Recent History of Furled Leader Question

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Can you answer the following questions for a school project related to furled leaders (NOT braided):

Do you remember about when, before 1995, did you hear of furled leaders?

Were you using furled leaders before 1995?

Have you read the book Micropatterns by Darell Martin?

Did you read Micropatterns prior or after knowing about furled leaders?

Do you think the book Micropatterns started the furled leader popularity of the past decade?

If not, what other source do you think help popularize the furled leader?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

2

Hi,

My years are fuzzy, but I know both Henk Vehar and Claude Freaner had posted very early Internet information (I’ll confess that I found Claude’s to be difficult to understand, personally, so I called him to talk… he was a rocket scientist, go figure, grin), and Jim Cramer had posted early on on FAOL.

But I learned from Tom Smithwick’s passed along information to George Barnes at a rodmakers gathering, and Tom had read Micropatterns but redesigned the process to the one I use. I’d been making them quite a while when I finally met Jim (California) when I (Maine) traveled to Montana for a rodmakers gathering in Livingston. They were the only people I knew personally who were making the leaders.

I don’t think the role of Darrel Martin can be ignored. I went back to read his revelation about them, casting a fly that hung up on a spider web, attributed to the furled leader’s supple presentation. It’s pretty enticing! But I do think Blue Sky deserved some credit for the endless series of ads that have appeared everywhere for years. More furlers probably have heard of Blue Sky than of Martin.

The DVD came out in 2003, and I was better able to track the spread of furling, in a way, by mapping where it was sent, so it feels, to me personally, like the actual boom in furling went from my knowing a handful of furlers to widespread furling happened in this decade.

Then, checking the European furlers, it sometimes seems like they’ve been at it continuously since Walton’s time :slight_smile:

Just my perspective, hope it’s some help.

Kat

3

I started twisting and fishing furled leaders sometime around 2000 or 2001. I first heard about furled leaders on the internet, I did read Martin’s book not too long after I started furling.

I’m not sure I fully understood (or maybe appreciated) the information I first found on the internet, so I pretty much developed my own process/tools and methods via trial and error. I agree with Kathy that Blue Sky did alot to popularize and spread the word.

Over the past few years, there has been alot of word of mouth (and word of forum). I think for the most part, people who use furled leaders under the right situations, tend to like them. That helps generate positive buzz to friends and acquaintances.

4

Didn’t know of furled leaders until the shop I patronize began to stock them in summer of '09.

5

When I learned how to furl leaders in '05, the fellow who taught me commented that only 5% of fly fishers even knew about furled leaders. I can’t vouch for that statistic, but I do know that even today I meet people who have fly fished for a long time who have never heard of or seen a furled leader. Some old timers still think you are talking about braided leaders when you mention furled leaders.

John

6

That’s really cool of you to respond Kathy. I see that JVS is a junior member and he might not know who you are. In a very lame attempt, with limited knowledge I will tell you that Kathy travels to the various fly fishing shows, giving demonstrations of how to furl leaders. She also sells the video that she refers to, about how to furl leaders and I have seen her published in the fly fishing media.

So JVS you are getting some information from someone who has more than a passing interest in this particular aspect of fly fishing and not just a person who has furled a couple of leaders. My, after the fact, introduction of Kathy is very inadequate but I felt the need to tell you that the above information is like interviewing a star athlete. Here is a short review of her DVD on this web site that might interest you: http://flyanglersonline.com/prorevw/kathyscott.php

I still look forward to others responding to your questions regarding your school project and I want to thank you for taking this subject matter on as a school project. Good luck to you,

Rick

7

Hey JVS I hope your project turns out well. How about submitting a copy for a reader’s cast article if it does. Lots of people would ber interested in what you find.

8

JVS;

You may want to take a look here. Furled Leaders - Home

9

I would suggest a search of the Flyfish@ archives for the early history of furled leaders.

Claude Freener and Martin Joergensen were at one time or another on the original Fly Fishing mailing list Flyfish@ which dates back to the 1980’s well before the WWW and internet browsers. I seem to remember Kathy Scott was on the list at one time also. Joel Dunn has archived all the postings on this list since 1990. Using Joel’s archive I searched “furled” and “furl”.

The first mention of furled leaders was in a post in December 1994 byLayton James:

"I have just finished reading Darrel Martin’s new book Micropatterns.

I was also intrigued by a description of a furled leader, twisted in a machine from thread, mono, or almost any other material, to form a very supple leader. Martin gives some arcane (at least to me) drawings of distances to set the various furling whirls from each other in order to form weight forward, double taper, etc. leaders. Has anyone heard of furled leaders, and how to get hold of a furling machine and whirls? Sounds like a great Winter project."

The next post on furling is from Martin Joergensen in January of 1996:

“A while ago Henk Verhaar from The Netherlands sent me a description on how to make twined or furled leaders. These are quite easy to make (after having made the rather large and somewhat complex tool) and work like a charm. The principle is that many strands of standard mono are twined together in a special process where two parts each consisting of several strands of mono are combined. These leaders can be made to measure and both thickness and taper can be varied as you want. They are subtle and very limb and turn over beautifully. I have put Henk’s thorough description online along with detailed drawings on my web site. Look at http://www.idg.dk/mj/tacktech/henk. Possible variations and my own comments can be found at http://www.idg.dk/mj/tacktech/henk/varaint.htm. Several people have tried making them from Henk’s description, and I have had positive reactions only. Give it a look over.”

I askee Martin about these leaders and he sent me a sample fromm the Netherlands which I still have somewhere.

10

I would suggest a search of the Flyfish@ archives for the early history of furled leaders.

Claude Freener and Martin Joergensen were at one time or another on the original Fly Fishing mailing list Flyfish@ which dates back to the 1980’s well before the WWW and internet browsers. I seem to remember Kathy Scott was on the list at one time also. Joel Dunn has archived all the postings on this list since 1990. Using Joel’s archive I searched “furled” and “furl”.

The first mention of furled leaders was in a post in December 1994 byLayton James:

"I have just finished reading Darrel Martin’s new book Micropatterns.

I was also intrigued by a description of a furled leader, twisted in a machine from thread, mono, or almost any other material, to form a very supple leader. Martin gives some arcane (at least to me) drawings of distances to set the various furling whirls from each other in order to form weight forward, double taper, etc. leaders. Has anyone heard of furled leaders, and how to get hold of a furling machine and whirls? Sounds like a great Winter project."

The next post on furling is from Martin Joergensen in January of 1996:

“A while ago Henk Verhaar from The Netherlands sent me a description on how to make twined or furled leaders. These are quite easy to make (after having made the rather large and somewhat complex tool) and work like a charm. The principle is that many strands of standard mono are twined together in a special process where two parts each consisting of several strands of mono are combined. These leaders can be made to measure and both thickness and taper can be varied as you want. They are subtle and very limb and turn over beautifully. I have put Henk’s thorough description online along with detailed drawings on my web site. Look at http://www.idg.dk/mj/tacktech/henk. Possible variations and my own comments can be found at http://www.idg.dk/mj/tacktech/henk/varaint.htm. Several people have tried making them from Henk’s description, and I have had positive reactions only. Give it a look over.”

I asked Martin about these leaders and he sent me a sample from the Netherlands which I still have somewhere.

11

I first learned of them when I got my copy of Martin’s book in the early 1990’s. I have no idea what the contribution is his book has had on the current popularity of furled leaders. I made my first (crude) one in about 2003, but did not get into serious making until 2008. Have made and used them since then on all of my lines, from 3 wt to 9 wt, except my full-sink lines. Have introduced numerous colleagues to them in the past year.

What an excellent project to undertake for a school project. With some expansion, it could make a nice Science Fair project, provided that your school participates in this program.

GOOD LUCK!

12

You may want to take a look here -

www.furledleaders.co.uk

This forum was started in 2005, so there may not be much in the way of real early history.

13

Thank you all for your responses. I believe that Silver Creek gave me the information that I wanted. It all points back to Darrel Martin’s book. My point and the point of the project is that a single book can change things drastically, even for a sport as old as fly fishing. I will further make the point that furled leaders displaced braided leader in the market. I know that braided leaders were not usually the best choice but since furled leaders became a choice, braided leaders became unwanted.

14

You might also make the point that to have an impact, the book must reach those that have a desire to try the methods in the book AND have the ability to simplify it for public consumption AND the ability to spread that idea beyond those that buy the book.

You might be surprised that the first review of the book on Flyfish@ on Wed, 5 Apr 1995 by Martin Joergensen was positive for the book but of furled leaders, he says, "“Martin leaves nothing untouched, and both rods, reels, lines and leaders gets his attention, and his long section on furled leaders is very interesting, but maybe a little too special to have general appeal.”

http://jdunns.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/wr-flyfish.pl?333592%20338648%20/home/joel/flyfish/log9504a.txt:flyfish95:101:5056

In a later post on Sun, 21 Jan 1996 Martin Joergensen writes "A while ago Henk Verhaar from The Netherlands sent me a description on how to make twined or furled leaders. These are quite easy to make (after having made the rather large and somewhat complex tool) and work like a charm. "

http://jdunns.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/wr-flyfish.pl?25737%2027214%20/home/joel/flyfish/log9601d.txt:flyfish96:37:1477

The key question that needs to be asked is WHAT caused the sea change in Martin Joergensen’s opinion that furled leaders “maybe a little too special to have general appeal” to “These are quite easy to make and work like a charm.”

I propose that it was Henk Verhaar that helped make the leap forward by simplifying the explanation of furling by providing a (relatively) simple plan for a furling jig and a simple explanation for how to make the leader. Henk “commonized” furling and got the plan to Martin Joergensen, who was able to spread the word via the WWW.

Darrel Martin may have sown the seed, but it was Henk Verhaar and Martin Joergensen that provided the soil and fertilizer.

Luke 8:5

15

You might also make the point that to have an impact, the book must reach those that have a desire to try the methods in the book AND have the ability to simplify it for public consumption AND the ability to spread that idea beyond those that buy the book.

You might be surprised that the first review of the book on Flyfish@ on Wed, 5 Apr 1995 by Martin Joergensen was positive for the book but of furled leaders, he says, "“Martin leaves nothing untouched, and both rods, reels, lines and leaders gets his attention, and his long section on furled leaders is very interesting, but maybe a little too special to have general appeal.”

http://jdunns.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/wr-flyfish.pl?333592%20338648%20/home/joel/flyfish/log9504a.txt:flyfish95:101:5056

In a later post on Sun, 21 Jan 1996 Martin Joergensen writes "A while ago Henk Verhaar from The Netherlands sent me a description on how to make twined or furled leaders. These are quite easy to make (after having made the rather large and somewhat complex tool) and work like a charm. "

http://jdunns.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/wr-flyfish.pl?25737%2027214%20/home/joel/flyfish/log9601d.txt:flyfish96:37:1477

The key question that needs to be asked is WHAT caused the sea change in Martin Joergensen’s opinion that furled leaders “maybe a little too special to have general appeal” to “These are quite easy to make and work like a charm.”

I propose that it was Henk Verhaar that helped make the leap forward by simplifying the explanation of furling by providing a (relatively) simple plan for a furling jig and a simple explanation for how to make the leader. Henk “commonized” furling and got the plan to Martin Joergensen, who was able to spread the word via the WWW.

Darrel Martin may have sown the seed, but it was Henk Verhaar and Martin Joergensen that provided the soil and fertilizer.

Luke 8:5

16

I don’t think the effect Kathy Scott’s DVD had on many should be overlooked…especially here in the states.

17

Just because someone was first, does not necessarily mean that they have it correct. I have been working with David Ulmers "Big Leader Formula since about 1998, and even that formula had a problem in the numbers. Took me 3 years to figure what was wrong, and another 2 years to figure out the solution. I am now attempting to use the corrected formula for furled leaders, and there are new variables that have to be taken into consideration, such as the 1-inch diameter pegs.

1-inch pegs circumference is 3.142 inches, which is also know as pi! The peg distances are from the center of the peg to center of the next peg, so you have to take into consideration the additional 3.142 inches added to the Length of the run length.

I have looked at the peg locations of just about all furled leader layouts, and these peg positions do not make sense. There is no constant taper reduction percentage. You many not notice it when casting, but the furled leader has a hing effect, from the runs being unbalanced.

Then there is the matter of loop sequence, I see most talking about a 6:5:4 loop sequence (talking about the “V” board layout of 5 or 7 pegs.) with the wraps starting at the two hook at the top of the board, when each of the runs half a half loop when wrapping around the pegs so it is a 6-1/2:5-1/2:4-1/2 loops sequence.

Then there is the situation where some have the first inside peg being the shortest length run, which would wipe out the butt end of the furled leader from being able to transfer the energy of the cast correctly to the tip. Leader are normally 60 percent butt, 20 percent middle, 20 percent tip.

Then there is the problem of you have to have additional length to the board peg positions to compensated for the reduction in length of the finished furled leader.

I have not even gotten into the choice of material for the construction of the furled leader or the reduction of thread counts between each of the runs. What is the denier of the material? what is it approximate diameter?, does the material stretch (Nylon)? or are you using Polyester? Maybe you are using small diameter spin cast fishing line, what is its diameter, and what is its poundage?

If the line is too limp, it will not support the cast if the fly has too much mass (weight)!

Which is better 3 loop sequence (4 runs) or 4 loop sequence (5 runs) or maybe 5 loop sequence (6 runs, if you have enough length).

Steven H. McGarthwaite
U.S. Army Retired,
Senior Instructor on NBC, Survey, Topographer, Pipeline Design, Evaluator of Land/Air & Sea Battle Doctrine (LANS), Tactical Operation Center NCOIC. Design Tech of Mechanical Apparatus.

18

My first exposure to furled leaders occurred a few years ago when I stopped by Kathy’s booth at the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in Minneapolis. I bought a bunch of her leaders and the DVD and have been hooked on them ever since that time.

19

Steven, I think your observations are interesting so I have taken the liberty of starting a new thread [this one really is about origins]. I think your points deserve a thread of their own. I hope others respond to it there.

20

Steven,

You have addressed optimization. I think the JVS’s initial question was about conceptualization.

Optimization must necessarily follow the initial idea or concept. The fly rod was invented long ago but we are still in the process of improving it. For an idea to gain some acceptance, it must initially provide a perceived advantage over the status quo, but it need not be perfected. It just needs to be “good enough” to be considered an alternative, and then the process of optimization begins.

I think the questions you pose can be added to discussion of how a concept becomes established and then the design variables become more closely examined to improve upon the initial design.