Do any of you use furled leaders when highstick nymphing? I tried them and I felt like I was missing takes or was that just me? Maybe I’m too set in my ways, I dunno. What do you think?
Bruce
I use my Furled Leaders during “high sticking” situations and have had no problems. I don’t know what kind of material you are using for your leaders and do not know if that would make any difference when “high sticking”. I use only Berkley Vanish Transition for mine. Of course, you cannot go by anything I say because I am the most non-traditional type fly fisherman there is! : ) Hopefully, someone else will chime in and help.
The only time I use high-stick nymphing as anything other than a last resort is when I go for Lake Erie steelhead. When I do, i leave the furled leaders at home and go to a heavy fluoro leader. This isnt so much for missed takes, though as it is the slight amount of drag that the furled leader has. So…while that may not help, I’m another one that goes away from furled leaders when I know I’ll be high-sticking a lot.
I would think a furled fluoro leader would meet the requirements even better than a plain fluoro would…where have I gone wrong?
I do, but I use thread leaders. No give what so ever except the tip of the rod.
Hi Fly Goddess! So you’re saying they sink fine without a belly? Maybe it’s the type I was using? It seems I had a belly in the one I fished. It may be too that a guy I was fishing with one time last year, who is a very experienced fisherman and guide, fished mine and didn’t like it. Looking back it may be because he is old school and resistant to change.
Bruce
Lots more surface area exposed to the current = significantly increased drag. Also, the shape of the furled leader is not terribly aerodynamic…err…hydrodynamic. For most drifting, it isnt a major issue, but for high sticking, this characteristic annoys me. If forced to high-stick with a furled leader, I will usually compensate by adding a significant amount of tippet, to reduce the amount of furled leader in the water.
Absolutely Cold. It is a bigger diameter. I do find that it spirals through the water though. But I do the same as I said. Shorter leader, longer tippet. It actually turns over good too although not sure that is an issue other than roll casting.
Tenkaras furled lines work great, and that should carry over to leaders shouldn’t it? Might just be something to experiment with and get use to as an individual.