I’m still a rookie at furling. So far, all I have done till tonight have been leaders made with 6/0 Uni thread. Tonight, while thinking about what material I could use to make a stronger leader, I grabbed a spool of 6# Spiderwire. It has the diameter of 2# mono. I furled a 5-foot leader with a #10 barrel swivel on the small end.
Does anyone have any experience or opinion dealing with Spiderwire?
Thanks,
Zac
It will not have any elasticity…some folks have been known to add a strand to other materials to add strength and counteract elasticity…but you probably knew that.
Well, I know it has zero elasticity to it. That’s what got me thinking this may not be the best idea. Will 3 or so feet of mono or fluorocarbon tippet material counteract that a little bit? No stretch means more sensitivity, too… for streamer/wet fishing, that might help. (?)
Zac;
You may find that that leader will handle 5’ of tippet for some elasticity.
Zac,
I use a similar line, fireline crystal for my leaders. The 6lb test is suitable for for a 6-8wt but for my 4 weight I use the 4lb test and my 2 wt I use the 2 lb test. The fusion line is the only material I have found that has stood up to a whole season of skinny water tributary king salmon. The strength and abrasion resistance is amazing. The lack of stretch is good news and bad. The bad is that the line does not want to stay in a tight furl, so I furl it twice. Ater the first twisting, I let it unfurl with hanging weights following the Kathy Scott technique, then I put the leader back on the board and furl it again to about 15% reduction. The leader stays tighter after the second furl. The extra work is worth it. The good part about the low stretch is the leader will not curl up on you after putting extra pressure on the line to undo a snag. Mono is notorious for curling up after snagging something. I have never used spiderwire but I have a feeling that it is very similar to the fireline crystal. I love the leader material but I am sure there is a lot of personal prefernce as well. But, to quote my son after he first used a fireline leader…“Dad, these leaders will turn over a Volkswagon”
I still have not figured out how to tie on a Volkswagon. 
caribe
I use Spider for all my big game leaders. Mostly 6# . I have very little problem with the no stretch. For a lighter color leader I’ll use Mono & add just one length of 6# Spider wire or Fireline Crystal in the leader to increase the strength. With a 3-2-1-1-2-3 leader made from 2# mono it gives me the safety factor I like. I’ve caught Salmon, Bluefish, large Trout, Bones, & Bass on them with no problem. I add a ring or a swivel sometimes & I taper down to 3X & then down to 5 or 6X for trout. I usually make 5 ft. leaders & they will turn over at least their own length or longer of tippet. I do power furl & let the leader furl on the board & then re-furl pretty tight to get the final tightness I like. I usually twist until failure to get the max twist for any given material with selected weights & from then on, when I get that length of twist, I put the two butt ends on the center (reverse) hook, let it furl naturally & then power furl up quite a bit further, 4-5"'s or so.
Zac,
I’m thinking that would be a sick leader to use on big old bass in heavy structure with about 4-5 ft. of heavy tippet…
One of the better know fly fishing large mouth bass guides on Richland Chambers Lake, the most consistent producer of 10# or more fish, here in the State of Texas has advocated for years using nothing more than a single strand of 12-15# Spider Wire about six feet long for both leader and tippet! The rationale behind this recommendation is due largely to the massive amounts of ‘moss’ in the lake. Being that the leader/tippet is knotless, buckets of moss DO NOT accumulate on it as it does with a standard knotted leader; given that it does not stretch, it does not stretch and break under moss loads, as does an standard taper knotless leader, and, he insists, that it actually ‘cuts through’ the moss, reducing the mass that may actually be on the leader. All one has to do is see his photos taken of the ‘mess’ his clients who have used mono, both knotless and knotted, VS Spider Wire, to become a believer. Also, it is highly abrasiin resistent, reducing losses due to ole bucket mouth from sawing you off in the timber! And you can definitely ‘turn his head’ when the need arises.
Quite impressive to see a #2 washtub of moss yield a 2-3# bass!
This stuff will turn over 'a big ole ‘Harley!’.
As they used to say: “Don’t knock it until you have tried it!” IT WORKS!
aged sage
Make a few up I will test them and let you know how many more I will need.
Aged-Sage,
I think I will try that this weekend. I’m fishing one of my regular lakes that is all flooded timber…
Let us all know how it works for you.
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!
aged_sage
My concern would be with the strength that beast would have. If the leader has greater breaking strength than the fly line you might be setting yourself for disaster.
It all depends upon what you are referring to as a “disaster”. If the fly line breaks under such conditions, i.e., 12-15lb leader, you were definitely in need of a new fly line! As the world’s record large mouth is under 25 pounds, and tarpon weighing in excess of 200 pounds have been caught on fly tackle, not to mention even larger marlin, I fail to see any cause for concern.
aged_sage
This whole furling thing is a new deal for fly fishing to me, my granddad had a gizmo to furl sisal twine into a rope on the farm so I understand the concept. I tried furling some 12 lb. Fireline and was not real happy withthe resultant leader, so I braided one that tapers from 4 strand to 3 strand to 2 strand then the tippet. I figure if it doesn’t work our as a leader I can use it for a tow rope.
Many years ago, I wrote a “Tying Tip” article about “Thread” that might be a help for those who make their own furled leaders.
In my “Thread” article, I explain the many of the different materials that can be used to make thread, the different methods that can be used to make thread. and the many different sealants used to protect the finished thread.
I have been working on my “Big Furled Leader Formula” for sometime, recently pushing it off to the side, will I convert many of FAOL various article folders over to PDF for a future “Features” CD, and also helping Ron Tidd with the new FOTW listing on the main page. I am also wanting to make a new Furled Leader Board that I break down to 4 ft to 5 ft section lengths for storage. But when assembled can be used to make 10 foot or longer furled tapered leaders that are perfectly balanced, that you do not need a fly rod or fly line to cast them.
When I am ready to get back to my “Big Furled Leader Formula” and satisfied with my number crunching, I will share it with everyone on FAOL. ~Parnelli
My “Thread” article can be found at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part211.php
Steven,
In what way are you dissatisfied with your current BFLF?
Nail knot on the tailpipe?
I have been using the Fireline Crystal for a few years and find it makes an almost indestructable leader, that being said, always looking for new stuff - anybody tried Berkleys new Nanofil line? I believe it is suppose to float or at least neutral.
That’s a good question…been wondering the same thing…really small diameters as I recall.
Mind you, I haven’t tried Spiderwire yet myself, but as to not having any elasticity, I would expect furling to ingrain a Spiderwire leader with at least some degree of ‘stretch’ . . . No ?