Lets try to learn something about leaders. This does not include tippets, just the [b]length[/b] of the leader. If you really want to mess this up include furled, braided, twisted or whatever too. The main question is this. Does the length of the leader depend on the length of the rod or the weight of the line/rod? Should a leader for a 9 foot rod be longer than a leader for a 6 foot rod? How about an 18 foot leader on a 5 weight rod? Does the size of the fly matter? The smaller the fly = the longer the leader? Is there one real answer, or not?
I’ll tee it up first…
I start with …"How spooky are the fish?.
I am talking about the function of performance of the leader. There are no fish.
JC, …
I am talking about the function of performance of the leader. There are no fish.
Well, … then, … if there are no fish, I won’t be casting.
I tie up my leaders depending on the fish, conditions and tactics to be used. You may not have realized this while you were up here for the FI, 'cuz I’d simply change rods instead of changing lines/leaders.
Generally, on my waters, for wets, I’ll use long leaders to keep the line away from the fish. On smaller (#10 - #20) dries, I’ll use VERY long leaders 'cuz I have some weird presentations to use.
When I use dries for salmon, there’s just no getting around it, the leader will often be stiffened up and/or shortened (#2-#8 dries).
Comments??
Since there are lots of variables besides the rod weight/length; fly size, leader size (diameter), leader stiffness,…
And lets not forget the intended result, the ‘presentation’, which is the most critical aspect and why the whole reel/rod/line/leader/tippet/fly exists in the first place…
I’d say, no, while the rod weight/length is an important ‘factor’, the length of the leader doesn’t depend on the length/weight of the rod.
Good Luck!
Buddy
Unfortunately, I’ve always tried to keep the leader/tippet short enough to land a fish without getting the leader inside my tip guide. This may be because I’m lousy with knots and hate to take time to pull a leader out when I can’t cast it thru the guides. I do sometimes go to a longer leader,but rarely. With an 8’6" rod I can go up to a leader of just over 9’ & sometimes 10’, but hate the “timeouts” it takes when the fish is big enough to require getting the leader knot inside the tip guide(or further).
Guess I need to work on my knot tying and patience a bit. 
Ooops, … I guess I should actually reply to JC’s question.
Leader vs rod length, … for the SAME presentation, with two different rod lengths, say an up and across dry #18 to a sea run trout in clear water, I’d use the same leader lengths on a 8’6" 5 wt as on a 10 ft 5wt.
The leader will turn over (imho) on function of the line speed and the fly line wt as the “energy” of the cast is put through the leader.
If I change line wts, the composition of the leader has to change to turn over properly for the same fly.
This all assumes that the line is being cast a medium to long distance.
(geez JC, … could 'ya have asked an easier question on a rainy saturday morning )
I hoped that within the various answers there will be useful information for all. Ad in the differing butt diameters and it can become even more involved.
Hello again… been a while since I last posted, this is an open door…
For flipping streamers for salmon, the general rule of thumb that I go by is the faster the water the shorter the leader and vice versa.
when nymphing (or beads as the case may be; I know, some really do not classify this as fly fishing) in deeper holes, of course the leader needs to be deep enough to reach bottom, and then some.
For drys, the fish in Alaska do not seem to be particularly leader shy, so it is all about presentation… what ever it takes to get the best drop.
So, from my perspective (limited as it is), I will try to keep the leader to not much more than the length of the rod to keep the knot out of the guide (as already mentioned). Of course there are exceptions to every rule right???
The rod length makes no difference to me when selecting a leader. I select my leader for fishing conditions and the type of fishing I’m planning to do. I use the shortest leader in saltwater & warmwater (bass), usually 3’ or so of 30# mono, to this I add 3 or 4 feet of tippet, I use this combination on rod weights of 8,9 & 10. Under these fishing conditions I’m not looking for presentation, only the ability to turn over large & heavy flies. When trout fishing I never use a leader shorter the 5 feet with 4 feet of tippet and this is my nymphing/riffle & pocket water fishing combination. For my dry fly fishing I use braided leaders of at least 9 feet with 4 to 6 feet of tippet, the smoother the pool the longer the leader I use. The longest leader I use is for midge fishing I use 12 feet of braided with 4 to 6 feet of tippet.
:? Hard to make a 20 foot cast with 18 feet of leader Rod length or weight has little to do with leader lenght short casting requires short leaders Out of the drift boat 6-8’ from the bank 16-20 same rod same fly (average cast form the boat 25’ average cast wading 60’ … for me. drift boat 18 feet of line 8 foot of leader= 25ft. wading 40’of line 20’ of leader =60 and there aint no right or wrong way just my way and your way! LOL :twisted:
Rich
Fly size may not matter in the overall length of the leader, as long as the butt and mid-sections of the leader are the right proportion to turn over the fly. For a larger or heavier fly, a longer butt section and shorter mid-section provide more energy to turn over the fly. One popular guideline being 60% butt section and 20% mid-section (the other 20% going to tippet). To soften the presentation, decrease the length of the butt section while adding to the mid-section. Note also that none of this involves length or weight of the fly rod.
I think the butt diameter is influenced by the stiffness of the leader material being used as well as the application. The weight of the line may be important here since the objective is to transmit the energy of the fly line through the leader.
I don?t think the length or weight of the fly rod are pivotal in determining leader length, though a general guideline is to use a leader the length of the fly rod.
Finally, the length of leader I use is more likely to be influenced by the type of fly I?m using and/or the fishing conditions than the fly rod I?m using. On a brushy stream or windy day, I?m likely to use a shorter leader. The same is true if I?m fishing a streamer in cloudy water.
Tracy, …
Quick one, … Why would you use a shorter leader in cloudy water ??
… Oh! … and a Warm Welcome to the Site!
Thanks for the welcome Christopher. FAOL has been a long time favorite of mine.
The reasons for the shorter leader in cloudy water are: 1) I’m assuming the fly line is less visible and, therefore, less distracting to the fish, so a long leader is not needed, 2) It’s easier for me to cast.
In keeping with the theme of this thread, I?ll note that there is obviously some type of balance in the rod, line, leader and fly that are used. I don?t see a reason, however, for the length of a leader to depend on the length or weight of the rod/line.
Thanks for posing this question JC. Been wondering about this for 37 years. Look forward to the replies.
me too, but, if we keep this string going I just might learn something… 
It’s been implied here. The SITUATION and NOT the ROD dictates leader length (and size).
Mark
As a total newbie, I am really happy to be seeign this question posted. In my little experience and learning I have been told a thousand diffferent things. I know i can use a shorter like 3 ft leader for bass and panfish, and longer for trout which obviously I don’t do any, in San Antonio, yet. So i look forward to all this. At the end of it all it would be nice for a generic go by to start experimenting with. Thanks for all your sharing, it has helped me alot in a month and half of Fly fishing.
Derrick
Come on folks, you keep drifting into fishing situations…see JC’s reply to my original post…if I understand him he wants responses re: what matters to the performance…maybe if we pretend it’s just for casting on the lawn… :idea:
TZ,
I’m gonna try your 1.35 X formula. Fly fishing is the ONLY thing I’m open minded about Looks like a great time to broaden my fly fishing horizons.
Mark