Leader Help Please

[TerryB]

Could someone give me some advise regarding leader and tippit lengths.

I'm having trouble getting my fly to roll out to the end like it ought.

The cast seems to just die about half way through the mid section of the leader.

I have a 4 weight weight forward floating line to which I've tied a 10 lbs. leader butt about 4 ft. long then a 6 lbs. mid section about 2 ft. then a 4lbs, tippit about 2 ft.

I'm tying them together using loops on the ends.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Terry

Terry,

There may be a formula on this site or check elsewhere.

Also, the generally preferred way to connect sections is by using the blood knot. Loops will cause problems.

Good Luck.

Allan

For Dry Flies the general rule is hook size, divided by 3, equals the tippet.

Example:

Size 16 Dry Fly hook, divided by 3, equals a size 5X tippet (.006 inch diameter). You could even try a size 6X tippet (.005 inch diameter) if the fish are refusing the fly. But with a smaller diameter tippet, you may encounter the tippet and tapered leader, becoming twisted with the casting.

This is just a general rule, if there is wind resistance, you might want to try a 4X tippet (.007 inch diameter).

[O. Clarki]

Take a look here for a pretty comprehensive review.
[url=http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/leadercalc/:73350]http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/leadercalc/[/url:73350]

[J Castwell]

tks clarki,,, you can always count on them for good information.

[okflyfisher]

A simple formula we use in warmwater is 60% of the desired leader lenghth is the butt section ,20% of the total leader lenght is tippet and the remaing 20% is the middle piece that fits bettween the butt and the tippet. On a 4 or 5 wt rod we start out with a leader butt of 20 lb. For trout I generally buy a tapered leader, and add tippet or possible a middle piece and tippet as the season goes on.

[pspaint]

I'd say it's a combination of to light of material for the butt section and using the handshake loops to connect.

[TerryB]

Thanks to everyone for your help!

It's great to have a resource like you to ask help from!

Thanks!
Terry

[fcch]

Terry, ...
When the cast dies, ... (imho) the leader is too "limp" for the job:
... from another thread ...
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/013759.html:06565]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/013759.html[/url:06565]


There are some formulas around here somewhere ... also

Furled leaders: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/readerscast/rc185.html:06565]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/readerscast/rc185.html[/url:06565]

Leader Fix
By James Castwell: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/cst/cst051401.html:06565]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/cst/cst051401.html[/url:06565]

Fly Fishing 101, Part 6
Leaders and Tippets: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/part6.html:06565]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/part6.html[/url:06565]

Performance By Design (Climax): [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/about/climax/index.html:06565]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/about/climax/index.html[/url:06565]

Hope this helps


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Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://flyanglersonline.com/travel/quebec06fishin/:06565]2006 FishIn Ste-Marguerite River[/url:06565]
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:06565]Fishing the Ste-Marguerite[/url:06565]

[Fry Flier]

Yep, lots of great info and people here.
Just curious Terry what size of fly might you be trying to cast? This is one variable that sometimes get over looked, your leader can be fine for a lot of your fishing but the fly might be to big for your setup the way it is.

An example of this is my 6'6" 2 wgt. rod with a furled leader and a 5 x tippet of 5 feet and a #16 elkhair caddis will punch out and land nice and soft at 25-30 feet.

Take the same outfit and put on a #12 humpy the fly lands short of the line and leader at about 20 feet surounded by tippet.