Bob La Londe wrote:
One refference I read seemed to indicate that they think leaders should be
apx 1.5 X Rod Length. Seems awfully long to me. When I started shopping
on-lien for fly stuff I noticed that tapered leaders seem to be available in
7.5 to 8.5 in large quantities in many different weights, but other lengths
are fewer. I have a couple of my 8' rods rigged now with 8' leaders and they
seem to manage well. Am I shorting myself, but not hunting down longer
leaders?

Match leaders and tippet to whatever you're tossing.
If you're tossing big wind-eating bass bugs 6-7 ft.
of leader works well, if you're tossing size 24 dry
flies to picky fish you may want up to 12-15 ft.

Those are the freshwater extremes, most leaders are
betwixt and between the extremes.

For normal trout fishing I buy 7.5' 3X factory tapered
leaders and build from there. I'll add 18" of 4X to make
a 9' 4X or a combination of 4X and 5X to make longer
leaders. I rarely go smaller than 5X.

On the bass side I take the same 7.5' 3X tapered leader
and cut it back if necessary to toss really heavy stuff
and then add 3X back to it when I need the full 7.5' to
toss lighter poppers.

The main thing is, match the leader and the tippet to
the fly more than the fly rod.

--
Ken Fortenberry