Anyone care to share a recipe for a furled leader that would be appropriate for a 6 wt. using med sized Smallie Flies?..size 4 or so is about as big as I go.
I use the Kathy Scott medthod and jig set-up so these would be about 5.5 feet long.
Thanks in advance…I have been using 4# mono and following the DVD instructions but they are a little sofft for bigger flies.
Try this and see if it works for you:
I also use Kathy’s formula, but, I increased the distance between the pegs to make a 7’ furled leader. The distance between #1 peg and the #2 peg is 28", the distance between the #2 peg and the #4 peg is 33" and the distance between the #4 peg and the end or #3 peg is 33". I use 4 pound test also, but, I only use Berkley Vanish Transition fluorocarbon. The Transition Berkley sinks faster than their regular Vanish. I attach 5 to 6 feet of 6 pound test flurorcarbon for tippet to the 7 foot furled leader and everything turns over just fine for me. If I decide to fish some smaller soft hackle wet files, I will triple Surgeon knot about 2 foot of 4 pound test fluorocarbon to the end of the 6 pound test tippet and everything works fine.
I have a second set of pegs on my board for making a shorter furled leader and it works good also. It will make a furled leader about 5’ 8" long. The measurements on the second set of pegs is: 22" , 28" , 28". I also have 2 different twisting points on my board for the 10% mark. I have twisted the shorter furled leader to the 10% mark for the longer leader and it works fine. I think a thread leader would break if you tried twisting it to the 7 foot mark on the shorter leader, but, I only use the Berkley Vanish Transition material, so that is no problem for me. I think twisting the shorter leader to the 10% mark for the longer leader gives you a pretty nice diameter leader and better “turn over”.
Well, this response was longer than I thought it was going to be so I will close it. I hope this helps you some.
Warren and Jack Hise seem to have this furled leader thing down to a fine art, so I would heed their advice.
I made my first two furled leaders over at Jack’s place yesterday morning, and I can tell you that I will start making my own when I get back home and will be using only furled leaders from now on.
The 7’ transition gold leader works fabulously for nymphs and streamers! I still have a hard time wrapping my head around being able to turn over 6’ of tippet so easily.
Warren’s formula works for me on rod weights from 3 up to about 7. Give it a try. I am sure it will be the ticket for you.
Brad
For lighter weight flies, I’ve also been using Kathy’s formula with 2lb & 4lb mono and 6/0 uni-thread for a while and it works great on 2wt to 6wt rods. I’m not sure about the bigger, heavier flies you are talking about though.
These smallie flies you are using, are they weighted? Or do they get heavy when they get wet? I would imagine that the furled leader with 4lb test may not have quite the umph it needs. I’ve thought about making some leaders with 6lb, but it may still need a little more.
You might try going a little shorter on the furled leader though. Have you tried a 4 footer?
I’ve been looking for a “big game” furled leader formula also. I’d like to find one for big saltwater flies up to 1/0 or so for a 9wt. I’ve tried putting more turns in the leader but I think I’m messing up the taper.
You might try making your start and end loops longer. about 1/2 the distance between pegs 1 & 2. This will give you a steeper taper (12/10/8/6) to help turn over larger fly’s.
Hi,
I’d consider these guys’ advice, too, since I don’t have opportunity to fish for smallies much. 
But my 2 cents…
I’ve had good success with my 7wt and bigger flies when presentation is less an issue, using the same formula with 3/0 thread, and I’ve used 6/0 but used 18 threads in the butt. I’ve hybirdized, too - 18 threads down to 6 in the tip, as usual for smaller flies (the middle section looks ungainly, but catches 5 pound brook trout and largemouth bass, so I’m not complaining).
Kat
Can’t ask for better service than that! Only on FAOL!
Thanks one and all, sorry took me a bit to see the responses and they should give me PLENTY of ideas.
Ended up making a new board up, the one I had was pretty rinky dink and discovered that I was actually using 2# mono…
I am sure the step up to 4# mono will make the difference I need…duh!