[Mike Barrio]

Knotless tapered leaders, which is the best brand, or product in your opinion

What makes them good?

Cheers
Mike

[Bronzebommer]

I can’t see past the Hardy ones. I've not tried many but I am totally happy with them so see no reason to try any others. I think it is better to know the limitations of your line or leader rather than chopping and changing.

[Matt Henderson]

I use the Rio trout tapers which I believe fall into this category. But they are the only ones I've tried.

[Mike Barrio]

Forgot to ask ....... Are you nail knotting these to the fly line, or using a loop to loop connection with a braided loop?

Cheers
Mike

[Matt Henderson]

Loop to loop with a braided loop. I tried nail notting a loop to the fly line but I didn't get it right and the leader caught on the knot every other cast. I fitted a moser loop much better than the previous ones I have used.

[Iain Goolager]

Frog Hair supple butt.
Loop to loop or blood knotted to moser braided loop

Very elastic.
Used to use the Fulling Mill & Hardy ones which were fine but I'm now a convert to the elastic ones.

Iain

[Jim Eddie]

Frog Hair supple butt.
Loop to loop or blood knotted to moser braided loop

Very elastic.
Used to use the Fulling Mill & Hardy ones which were fine but I'm now a convert to the elastic ones.

Iain

Iain
I would have thought you would have used the ones spun from Rapunzels hair and sold for a modest price of £250 each 

 

Jim

[Iain Goolager]

I've had enough of these jibes.............that said my left kidney is currently on e-bay as there's I need some new waders.


 


Iain

[Ben Dixon]

I use them....


Frog Hair are good so are the Orvis super strong, whatever brand I use they have to be supple and not be a short taper with a load of floppy leve stuff on the end.  In the latter I Use 12' for dry flies as standard with a bit added in most situations, and where I need a shorter leader I use the 7.5' leaders and build the rest.  For wet fly or multiple fly rigs I use 6' tapered Super Strong and build what I need from there.  Don't tend to use braided loops at all these days for anything under a 7wt line, #3 - #5 I use about 12" of appropriate diameter butt material nail knotted to the end of the flyline and I put a perfection loop in the end of it to which I loop to loop connect my tapered leader.  On my heavier lines I end to whip & aquasure loops.

Cheers

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

Is anybody still using the furled leaders that we did a couple of years ago? I might get some more made up

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Barrio]

I received a prototype furled leader today, I'll have a few casts and see how it shapes up

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Barrio]

What's your preferred length for knotless leaders?

Do you always use the same length, or do you use longer ones for small flies and shorter ones for larger flies?

Cheers
Mike

[Irvine Ross]

What's your preferred length for knotless leaders?

Do you always use the same length, or do you use longer ones for small flies and shorter ones for larger flies?

Cheers
Mike

Mike

9' or 12' but I usually cut them up and put in a leader ring so I can alter them as required for the conditions.

Irvine

[Ben Dixon]

What's your preferred length for knotless leaders?

Do you always use the same length, or do you use longer ones for small flies and shorter ones for larger flies?

Cheers
Mike

Longer in light wind or with smaller flies when on the river.  Shorter and steeper taper with big flies.  When on still water fishing nymphs, I will change the length of tippet to alter fishing depth and generally fish a 7.5 ish foot taper

Cheers

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

A few folk have mentioned using leader rings lately (is that standard seamless rings?) are you using them as a point to add a leader extension to, or as a point for adding droppers? Any issues with the rings, or do you find them a useful gadget for leader set ups? Tell us all about them ...............

Cheers
Mike

[Peter McCallum]

I have a ring permanently on my leader. Also have used them on 3 fly casts, though not since I finished a days fishing, wound the cast round my hand and binned it

They are a great idea, wouldn't be without them

[Allan Liddle]

Hi Mike
I've been using the wee rings for years and have found them excellent but there are a couple of things you need to watch:
1. make sure the nylon above the ring dosen't become weak through too much use, or damaged through the usual rigours when fishing
2. Check the ring itself for damage (i lost a good 3lb plus broonie 'rod bender' i'd stalked for ages on a certain river i fish earlier this season due to this)

I generally use the Leeda knotless tapered leaders (4lb to 6lb) and vary the length between 4' to 6' (taken from the butt and cutting off the unwanted level stuff) depending on conditions, location etc and tie the ring in at my chosen length.  From here i tie in my desired length of nylon again depending on what, where or number of flies i'm fishing.
Loop to loop connection at the fly line generally using that much frowned upon method of a very short section of exposed core which i use to form a very small loop.    Musclin(sp) keeps the water out and i generally don't have much of an issue with the tip sinking.  Otherwise i tend to still use the factory made loop in the fly line if either there's one there, or it's not too intrusive.

Works for me and hope this helps

Allan

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Allan

Good points ..... I can see that these rings can help to offer versatility in the way that we make up our leaders.

and having our own personal leader set up helps to boost our confidence

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Barrio]

Tell me more about the rings guys ...... Do you just use one size, if so what diameter etc?

I haven't used them, apart from on the end of a furled leader and these came ready made.

Cheers
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

Rings....

Simples, dont buy the ones made for fly fisherman as they are expensive and tend to be silver and shiney, get the ones made for carpers. They are half the price, round section and a nice dull finish. Also come in more sizes from about 2mm upto 5mm and shapes. Round, oval and a new triangle shape that should be perfect for droppers.

Something I tried was using a 4mm ring close to the fly line, and steadily getting smaller down the leader...my theory was to allow for better turnover. Not sure it worked

I used the "trout ones" years ago when they first came out and lost a few fish because I believe trout were hitting the shiney ring rather then the flies.

[Irvine Ross]

I use the ones from Niche Products and they only come in one size. I haven't measured them. I haven't seen any fish trying to take the ring but I suppose it might happen.

The important thing is to store them on a small safety pin. If you try to take them out of a packet on the bank with cold fingers you will lose most of them. Don't remove from the safety pin until the first section of leader is tied on otherwise you have nothing to grip on while you tie the knot.

Irvine

[Mike Barrio]

I use the ones from Niche Products and they only come in one size. I haven't measured them. I haven't seen any fish trying to take the ring but I suppose it might happen.

The important thing is to store them on a small safety pin. If you try to take them out of a packet on the bank with cold fingers you will lose most of them. Don't remove from the safety pin until the first section of leader is tied on otherwise you have nothing to grip on while you tie the knot.

Irvine

Safety pin ..... Good tip!