Favorite furling material

[ducksterman]

What is your favorite material for most of your furled leaders....wet and dry?

And why?

For example FISHN50 has said Cortland Camo Soft...didn't say why but I can guess.

[tlerm]

I've experimented with thread (Uni 6/0) and different sizes of mono and fluorocarbon. I like the the Uni for dry fly fishing, and the mono for everything else.

For the mono, I have tried everything from Coats & Clark mono (0.005) all the way up to 10lb mono . In general, I have found that leaders made from the smaller diameter material, with more loops, perform better.

I found 4lb mono to be the heaviest that will turn out a nice leader. And leaders from 10lb mono... well if you're going after Moby Dick it migh be what you want, but not for me. They were horrible.

[WarrenP]

99% of my fly fishing is with nymphs, streamers, buggers and wet flies. I hardly ever fish dry flies. I have made furled leaders from just about every material out there to find one that "fits" my "style" of fly fishing and Berkley Vanish Transition Gold in 4# test is the best for me. I feel it is the only material that once furled, it sinks very quickly and takes my flies deeper than any other leader or material. I always attach at least 5 to 6 feet of either 6# or 4# fluorocarbon for my tippet. With this thought in mind, if I wanted to fish a dry fly for any reason, I can still fish it because by the time the furled leader sinking starts to affect the dry fly, my dry fly has already drifted through the section of water I wanted to fish due to the length of my tippet. Bare in mind that I am talking about fishing rivers where there is always a current. If I am using 6# test fluorocarbon for my tippet and decide to swing smaller wet flies, I will triple surgeon knot some 4# test on the end of the 6# test to give the wet fly more freedom of movement. I do not use tippet material for my tippet. I purchase 4# and 6# fluorocarbon in bulk and respool it onto smaller spools to carry with me on the river. I have tried Berkley Vanish and feel it does not sink as fast as the Berkley Vanish Transition Gold.

I know my style of fly fishing goes against most traditional ways of fly fishing, but, it works for me and I can usually catch my fair share of trout on each trip.

Just my way and nothing more......

[Buddy Sanders]

I prefer the clear mono 'sewing' threads. Both .005 and .004 and in clear and the smoke. I use these for all around furled leaders.

For heavy topwater I use 10 pound braided spiderwire. It's two pound diameter, furls nicely, and will tow a truck...best part is it floats really well. No stretch to speak of, so the hook sets are positive.

I'll also furl 4 pound flourocarbon for subsurface fishing where I don't want any bouyancy in the leader.

Buddy

[tlerm]

I have not tried the Vanish Transition, but I also use 4lb and 6lb Vanish for my tippet material for my warm water fishing 99% of the time. When trout fishing and using nymphs smaller than say a size 16, then I will switch to actual tippet material.

[tlerm]

I prefer the clear mono 'sewing' threads. Both .005 and .004 and in clear and the smoke. I use these for all around furled leaders.

For heavy topwater I use 10 pound braided spiderwire. It's two pound diameter, furls nicely, and will tow a truck...best part is it floats really well. No stretch to speak of, so the hook sets are positive.

I'll also furl 4 pound flourocarbon for subsurface fishing where I don't want any bouyancy in the leader.

Buddy

I've never used spiderwire for anything. How does its stiffness/suppleness compare to mono? If it is "2lb diameter" is it also "2lb stiffness"? I may have to ask my hardware chucking friends if they have any I can try.

[Buddy Sanders]

Tim,

The ten pound spiderwire is a braid. It's more like thread than mono. Very, very 'limp'. Leaders furled with it perform more like those done with thread than those made with mono. I use it primarily for floatation and lack of stretch. The incredible strength is a nice by product.

Buddy

[CharlaineC]

Im new to the world of making my own furled leaders. and have been experimenting in many different materials.
I have used mono 2lb and 4lb, threads of all sorts even old tying silk that wont tie well, made a great leader. I have even used #12 piano wire after a friend who makes his shark fishing leaders out of it wanted to try it furled instead of what he called dipped or coated and now loves it. I have found I like for my dry flies 8/0 or 6/0 threads in different colours soaked over night in floatent dried and then soaked again. and 2lb mono or fluorocarbon for sinking or intermediate leaders.

[SweetStreamS]

I've gone through all my catalogs and can't find a source for Berkeley Vanish Transition Gold. Anyone
know where I can get some?
Sweets

[ducksterman]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fishing-Line/Fluorocarbon|/pc/104793480/c/104719680/sc/104338080/Berkley174-Vanish174-Transition-Line-Filler-Spool/738468.uts?

Wal Mart used to have it.

Realize that plain Vanish comes down to 2#....Transition only to 4#