Leader Line and Guides

Ethan wrote:
Ok I have a silly little question that maybe some of you can help me
with.

Whenever I get out to the edge of a body of water, I'm all rigged up
and ready to make my first cast. I always seem to have this awkward
moment where I struggle with standing knee deep in water trying to get
the last foot or so of the leader through the last few guides and the
tip top. The connection of the leader to the fly line is a bit awkward
and pulling on the leader or tippet never seems to pull out enough line
to start a good cast.

Is there some secret to this that I'm missing out on?


I string up the rod by pulling the fly lines through the guide. I tie
on the fly I am going to start with and then loop the leader around the
fly reel and hook the fly on the hook-keeper or on the legs of one of
the guides. (do not "hook" the hook is the stripping guide (guide
closest to the reel). Then when I get to the stream and am standing in
it I just have to unhook the fly and unloop the leader. Then you can
shake the tip a little to let out a little more fly line and start
casting.