"Cornmuse" wrote in message ...

After a fair amount of experimentation this summer I have come to rely on a
furled leader for my 2 and 3 weight rods, going to hand-tied with SS or
Maxima for my 4 weight and above rods. I love the way the 3wt rod I have
casts with a furled leader - very nice, delicate delivery. So far, one
leader lasted all season and will work well into the next. A fair return on
the rather spendy investment these leaders demand (I paid about $10 for a 9
foot, 3 weight design made by an Olympia WA manufacturer stocked by my local
shop).

I bought a couple of the *rv*s braided leaders when the Austin shop
had their store-closing sale, and so far I like the way it casts on
the 3-wt. Is there a company name I should be looking for for the
leader you describe?

I've been thinking about making my own, but just haven't gotten
around to making the jig for braiding.

A couple things I found. First, use a surgeons loop to add about 12" of 5X
tippet to the looped end of the furled leader. I then blood knot 3 feet or
so of 5X or 6X tippet to that. The end loop in a furled leader seems
delicate to me (though I have had no problems despite a few 16" smallies,
numerous panfish and a couple browns in the 14" range). Once it tightens up
on the tippet connection it is a pain in the a** to open it back up,
requiring an awl or bodkin (or 2). With the "sacrifice" 5X as a
semi-permanent connecting piece I only had to work the loop twice all
season.

Sounds like excellent advice, thanks. I was actually thinking that
the loop on the tippet section looked fairly delicate when I was
setting up my rig. Also, I was wondering if I would run into any
problems with the mono and braid junction due to the dissimilarity of
materials.

I found the furled leader didn't present too much "spray" on a forward cast
and what spray there was shook off on a single false cast - fine for dries.
The leader is FAR more supple than any mono construction I have tried and
works superbly for soft-hackle and wet fly presentations "down and across" a
la Nymes. I don't think a furled leader is a very good choice into a wind,
but then neither is a 3wt! For my apps (small streams and ponds, flies to
size 12 wet or 14 dry) this combo is tough to beat.

I bought the 3-wt for stream fishing here and for some trips I
expect to be taking in the future to places like NC. After my
experience casting even a 5-wt into the wind in Montana in September,
I've got no illusions about it working in those sorts of conditions.
:-}

Thanks for your advice. Now if I can just get someone to comment
on my question about the Redington reel.


Chuck Vance