Fishing - knotted leaders

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- - knotted leaders (http://www.fishingbanter.com/showthread.php?t=24639)

Erik wrote:

"The best fly fishing occurs in print" - Famous fly fishing editor
(whatever his name was)

Evidently, this famous editor did more editing than he did fly fishing!

It was Arnold Gingrich - and how right he was/is :
"Some of the best fly fishing occurs in print"

He's got a story in the "Armchair Angler", which is a great book. Most
of you probably already have a copy.

--
Chris Fleitman
Long Island

"The best fly fishing occurs in print" - Famous fly fishing editor
(whatever his name was)

egildone wrote in
:

I have been looking at making hand made leaders and wonder how
many roff
members make handmade knotted leaders and are they worth the
effort
that it takes to make them?

Ed

I used to buy knotted leaders, but they're hard to find these
days. I tie my own leaders because they turn over better than
knotless leaders.

50 leader formulas:

http://www.flyfisherman.com/skills/50formulas.pdf

Click file/save to keep a copy on your HD.

Orvis knotted leader tapers:

http://www.finefishing.com/1flyfish/...s/leadersspeci
fications.htm

Use this link if the above URL wraps:

http://tinyurl.com/y47e46

Leadercalc:

http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbette...c/download.php

Use this link if the above URL wraps:

http://tinyurl.com/y2qxep

rt

"egildone" wrote in message
...
I have been looking at making hand made leaders and wonder how many roff
members make handmade knotted leaders and are they worth the effort that it
takes to make them?

Ed

For trout fishing I buy tapered leaders, although I have made my own. For
me, I think the purchased tapered leaders with added tippet offer a more
delicate presentation.

I do tie my own pike leaders where presentation doesn't make much difference
and strength is more of a concern.

JT
(This time of year when things are pretty much frozen, it might be a good
way to kill some time while doing something fishing related. Who hasn't been
on the water since Thanksgiving and probably won't see any till the end of
March unless I can squeeze in a Steelhead trip.) :(

"egildone" wrote

make handmade knotted leaders and are they worth the effort
that it takes to make them?

What is currently in fashion with me is a compromise

I replace the BUTT of 7.5 foot factory leader ( any brand is fine, I use Rio
to support the locals ) with Maxima that 'matches' the fly line and rod (
heavier line/rod .. fatter maxima ... 0.017 is a good starting point for
middle of the road trout rods ) I tie this to a spot on a factory leader
that is roughly the same diameter, discarding the factory butt section.
Then I cut the factory tippet back to where it just starts and tie on a
tippet ring.

To MY tastes and fishing style this gives me a better fishing leader that I
adjust for over all length by adjusting the Maxima ( usually I fish around a
10 ft leader). The butt is both thinner and stiffer than factory and
turns over well, the 'taper' is straight from the factory and doesn't
involve lots of knots and I can replace tippet at the ring without losing
any of that taper... very long tippets can be used. Such a leader is very
versatile and lasts me until I snag a tree or toss a huge tangle, get
****ed, and yank / cut the thing off at the Maxima and start over ...
usually weeks of fishing every day ( or half an hour of two fly nymphing
;-).

To find exactly what matches you and yours best, you need to watch the
leader uncurl as you cast the fly you want to present and make sure that it
does so smoothly ... you may need to attach the Maxima to slightly fatter or
thinner factory material, to avoid a hinge ... and the Maxima should
clearly transfer line energy without any hinging at the line or it's too
small for your casting/ rod/ line, if your loop opens way up at that joint
the Maxima is too stiff. I prefer to err on the side of a stiffer butt if
error must be made, and have the tippet longer and softer ( this ring system
also means you can mix brands without any worry and use one of the very limp
monos for the tippet )

If I start with a 3x factory leader I find I can attach any tippet directly
to the ring from 3X to 6x with good result (7X is 'ok' ), depending on the
fly being cast. Again watch the first test cast after a fly change and
make sure the tippet is working with the new fly as you desire, change size,
add or cut back, if not. I often use a two step 'tippet' for 7X ( 5X/7X)
and for nymphing ... the latter mainly to provide a knot to secure split
shot above. When I clean / treat the line ( do this often, it makes a
huge difference ) I treat the leader out to the ring.

egildone wrote:
I have been looking at making hand made leaders and wonder how many roff
members make handmade knotted leaders and are they worth the effort
that it takes to make them?

Used to tie them for trout, panfish, bass, etc. Was interesting
to learn all the different tapers and experiment with them, and
as Kevin said, to have something to do in the winter. Then I
moved to Florida.... g.

These days I use store-bought tapered leaders for most fishing.
They turn over just as well for my purposes, I think, and are not
too expensive. Three or four will last a whole season, even
fishing hard, if you take care with them. Also, all the knot
tying became more of a dreary chore than a pleasure. Like a lot
of things in life, if you enjoy it, it tends to be "worth the
effort, and if you don't, then not so much.... ;)

I still tie leaders for steelhead. I use very simple tapers and
I do think hard Maxima turns heavy flies over better.

- JR

I would tie them but I don't have the time,

I like the way maxima knotted leaders turn over especially with big wet
flies I like to fish, I like a stiffer material for that type of fishing,
this guy ties them and sells them on ebay I use them I think it's a good
product.

http://stores.ebay.com/Fave-Fly-Fish...Q3amesstQQtZkm

"JR" wrote in message
...
egildone wrote:
I have been looking at making hand made leaders and wonder how many roff
members make handmade knotted leaders and are they worth the effort that
it takes to make them?

Used to tie them for trout, panfish, bass, etc. Was interesting
to learn all the different tapers and experiment with them, and
as Kevin said, to have something to do in the winter. Then I
moved to Florida.... g.

These days I use store-bought tapered leaders for most fishing.
They turn over just as well for my purposes, I think, and are not
too expensive. Three or four will last a whole season, even
fishing hard, if you take care with them. Also, all the knot
tying became more of a dreary chore than a pleasure. Like a lot
of things in life, if you enjoy it, it tends to be "worth the
effort, and if you don't, then not so much.... ;)

I still tie leaders for steelhead. I use very simple tapers and
I do think hard Maxima turns heavy flies over better.

- JR

"G. J. Z." wrote in message
news:WCdlh.10$xu4.3@trndny07...
I would tie them but I don't have the time,

I like the way maxima knotted leaders turn over especially with big wet
flies I like to fish, I like a stiffer material for that type of fishing,
this guy ties them and sells them on ebay I use them I think it's a good
product.

http://stores.ebay.com/Fave-Fly-Fish...Q3amesstQQtZkm

Hard to believe that he can sell them for just $1.99 each?

I'd think that the time alone would be $20 or $30!

Op

egildone wrote:
I have been looking at making hand made leaders and wonder how many roff
members make handmade knotted leaders and are they worth the effort
that it takes to make them?

Ed

Wow! Thanks to all who responded to my question. you'all are the
greatest. I knew I could count on ROFF! I tie my own flies and made a
2 wt rod so I think I'll tie a few leaders also.

Thanks again for all the valueable info!

Ed

I think you'd be surprised at how efficient one can become at it.

"Opus" wrote in message
...

"G. J. Z." wrote in message
news:WCdlh.10$xu4.3@trndny07...
I would tie them but I don't have the time,

I like the way maxima knotted leaders turn over especially with big wet
flies I like to fish, I like a stiffer material for that type of fishing,
this guy ties them and sells them on ebay I use them I think it's a good
product.

http://stores.ebay.com/Fave-Fly-Fish...Q3amesstQQtZkm

Hard to believe that he can sell them for just $1.99 each?

I'd think that the time alone would be $20 or $30!

Op