Leaders for wet flies and streamers: the right leader can make a big difference in catching fish

[@stephencifka4629]

Excellent information. Your habits of being curious, making observations, and thinking about the dynamics impacting the fly have led to a lot of practical wisdom. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share.

[@nearenufoldaze2375]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful and specific observations! I’ve been building my own leaders since the 70’s and 80’s and your video has kicked off another torrent of thought in revising my leaders! Makes me want to return to my home waters in the northeast to continue my obsessive

[@Luggiefrank]

Hi Peter, as someone new to fly fishing, just finished my first season of trout fishing in Scotland. Your video's are great for answering questions I'm gradually asking myself, whilst out on the river, or over a single malt after a good day's fishing. Thanks again

[@gregkosinski2303]

Wow that’s awesome that you traveled to Scotland to fly fish for a whole season.

[@fabpalt5816]

Great video. Thank you. I’ve fly fished for years, but I always learn something new from you. Cheers !!

[@Cute_index]

I just read your every word over the video. That's very impressive! I read a lot about sinking line and its leader, "when in doubt, go shorter". You opinion is obvious a new concept!

[@jebar01]

You are amazing individual sir, thank-you for your time and information. Jim

[@SmallmouthAddict]

Hi Peter! long time fan and smallmouth addict! I fish mostly intermediates and light sinkers for smallmouth but have recently tried more floaters. I also fish fluorocarbon exclusively contradicting Kelly Gallop's ideals (Maxima UG) when it comes to reactionary fishing whom I took a lot of my early information from. I have personally found that in low clear water (100-200cfs on my main river) longer leaders and gentler presentations seem to outperform the aggressive reactionary style of fishing. Do you believe that longer leaders and fluorocarbon become more important when "feeding the fish" (buggers/craws/etc). Vs. throwing ménage a dungeons at aggressive pre spawn fish or higher water situations? I also tend to find that large presentations spook many more fish in low clear water. Thank you!

[@davidbrown7932]

You are really fantastic a breath of fresh air . My son and I are just discovering fly fishing, you are a tremendous help Thankyou God Bless 🙏🤩

[@tgd627]

Been using tapered leaders but decided to take your advice and formula for building leaders. It’s really made all this difference in my swinging and fishing. Also I ditched the blood knot and went to the triple surgeon, holy shit that’s so much faster and easier. Thank you!

[@stevestringham1095]

i use the Uni knot to make leaders. they go together fast. but i use the triple surgeons knot for the tippet a lot of the time.

[@hotpoker4212]

Love yourself advice and videos, if you are using articulated streamers and a small black fly on the same leader, how long would you make the leader,🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@kevinjtoner]

Good lesson in logic!!! Thank you, Peter.......

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Your content continues to fascinate and inspire!

[@serfish101]

Never too late to learn more . Thank you too much

[@kevinihintz]

Excellent presentation thanks Peter , just off to test it out 😊

[@stevetrybalski3082]

Great information also answered many questions archiving this video for future reference. Thanks!!

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

This is so informative-all practical sense. Thanks. :-)

[@briantalbot7929]

I run a long leader on my sink tips too, also with my style of swinging I have no issues with getting my flies down and keep them down

[@williamblair2934]

I appreciate the “ need” factor. I analyze everything😁 Part of the lure, all pun intended

[@Padredemanzana]

Thank you so much for your Great video, learn a lot of new tips ! best explanations of Fluorocarbon line! one more pros of fluorocarbon is abrasion resistance.

[@tommelville8771]

I’ve watched this video several times to get the concept into my aging brain. How would set on a floating line, leader length and tippet size? Thanks for all you videos.

[@hooked4lifeca]

I'm going to have to produce a video that covers this specifically. I've gone over these issues multiple times in other videos, but I haven't really pulled it altogether. Basically it's a floater, plus a long fluorocarbon leader, plus an unweighted fly that sinks very well and stays down under tension.

[@flypatch2245]

Thank you for sharing, sage advice.

[@Netherflyfish]

Love the long leaders. Have been experimenting with your philosophy wet fly fishing for trout and have done well. Want to add some floro droppers along that 10 to 15 foot leader. I don't see why it wouldn't work. Any thoughts or insights? I like your thought approach on your videos. Tx.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Droppers work fine as long as the dropper line is quite short (a few inches). If those lines are long, we end up with a mess.

[@williamblair2934]

Peter, I know this is an old video. Can you show a video of you fishing this way with the distance and high separation? I have struggled fishing for steelhead and salmon

[@hooked4lifeca]

I have a number of videos of me fishing for steelhead on a swung fly, some of them on rod review videos.

[@sambrown2150]

Great discussion again! Any consideration given to leader colour if given alternatives? Thanks

[@hooked4lifeca]

Maxima Chameleon is very good for tannin stained waters. Bright, florescent sighters can be used in nymphing leaders, but that isn't a requirement for wet flies and streamers.

[@sambrown2150]

@@hooked4lifeca Thanks!

[@rejectthereset8480]

Would you do the same setup with a switch rod?

[@hooked4lifeca]

Yes, no problem.

[@waynegraff3942]

How many more fish would you have caught if you would have used Maxima? Probably more.

[@seamusmcfitz913]

Thank you! Some good info.

[@hono6644]

8:26 so the leader for streamers should be long? So it's good when it has movment?

[@hooked4lifeca]

Yes, long leaders in the 8' to 10' range help improve the movement of the fly.

[@jebar01]

What would be a good example of a streamer leader for you to use?

[@hooked4lifeca]

Depends entirely on the fishing situation and the size of fish. As far as length goes, mine are usually 8' to 10' long.

[@jimmyanderson2144]

Videos are very good I would like to know what length of fly leader and tipplet would be good choice for 8 to 9 weight fly rod I will be using streamers and poppers could u help me out thank u

[@hooked4lifeca]

All depends on the size of the fly and what we're trying to catch. The bigger the fly, the thicker and shorter the leader. The more skittish the fish, the longer and finer the leader.

[@leonardchecchio1655]

Great information. Do you use different leaders when single Spey casting in terms of leader length or material such as furled, braided or polyleaders? Thanks.

[@hooked4lifeca]

With regular trout gear? No. I just use whatever leader I had one when overhead casting.

[@grungar67]

Those are very interesting thoughts you shared in this Video, thank you. If I connected my Pike fly directly to my wire leader without a snap or loop knot connection, it should sink more at an angle then, instead of dropping straight nose down right? This irked me quite a bit as I was trying to fish a shallow part of a lake very slowly. I was blaming the wire weight and the swivel but now I figure there is more to that. How would you design your leader for pike fishing if you had to use wire and wanted a nearly horizontal sinking action or at most a 45 degree angle?

[@hooked4lifeca]

If you want a more level sink, use hard saltwater mono instead of a wire leader and knot it directly to the hook. You'll get a slower, more level sink as the mono will tend to hold the nose of the fly up. I've used thick, hard mono leaders for pike and never had a one bite me off. Something in the neighbourhood of 40lb. should do the job.

[@Cute_index]

Is it okay to use loop to loop connections to build the leader? Thanks!

[@hooked4lifeca]

You can, but it just increases the odds of tangles and weeds, debris, etc. hanging up on the leader thanks to all of the knots and loops giving spots for things to latch onto.

[@rushthezeppelin]

I'm curious how this strategy would work with a skagit heads on 2h rod. I could see it really screwing with your anchor placement for casts.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Not really. I've been using long leaders on Skagit setups for years and the leader length is not anything I've ever worried about.

[@rushthezeppelin]

@@hooked4lifeca Interesting, I'll have to give it a shot sometime.

[@borbonic]

Another good video. I learned a fair bit

[@hono6644]

What about a tinsel it's a very very bushi fly i tested and does not sink so fast. So is there a point of using a 8ft leader or is it just 3 feet? What is your opinion?

[@hooked4lifeca]

When using high drag, slow sinking flies, we're stuck with using a short leader for what it's worth. Anglers generally don't realize how high up in the water column a high drag, slow sinking fly will run, even on the end of T14. A long leader just makes that problem worse. Unless I specifically want a fly to run high, I always use fast sinking, low drag flies.

[@hooked4lifeca]

BTW, I'm making the assumption that we're talking large, steelhead flies. If not, let me know what size of fly you're using.

[@hono6644]

@@hooked4lifeca Yes it's a large bushy streamer. But ment for Brown trout on a #2 hook

[@james-lt8ry]

My question is about tube flies and I figured I’d just ask it on your most recent video for a quicker response lol. Ok here goes are tube flies meant to be fished with two handed spay type rods or can you use them with lighter one hand type rods 6wt ,8 wt ect ? Iam just looking to get into tying them and just wondering

[@hooked4lifeca]

The can most definitely be fished on single hand rods. Just make sure that the size and weight of the fly can be handled by the line you're using.

[@fabios35076]

Thanks Peter Your videos are changing my whole outlook ann the enjoyment of fly fishing! Question on the butt section. Do you recommend this to also be fluorocarbon?

[@hooked4lifeca]

Most often yes, but in slow and low conditions, I'll go to thick mono for the butt. I build my carp leaders that way.

[@fish9514]

I learned something today..thanks

[@normanmanning4872]

If your using a leader with a factory taper will you still tie a piece of tippet or can i use it as is?

[@hooked4lifeca]

We can use the leader straight of the packet as is. We only need to ad tippet when it starts to get short.

[@paultenenbaum2122]

Cool stuff, thank you!!

[@jebar01]

lb 3 or 4 of What would you suggest for a leader for streamers? Fluro what 4 ft. of lb??

[@hooked4lifeca]

Generally I'm using more than 4 lb. for streamers as the visibility of the leader is much less of an issue than when fishing dries.

[@aaronbenns9051]

Great info thanks.!

[@bigron8346]

It really stinks having to teach yourself how to fly fish not only how to cast but how to setup. Now i instruct and it's much easier for my students than it was for guys like us who had to figure everything out on our own.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Ya, during my first foray I only had a couple of issues of Field & Stream to guide me.

[@techmick1399]

Very useful and concise information. Why is is the P-Line-Flourocarbon your top choice in the thicker diameters? Do you use it for Atlantic Salmon, too? I tried many brands and was not happy so far with most of the stuff. The "old" Airflo G3 did the job for trout well, so I use this for nymphing and streamer fishing with good results. For Atlantic Salmon, can you recommend P-Line Flourocarbon? Thank you for this nice video.

[@hooked4lifeca]

I have used it fro Atlantics, as well as steelhead, bass, striped bass, bluefish and other species. I've been happy with it.

[@techmick1399]

@@hooked4lifeca Ok, then this will be my choice.

[@captainkoo]

The fish whisperer !

[@hooked4lifeca]

Now if the fish would listen to those whispers! ;)

[@captainkoo]

@@hooked4lifeca hahaha. They seem to hear you pretty well !

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

What you show on screen makes no sense Please proof read.

[@101mossie]

Sorry fell asleep. Beyond boring.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Your requirement to be entertained before you can learn isn't my problem, it's yours. Good luck with the rest of your life.

[@gregkosinski2303]

@@hooked4lifeca​​⁠ahaha Peter you just pulled down your pants and took a steaming crap on this idiot’s face!