New Fluoro Nymph Leader Configuration ...

[JohnScott]

I was in need of a new nymph leader for my 7 wt rod. I generally only use it to fish large, heavily weighted stonefly nymphs like JARS, mostly one at a time, but on occasion two at a time, and always under a large thingamabobber.

My old leader was furled out of 2# Berkeley Vanish in a 10-8-6 configuration with proportions of 40% butt section, 30% mid section, and 30 % tip section. A tip ring was incorporated, and 2X tippet was the standard for fishing the big nymphs under an indicator.

Believing that a slimmer profile would work better, i.e. not have so much resistance to letting the fly sink, I opted for an 8-6 configuration of the 2# BV with proportions of 40% butt and 60% mid / tip, with a tip ring incorporated. The finished length of the leader is about 5'8".

I had the chance to fish the new leader for several hours yesterday and was quite satisfied with it. I fished both a single JARS, and a tandem of them with the second fly trailing the first one by about 2', under the thingamabobber. Total distance from the thingamabobber, which was placed quite close to the butt of the leader, to the trailing nymph was the best part of 12'.

It's impossible to say that there was a marked improvement of the new leader over the old one. But it is quicker to set up, uses less material, and furls in about the same amount of time. And with satisfactory performance for it's intended use, that is progress, to my way of thinking.

John

P.S. No tight loops with the 2 fly rig - big open loops and watch your right ear.

[Jack Hise]

John;
You are using an indicator/bobber?

[moonlitflies]

Jack the Thingamabobber is extremely effective in fishing a dead drift, and aiding in depth control. An extremely effective method. John have you ever thought of using a micro swivel on that leader?

Brandon

[Jack Hise]

Brandon;
I know what a thingamabober is, Junk, sorry John. I just wonder why you would use one with a fluorocarbon leader! I want my wet fly down on the bottom ticking the rocks. If I was using a "Bobber" I would use a mono or thread leader!
Have another glass of Cool Aid.

[moonlitflies]

I can't answer for John here, but I would say because it's a bit stiffer making it easier to turn over the heavier flies.

Brandon

[Jack Hise]

I doubt that very much. If you have ever used a fluorocarbon leader with an indicator or hopper/dropper you'd understand.

[Tig]

My experience has flrou sinking much faster than mono or thread.

[moonlitflies]

John like you I thought that everyone knew fluoro sank faster due to it's density. That is the reason I didn't state that as a reason for using fluoro. The beauty of furled leaders is you can customize them to do what you want by using different materials, or mixing materials, and changing the taper as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with this leader with us.

Brandon

[Jack Hise]

John;
A fluorocarbon leader will try to sink an indicator or dry fly attached to the tippet. If it doesn't the leader will sink making it difficult to make another cast without stripping in line to get the leader back to the surface.

[Boomer51]

Jack,

Instead of reading about it, you should try it. We use flouro all the time fishing dries on the bighorn, from #16 to #28. No problem with sinking the dries. Much more abrasion resistant. It certainly won't sink a thingamabobber....