Just wondering, what kind of leader rigs do you use for fishing subsurface flies in stillwater? Especially those that let you feel those subtle “taps”.
Fluorocarbon furled leader with fluorocarbon Seagar tippet…re: taps…if that was a problem I’d use a furled leader with a single strand “core” of gel spun thread…I’ve made some but haven’t used them…
I agree with the furled leader suggestion, but I use all thread furled leaders. Fantastic.
I use the commercially tapered leader in mono or flouro.
9’ or longer 4-6x with around 2 feet of tippet.
I agree with duckster! 7’ leader and 5 - 6’ of tippet.
If I don’t have a furled leader on the rod then it is about 7 feet of 4 or 5 X tippet.
Not real scientific but it works for me.
Rick
RZ,
Do I understand that correctly? A 7’ leader of straight 4x or 5x? No taper?
Like Rick’s reply this is the setup I use also.
My 5wt. leader usually stays the same and I don’t change it for the floating line. A nine foot leader with five feet of 8lb. test monofiliment for the butt section (no midsection) and four feet of 6lb. test tippet material or about a 2x (according to Berkley). My sinking line leader is the same except I use a Seaguar fluorocarbon tippet. The sinking line leader is subject to change down to maybe a six foot leader though at times. If the fish here become leader shy (not usually the case) like during times when the water is colder in the winter and they may see the leader better, I may go with a lighter tippet of maybe 4lb. test.
Bigflatbrook that is it.eems to work as well as any taypered leaders I have bought.
Flies seem to turn over fine for me, but that may be my bad casting.
Rick
I think this is very interesting. I’ve been using tapered leaders that I tie myself, but I’m going to give those things a try. They do seem as though they would be better at detecting subtle takes.
Yep. In a pinch I may use a straight monofiliment leader or a straight tippet leader. It works for me also. But I prefer a tapered type, either knotless or knotted since I tend to get “better” fly turn over or “flip” :D.
Just a heads up…just got an email from Feather-craft and they are offering free shipping if you buy one furled leader and apparently they have 47 different types…
Went out this morning where I’ve had some good days recently. It was a slow day, but I tied on 7’ of 4x as a leader. It turned over a weighted size 10 zug bug no problem at all, Or maybe the weight of the zug bug turned itself over. In any case, casting wasn’t a problem at all. I think that limp 4x leader helps you stay in contact with the fly.
Although I didn’t try it, I’m not sure that 4x would turn over my bass bugs. 
Weighted flies, 14 feet+ of level 2# Maxima. Treat the first foot with the same floatant you use on the fly line (Alboline.) Treat the rest of the leader with something to make it sink. Watch very closley at the point where the leader breaks through the surface film. Keep the rod tip 1 " above the water. Works right up to freez-up on those slow biting bluegills.
fishbum