I have been furling for a couple years now (thanks to Kathy’s DVD and some encouraging words at a fly fishing show). I have since been looking for the best all round material to make my leaders. I have used Uni, mono, flouro, nylon thread, polyester thread, and some materials with names I could not even read. I have seen advantages and disadvantages of the many materials I have tried, but last summer I started using Fireline Crystal and I do not think I will be furling anything else for a floating leader. I love the duribility, the way it turns over a wide variety of flies (dry and wet) and it floats forever. I have yet to see anybody talk about using this material, so, I was wondering …I am the first one to use Fireline Crystal (which I doubt)? If you have had experiences with Fireline Crystal, I would certainly like to hear them.
caribe
What is this Fireline Crystal, and where do you get it? Obviously, I’ve never used it, but would like to!
Betty,
I believe this is the material Caribe may be talking about:
http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/line/superline/fireline-fused-crystal
But then, I could be wrong.
Larry —sagefisher—
OK! Thank you! Next question … it’s available with weight equivalent to mono from .5 lbs up through 12 pounds. What weight would be suggested to compare to Uni-6/0 thread?
Betty -
Do you want to spend something around $5.00 per furled leader ??
That might take some of the fun out of it, especially if you goofed while making one and had to throw out the material.
John
Betty;
The 2# test would be close. But!! While the Fireline Crystal will add body to the leader for handling larger fly’s (This will stir the Pot!!) it will not add strength.
HA!! Been there … done that!! Just ask Jack Hise!!
For the majority of the fly fishing I do, my beautiful little Uni thread and Uni mono leaders work wonderfully!! If the Berkley works well, under difficult conditions, 5 bucks would be a good investment.
That is my material of choice after trying a bunch of other things. I only make leaders for my own use and find that they last so well that I really have to find an excuse to switch to a new one.
Yes it is a little disconcerting to mess one up and have to trash the line but then again it has a tendency to make you a little more careful and do it right.
… which really is no big deal if leaders made with this material last many times longer than a thread leader, a few other questions.
What is the optimum size of the material for a leader intended for all around use on rod weights 3 to 5 ??
Is the material inherently “floatable” or are you applying some kind of floatant to it, and, if so, what is the best floatant available for use with this material ??
Will this material hold an incorporated tip ring without wearing faster than if the tip end is finished with a shorb loop ??
John
Sounds like gmac and I are the few that use Fireline Crystal. To answer John’s question, I basicly use the line weight of the Fireline Crystal and match it up with the rod weight. So, for my 2wt rod I use 2lb test, 4wt rod I use 4lb test and so forth. I use Kathy’s method to furl but I use 2 variations:
- I like a “Bass taper” leader so I add 2 extra loops to the 1st and 2nd peg and last 2 pegs to increase the mass at the butt end.
- I furl it to 10%-15% twice…once following Kathy’s DVD and then a 2nd time after the 2 legs have twisted together. The Fireline has no stretch and by twisting it a second time the leader can be tightened up again. I usually reduce the length about 15% of the original length the second time.
What you get is a very strong leader that last “forever”. What material do you know of that can furl a 6lb test and use on a six weight? I use the same leader all salmon season. Usually I break a leader or 2 due to the size of the fish and the shallow sharp rocky river. I agree with Betty that this leader may be best in “difficult conditions”. The leader doesn’t curl up after snags like mono and won’t break from rot on a 8 inch brookie. Nor does it absorb water like thread and becomes more supple the longer you use it. John, I have never seen it wear away at the tippet ring, although I only have a year of experience with it. It is expensive. I pay $15 for a 125 yrd spool and get 4-5 leaders per spool so it comes down to $3-$4 per leader. My first Fireline leader I made from a spool I bought at Cabella’s bargain cave for $3. After using the leader, I was hooked. Now I spend the money for the fireline.
caribe
I’ve been using Cortland Camo Xtra soft 2lb. for my leaders & I’ve made a few with 1 or 2 strands of fireline woven into it to increase breaking strength.for larger fish. I’ve landed some large striped bass with these. They turn over really well but I’v only been using them this season so I can’t verify to their longevity. but they seem to hold up well. The only problem with using the Fireline Crystal line is that if you do the initial twist over 10% it tends to fail (anywhere between 10-15%) so the 10% is my limit. My board twists both legs at the same time & I use a 1lb. hanging weight. on a lockable swivel. I power furl ( reverse twist) after joining both legs together on the center hook to about 20% & then let it relax to it’s own length. I’ve made them from 5’ to 8’ but I can make them up to 14’. There is still some stretch in the longer leaders but very, very little in the shorter ones.
I am also using 2# Fireline and seem to find the same good things. I spent most of last summer using my 2wt rod so that worked out great. I just got some tippet rings late last summer so I haven’t had a lot of stream time with the leader I made up with one. I really do like the ease in which you can change tippets with the rings.
FN50…I’ve been meaning to ask you…what is your source of the 2# Cortland Camo?
I have furled up one Fireline Crystal in 4# but haven’t fished it …so appreciate the reports. It furled beautifully.
The 4# is said to be 1 lb dia. .13mm which is .005 inches
To me it would be a good choice for a 5wt…of course that depends on the number of strands/loops you choose.
I have never had the fireline crystal “fail” (if that means break) but I find that furling the line to 15% tends to cause pigtailing and that is why I furl it twice. The first time I twist it to 10% but when I let them unfurl with the hanging weights the leader lenghtens to about 95% of the original lenght and the line is not wound very tight. When I furl both legs a second time the 2 strands together do not pigtail and I can furl them between 10 and 15% of the original length. FISHN50 furls a little differently but I think we get the same result. I use an old slow electric drill and I have never had the fireling break staying within the 10 and 15 range.
caribe
Hi Ducksterman
I used to get it locally & still do sometimes, but most of the time I get it at the Cortland company store. I get the big spool & transfer it over to smaller ones for ease of use…
http://www.cortlandline.com/products/section.asp?id=231
Neil
Neil, the Cortland website says available in 4 to 30 lb.
Hi Ducksterman
Look at the
Cam-O-Es Mono – Extra Soft
Cam-O-Extra Soft boasts the same high abrasion resistance and durability as the original Cam-O, while adding a super supple memory free construction. The match-the-water feature allows you to cut back the line to the color that matches water conditions, giving you a virtually invisible connection to your bait or lure.
[b]Sizes:[/b] Suggested Retail 110 yd. $3.99, 300 yd. $5.99 and Service Spools.
[b]Type:[/b] Available: 2 lb. to 30 lb. Test.
Thx…
… and the other good things ( durability and floatation ) said about Fireline Crystal, when I saw a 300 yard spool of 2# for under $20 at our local Wholesale Sports, I decided to give it a go.
My interest is primarily for a 12’ Tenkara line / leader. The 2# seems like it might be just the right size / weight for that application. Figuring about 150’ per line / leader, I should get five or six from the spool, which might turn out to be a lifetime supply.
I might also do a couple 6’ leaders for my 3 wt. There are some situations where a floating leader might have some advantages over the submerging thread furled leaders that I normally use. ( Dang - did I actually put that in print ?? )
John