Really? And you'll be using a stiff, hand knotted leader? Have you thought about using a tan hand FURLED leader? It's far more supple, and subtle. It will float. It won't spook the fish. They're easy to make.Originally Posted by garb72
Just askin'
Really? And you'll be using a stiff, hand knotted leader? Have you thought about using a tan hand FURLED leader? It's far more supple, and subtle. It will float. It won't spook the fish. They're easy to make.
Just askin'
Trouts don't live in ugly places.
A friend is not who knows you the longest, but the one who came and never left your side.
Don't look back, we ain't goin' that way.
LeaderCalc is a great tool that even lets you print labels for your leaders. I have been tying my leaders for a while now and long story short, I don't buy knot-less leaders no more.
I also use the blood knot and IMHO, you don't even need a tool after you tie it a few times. What is a most, of course, is to moist the knot pretty good to reduce friction as much as possible, I use soapy water (dish soap) and haven't had a problem yet.
Good luck
Last edited by Martin McFly; 01-20-2010 at 03:34 PM.
I believe I can fly fish
Here is another interesting way to build your own leaders. I use these for saltwater and warmwater fishing. I dont see any reason why one could not use these for trout fishing as well.
Hand Furled Leaders Article
Supporting Video
Yes i have but they scare me, i have seen the pics of ppl making them. Im sure i will try one once i learn more about them.... dont they last a long time and you only add tippet to the end of them?
Yep! Really easy to furl, once you make that learning curve!! You can make a couple of 'em in the time it'll take you to make one knotted leader!
Trouts don't live in ugly places.
A friend is not who knows you the longest, but the one who came and never left your side.
Don't look back, we ain't goin' that way.
Ummm and they are alot softer than a hand knotted leader? How are they compared to a store bought tapered leader?
There's absolutely no comparison ... to any of them. The leaders are furled from thread. Thread is soft. There are no knots. Store bought leaders, I'm assuming mono?, are tapered, long, stiff. Thread ones are tapered, soft, supple.
Trouts don't live in ugly places.
A friend is not who knows you the longest, but the one who came and never left your side.
Don't look back, we ain't goin' that way.
The loop connecting my regular hand-tied leader to my line is going to be 20+ lb. test.
The loop connecting your leader to your line is going to be 8lb test for a 4 wt rod.
Why isn't this a recipe for disaster?
Otherwise, I'll tell you, that looked damned interesting.
Last edited by Steven; 01-20-2010 at 09:07 PM.
Hmmmmmm ......
No way would I have brought up furled leaders on a thread about tying your own from mono !! ( Oh, I did mention them, didn't I ?? )
Cost wise, mine cost between $.35 and $.75 each, depending on whether I incorporate a tip ring to tie my tippet to. Others probably make them for a bit more or less - but on average probably $3.00 LESS than a store bought leader - not to mention they last a lot longer, so the savings are much more than that.
They are easier to make, once you get past that learning curve that Betty mentioned. Ten minutes from start to finish. And you can make all kinds of different tapers and lengths once you get the hang of it. Ask WarrenP about that part of it, or Jack Hise, or ..... I'd better stop before I forget someone.
Supple ?? Hold a piece of fly tying thread up straight above your hand. Oh, can't do it ?? That's how supple a furled leader made out of fly tying thread is, or darned near close to it.
AND they work very well when submerged, although it seems only a small minority of us prefer to fish them submerged rather than floating. A properly constructed thread furled leader will submerge, but not sink a dry fly, even down to size 20 or thereabouts.
John
The fish are always right.
do you have to dress them to keep em floating?
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote