I’ve got one of the store bought types and it’s pretty much used up. Do any of you have any “make your own” type of leader straighteners? I know, I know, you can pick one up for $5 at just about any flyshop but are there other things to use that might be lying around the house? Thank for any suggestions.
I have used a piece of old innertube before with no problems. I just cut a small piece and attached it to my vest. And in an emergency I have used my shirt tail.
Rocky
Yup. A small square of old bicycle tire… Or, just use your fingers (like I usually do when I’m too lazy to pull out the rubber).
I use a piece of rubber from the kitchen that was for opening jar lids.
My two mitts serve me well.
bobbyg
Geeeesssh !! I just threw out about five dozen leader straighteners.
John
P.S. If you use furled leaders, you will never again need a leader straightener of any kind.
You know, with a handle like Poke Em,
just use your fingers,
and when I’m too lazy to pull out a rubber…
One can certainly get a far different mental picture… :lol:
John, you are pretty much correct…if the tippet on my furled leader gets curled …it’s gone:cool:.
Hi Qqualls,
One more vote for inner tube. That’s what I use, and it works well.
Regards,
Gandolf
I don’t know if it is true or not, but I’ve read that the rubber straighteners actually weaken your tippet by heating it up. I’ve gone to just using my fingers and it works fine for me. One less thing to carry.
a piece of leather won’t heat it up as much as rubber.
You don’t need one with furled leaders!! I still wonder why anyone would fish with a “Slinky” attached to thier fly line??
I am in the camp that believes rubber or leather straighteners get the leader too hot and can damage it. I hold the leader between the fingertips and meaty part of the base of the thumb and pull. That is enough to straighten the mono and if I get too much pressure or pull too fast my fingers feel it immediately.
Never…
why not just pull the leader taught to straighten it? it works!
That’s where I’m at when it comes to straightening my leaders. Although when fishing heavier bass type leaders, a piece of rubber would have come in handy.
Dave
If you are inclined as I am to periodically need a hunk of rubber and you wore out your “store bought” version made of leather with the rubber insert; look no further than the plumbing section of your local hardware store.
In there amongst all of the O rings and junk are large flat rubber washers about 1-1/2" in diameter by about 2-3mm think with a small hole in the center. They fit PERFECTLY on the round leather holders that the leader straighteners use and all you need is ONE glued with a little Barge cement to the inside of your old straightener.
Rubber on one side and leather on the other generates less heat and works like a charm!
BTW - I use furled leaders too but when you get curls from the spool on the mono tippet section; what do you do? I also use the rubber to condition my leader and hopefully eliminate some of the shine that new mono or fluoro possesses.
Well, I haven’t heard a lot about furled leaders, can you please explain? I’m still in the process of learning and it seems like that is my next lesson.
Thanks much
Use your hands. Simply pull the line somewhat taut thru your fingers(it will heat up when you do this) and hold it taut and straight until the line cools. It will now be straight. No need for any ‘tool’.
What I meant to say is I have no idea what is the procedure to make them…I guess I can just Google them but I’d like to hear from the experts.
Thanks