What are your favorite leaders for throwing bass bugs? The rod is 6wt and the platform will be either a canoe in still water or wading in a stream. The flies will be a variety of poppers, muddlers, clousers. The target species are smallies. Last summer I just used 9ft 4x tapered trout leaders but they weren’t really up to the weeds. Thanks.
I’ve moved to a furled leader with 2x or 0x tippet, 2-3’ depending on depth and what flies, etc. But if I were to stay with tapered leaders, Id say minimum 2x or even more stout. The turn over will be better, and as you mention strength within wed beds will be improved. I am no expert on these, but thats what my two whole years of experience has taught me 
i would buy a bass taper commercially made leader no less than 2x
I use hand tied leaders for this ending in 2x.
-wayne
I also switched to furled leades and prefer them. The only hassels I have with them is if they tangle up they’re almost imposible to untangle and you end up scrapping them.
Jim Smith
Try this - 5 feet of 25 lb test (Maxima is great for this leader) + 2-1/2 feet of 20 lb + 15 inches of 0X. Add 18 to 24 inches of 1X or 2X and you’ve got a leader that should really get those big bugs to turn over. I believe Flip Pallot and his buddies came up with this. I Nail knot the leader to the fly line and use Blood knots for everything but the tippet. For that I use the Double Surgeon. No loops to get stuck. Give this a try and I think you will really like it.
I use a beefy furled leader (beefy enough to turn over the bugs) and a short ("18) section of at least 10 lb. test tippet
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RRhyne56
http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com
http://robinsrumination.blogspot.com
Thanks!
I use 8 pound mono after my furrled leader.
Ed
What type/kind of furled leader do you use?
wayne
A piece of 10-14 lb mono
I use furled leaders with either 3X tippet or a straight 6 or 8lb mono…fluoro if you want to get a fly down.
In knotless tapered leaders, my favorite is the Frog Hair “stiff butt” leader. They turn over bulky flies really well.
Mike
Just 1X tippet works fine. They hit lures with 20lb mono so 1X is about non-existent as far as bass are concerned.
I was out at a farm pond a few years ago, and had forgotten to bring a leader with me, so I tied on a 8’ piece of 10# mono. It didn’t seem to make any difference to my casting then, so I have just stayed with this approach.
Furled leader made out of 5 or 10 pound superbraid and 2 to 3 feet of 8 pond Berkley Vanish.
If you hook a stickfish or weedfish you can easy bring them in and "release them. In th worst case scenario this rig is strong enough to pull the boat closer… I donn’t loose almost any flies even while I fish the weeds and trees all of the time.
I’ve never used superbraid, need to give that a spin down the road for sure.
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RRhyne56
http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com
http://robinsrumination.blogspot.com
hmmmm… i like that idea of superbraid for sure!!! 8)
I use PowerPro. One thing of caution. It will not twist as much as other materials. maybe half the turns. It’s something that I’m still experimenting with.
Picked up a spool of PowerPro at lunch. This might be good for striped bass as well, they are kinda rough on terminal tackle.
_________________
RRhyne56
http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com
http://robinsrumination.blogspot.com