Just started flyfishing saltwater, and was wondering how long a leader to use with #2 soft foam poppers? I have a 12ft leader on my 7wt right now, but I would like to shorten it and make casting a little easier. Think an 8ft would work?
Also, how often do you change leaders?
Not being a Fla. specialist I will refrain from suggesting a leader length. If I use a leader I tye on a piece of tippet to extend the life of the leader. If I don’t use a leader but straight tippet (which I do often in Saltwater) then I replace it when it is too short.
jed
Usually 8 foot should be good. You’ll have to see how short the leader can be & still turn over the fly. Remember to tie on a bite tippet between the fly & leader. Usually only change the bite tippet unless the class tippet breaks at the end of the leader. 8)
For what it is worth I tend to fish a shorter leader with poppers, around 8’ sounds about right.
Experiment. Start off with a long leader then go down to a shorter one and see if it makes a difference with the fish. The shorter and heavier the leader the easier it is to cast and turn over the fly. The shortest leader you can catch fish with will be your best bet. A shorter stiffer leader loses less energy from the fly line than a long supple one so it is able to turn the fly over easier. I am in the Northeast and rarely use a leader less than 20 lbs and no longer than 6-7 feet. Lately it has been a single strand of 30 lb mono about 5 feet long with a droppper fly or 2.
I buy my leader material in 400 to 600 yard spools for less than 10 bucks (just a cheap stiff mono). It takes less than 5 minutes to rig up a leader and flies even with two or three droppers. I rig up a new leader for every trip and replace it at the slightest appearance of wear or an untyable wind knot.
I fish Florida flats all the time. My standard leader setup is an 8’ leader with 3.5’ of 30# hard mono, 2.5’ of 20# hard mono, 2’ of 12# fluorocarbon. Of course this varies as I cut of flies, but I rarely let the leader get below 7’. I use a 1’ bite tippet of 20# fluorocarbon when I’m after toothy critters, but for redfish and trout I rarely use a bite tippet.
When I’m fishing a sink tip line, I use a straight 6’ 25# fluorocarbon leader with 1’ 12# tippet.