[EdD]

Jack, I like the swivel addition. Does it have much effect on how the leaders turn over.

Ed

[hugefish_80]

I fish mostly still water for bass, crappie, bluegill, and whatever else I can get to bite. I o most of this fishing with a leader furled out of #4 seagaur fluorocarbon. This acts a bit like a mini sink tip and really helps to drag my unweighted streamers down in the water column with out giving them the action of a leaded fly.

[jstraightj]

I have had much better luck with mono than any threads for floating (dry fly) leaders. Is that typical?

[Jack Hise]

When you say "Better Luck" do you mean longer drifts or better turn over for large fly's?

[kbproctor]

I have only used a couple of UNI leaders that were sent to me a year or so ago. They sink more than I would like for dries, even when dressed with Aquel, and don't really sink as much as I would like for stillwater fishing which is the bulk of my fishing. They are just about right for wets on a stream.

I had bought some fine Spiderwire to make thread pullers with for my rod building and don't like it for that purpose. Has anyone tried it for furled leaders? I haven't tried it myself as I have had too much other stuff going to build a furling board, but I have the impression it would sink pretty well. It's limp as all get out as well.

[jstraightj]

When you say "Better Luck" do you mean longer drifts or better turn over for large fly's?

Better Luck floating, threads used all sink, even when treated with floatent.

[okflyfisher]

i use mono for trout and fluorocabon for warmwater fishing( still water). For a 4 wt line in moving water a fluorocabon leader sank my fly line so it hurt mending. in stillwater i don't mend.

[sagefisher]

I don't care how the leader is made, but when you fish dry flies there is a huge advantage to a leader (and line for that matter) that float as compared to a leader (or line) that sinks. The Pick Up. A major advantage to dry flying is the ability to pick up 20 or 30 or 40 + feet of line and recast in a single motion. If your leader (or line) has submerged then that creates a whole lot more drag on your pick up and will kill a good long line pick up. Then you have to strip in more line thus taking more time plus making a couple false casts, and your fly just spent less time on the water, so a reduced chance of catching a fish. A submerged line will create a larger disturbance in the water when you are pulling it out, hence a greater chance of spooking a fish.

Notice I keep saying (and line) because if you don't keep your line clean it will sink. Many fly fishers do not keep a clean line. You should clean it every morning, give it a good stretch to take the coil memory out of it and treat it with a line cleaner/conditioner.

Just my thoughts on the subject. Now, get out there and try it out, meaning, get out and fish.

Larry ---sagefisher---