Fly Fishing Leaders Made Simple

Fly Fishing Leaders are underrated and misunderstood. In the first episode of the series. I go into the basics of leaders and explain why they're so important.
Polyleaders: • Polyleaders Are So Ver...

[@JohnRitson78]

Me again and may I say all what you said is great information which is of course normal from your channel as you do not beat around the bush and tell it like it is which is nice, and I am sure with time you will gain many more subscribers as the truths of fishing need to be spoken, rather than some channels that aim for subscribers only and omit the facts. I tried the premade tapered leaders which do work very well for most situations, but me being me and an experimenter through and through I chose to tie my own tapered leaders with a selection of mono diameters as I can then customize what I need and save money in the process. I can do a dry fly taper or a stiffer leader for such things as a weighted nymph or streamer, and I am no longer limited. Regards from the UK.

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment. I was afraid that it might come off bashing premade leaders but O gotta say. One leader that I wouldn’t touch(on a 4wt!!) was the RIO supplflex. That was thing was MONEY! But the problem was, it took like $80 in leaders for me to find that one! Haha! I am like you, tinker until you’re satisfied. Anyways, i will babble on if i don’t stop here. Tight lines👍

[@402swe]

Thank you for sharing! About the bell curve test - You show two materials that work for your line, what about one that doesn't? Seems it is more of a feel thing than visual? I did a test with a 6wt sinking fly line (and a floating), 8lb and 30lb Maxima Ultragreen, they all line up as far as I can tell.. Obviously doing something wrong :).

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Take a bit more material like 12 inches and see if they mate up. You can also loop to loop the line/leader and do it that way. That works really well for sinking and heavier lines. Edit: forgot to mention but the line a leader should both be able to curve straight up on their own. If the leader bends but falls back ie. You have move your hands for it to stay upright, than it is too limp! Always!!! Go slightly stiffer than softer. Go get em tiger

[@johnklabunde6156]

I like the way you present your information . I like the leader formulas and explain the "make it work for you " . I am a greenhorn to a greenhorn so i like the whole process of how I should go about fly fishing. I am at ground zero, and have watched a ton of other channels too. They all have some merit. Keep on with your video's . They are helping me tons. The knot video's could have been better. overall great job

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Thanks man. I agree, those knot videos have a lot of room for improvement. Hope you get into some fish this season👊

[@SevenBrokenBar]

Love your videos, this leader one helped so much. I have one question…. What’s the best way to attach Maxima chameleon 20 to the fly line

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Thank you! The two most popular are the loop to loop connection(my favorite). And to snell the leader to fly line with a nail knot. Both work well but the loops offer more versatility.

[@woodsspy327]

Very nice explanation regarding leaders. You must know Brian Flechsig from Mad River Outfitters as a lot of your ideas are similar to his instruction. Thank you.

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Thanks man. Of course I know of Brian! Hard to miss such a large channel, and yes I do share a lot of his leader ideas. But when i put some into practice, it didn’t work for me. So after I was tinkering for a but I came up with leaders that worked for me. I will be coming out with a “building leaders” video in the coming weeks and will show how I go about it. One thing for sure is, I WONT!! Cut off a loop section!!

[@4492573]

Everything you’re saying is correct but there is another way to also explain. When your streamer fishing like you and I. You know the flys are weighted. Honestly, it’s great to have a taper. Me personally, I use trick fish mono and with a 7WF line. I use 6’ of 30# .022 and 2’ of 20# .018 , then 2’ of 15# pink yo Zuri Fluoro .013. Works really well. I think of it this way. If you can physically pick up your fly and throw it some distance by hand. Leader is not that important, the fly will take the leader along for the ride. If you throw a light weight fly and it just falls 2 feet from you. Then the leader construction is very important, and you need to fallow formulas or you will definitely develop hinging. Anyways. Good video brother, very informative, yours truly the 🐐

[@greenhornflyhorn]

I have never tried(sadly never heard of) trick fish mono. For .022 and 7wt you must be punching some good streamers out there or it’s super limp stuff(well i forgot it could be a streamer fly line). I do agree with you about the short distances where you don’t even load your rod. But when things open up where you cast, at least if you have a good leader on, you won’t have to swap anything. Probably a good topic to talk about one day. I appreciate you taking the time and sharing your experiences. Good luck out there!

[@4492573]

Google trikfish monofilament. It’s about a medium stiffness. Works well and it’s cheaper. Of course the the business end “ tippet” keep your ultra green for that. Butt section and mid section. TrickFish mono.

[@joep1669]

what if you want a 15ft leader

[@JorgeSantos-nl8he]

Great info! Thanks for sharing! Can i use a loop to loop some where before the tipet? If i need to size down the tipet and hook size, how do i do it without changing the leader. Thanks.

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Hey there, if you need to size down one tippet size(ie 4x to 5x) you can just cut back the 4x part about 12 inches or so and add on the 5x with a triple surgeons knot. I have a a video about customizing leaders and it covers these subjects. I hope this helps, ask away and I will do my best to answer it. Alternatively you can send me a message on Instagram for quicker responses

[@JorgeSantos-nl8he]

Thank you very much! 👍

[@cradford875]

I been fiddling with this formula, it seems to work pretty well with Fluorocarbon line. Thoughts? 6’ Butt Section: 30# 4’ connect to 20# 2’ 2’ Mid Section: 15# 1’ to 8# 1’ 2’+ Tippet Section: 6# 1’ to 4# 14” to 18” On the Tippet section you can be flexible for the end because you can add a tippet ring there to customize as needed.

[@greenhornflyhorn]

Hey if it’s working for you I wouldn’t touch it! Personally for me i would try to shorten the tapered portion of the tippet section and add more level tippet to the end. That way you get more fly changes before you have a tie a new piece on. If you want to try to tinker that is! But circling back to the beginning, if it’s working, there really is no point to muck around with it….Thank you for sharing your formula!

[@cradford875]

@@greenhornflyhorn I have been thinking with the topper end and using a shorter one with a tippet ring and customize the tippet end without having to shorten the leader in general.

[@waynespringer4328]

Way lot of information all at once. Lots of talkity...talkity..talkity. How about some illustrations? WayneO

[@greenhornflyhorn]

I can see what you’re talking about. I have a lot more illustrations on the other videos in this series. Also, i will be putting out a practical guide to leaders(where i am on the water), it will also have illustrations. I am newer to the KZbin game and am learning better techniques to video editing. Hopefully ya come back and check out some of the other videos I have. Good luck on the water🙂