Long tapered leaders

"Larry L" wrote

, thus the mantra of 'turn over your
fly' )


I woke up this morning thinking that maybe some lurker out there might get
the wrong idea from my comments in this thread.

The phrases I use like "pile of slack" never imply the fly isn't 'turned
over' ... in other words, the fly should always land farther from the
angler than any of the leader ... if the leader bends back on itself and the
fly is closer than that bend, less tippet or thicker tippet is called for
( with that fly )


In 'slack casts' the line and/ or leader fall in wiggles, and bends like a
meadow stream often runs its course. The very worthwhile goal I'm
advocating here is to practice and learn to control the position and amount
of that wiggle and those bends. Like controlling loop size there is a big
advantage in being able to lay out a very straight line and leader, one very
wiggly , or many steps in between, at will, and with full understanding of
the why and where of each.

As I said differently elsewhere in this tread ... start with a leader you
can lay down very nearly straight ( with the fly in use ) with a 'text book'
cast and then learn to cast poorly, on demand, for adding and controlling
the wiggle when you want it. Do not depend on the leader to produce the
wiggle on it's own ( basically too thin and too much tippet ) or it always
will, even when a straightened leader would be better in a given situation.


Again, I assume all the regulars around here are far more skilled and
knowledgeable than myself, but I like to think that someone out there might
get some advantage from reading ROFF... occasionally G


Larry L ( 'very nearly straight' still has a tiny bit of wiggle in the last
segment of tippet for dry fly use ... language is not my .. what is that
word, you know ... ah, ..well, ... I just ain't good at it )

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

Larry L ( 'very nearly straight' still has a tiny bit of wiggle in the
last segment of tippet for dry fly use

In my case I had a very slight curve to the 9' leader, 18" tippet, and
fly-line.
There were two things I corrected that allowed me to straighten out the
leader/tippet/fly and fly-line.

1. Soften up on the last forward cast. I had a tendency to put a little
whump on the final forward cast. Since softening up and coming to a gentle
stop, I was able to take out the ever-so-slight shock. You still however
have to follow-through and lay it down on the final forward cast.

2. Come completely vertical on the back and forward cast. When I
wasn't complete vertical it produces a natural bow in the line and transfers
to
the leader/tippet/fly. Since casting vertical and easing up on the final
forward
cast, I can now cast completely straight...just have to learn to do it with
12'
leaders now.

As Lary L has said, there are times when you want a deliberate curve in the
cast; mending, curve casting behind objects, wiggle cast.

The split cane rod (soft rod) has taught me a lot about my casting stroke.
I've learned to soften-up and smooth out my cast, more of a fineness move
instead of a power application.
-tom