"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.