Why I Don't Tie Dry Fly Leaders...

In this video, Brian Flechsig from Mad River Outfitters explains why he doesn't like to tie his own dry fly leaders when fly fishing.
Furled Leaders: www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-...
Mono Furled Leaders: www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-...
Airflo Light Trout Poly Leaders: www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-...
RIO Trout VersiLeaders: www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-...
Airflo Bass Pike Floating Poly Leaders: www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-...
Videos Mentioned:
• Furled Leader Tutorial...
• The Most Important Lea...
• The Leader | Getting S...
• How to Determine Corre...
• The Ultimate Guide to ...
• Build Perfect Nymph & ...
• How to Fish Streamers ...
02:01 - Part 1: Furled Leaders
05:32 - Part 2: Poly & VersiLeaders
10:56 - Part 3: Conclusions
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Have a question about this video or anything fly fishing? We're happy to help!
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Shot and Edited by Dev Fogle
www.devfogle.com
Welcome to Mad River Outfitters, hosted by professional fly fishing guide, Brian Flechsig and his team of fly fishing guides at Mad River Outfitters. On this channel you will find honest fly fishing education, fly fishing tutorials and product reviews. We're passionate about fly fishing and that's what we hope to share here. More information about who we are can be found on our website (www.madriveroutfitters.com) and also on our Instagram (@madriveroutfitters).
#FlyFishing #Fishing

[@SlowEarl1]

I appreciate all the info you provide. I buy all my supplies and just bought new waders from your online store because of what you do here. Thank you Sir! Sincerely Michael Finney

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and especially thanks for the support!

[@509_Duck]

Started using poly leaders for dries based on an email I sent you last year and oh my God I love them

[@Madriveroutfitters]

See? He's usually pretty right.

[@abaker1611]

Great instruction as always Brian. 👍

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching!

[@jimmynoname4089]

I picked up thread leaders and soaked it in flyagra, about 2 years ago. Still love this for my dry flies. Saved many dollars off these two leaders. :)

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Furled and/or Poly Leaders for dries is hard to beat! And....can save you a ton of money as well. Thanks for watching.

[@chrislehto5357]

Was literally thinking about this question on the drive home from work today and lo and behold you guys read my mind and made a video answering my questions. Thanks for being the best fly fishing resource on KZbin.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Brian often reads minds. Think of something else......it's coming.

[@leebdj1949]

That’s awesome! I stumbled on the Harvey leader a couple years ago, works great. It may seem a bit longer than some, but once you get it, you can get a really delicate presentation with a nice snake laying in the water.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@michaelderyder426]

Such amazing videos. That you so much!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@MarcTelesha]

Thanks for your awesome videos. Harvey Leader Formula (Updated Version) is my go to leader and I tweak them to perfection.Maybe it is because I live in Central PA and fish heavy fished water. I couldn't imagine fishing for Delaware River trout with a 10' leader. I am usually using 13' to 17' leaders (including the tippet). I still think this is the best system for dry flies. Furled seems to always explode on me when I used them. I even tried making my own and seemed a lot more fragile. I do use versi leaders and I have only tried to use them with my spey rods. I might give them a try on my 4wt. I have a 10' light. I'll give that a try and see how it goes.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and let us know how it goes.

[@p.w.harris9883]

Harvey is superior. Frogs hair makes it knotless!

[@MarcTelesha]

The versi float cast well but the step down can be challenging without having a hinge. I am trying 15 lbs to 12 lbs maxima chameleon. Then a 3x all within 2 feet and then a supple tippet.

[@markcook2980]

“That’s…that’s really bad.” Absolutely killed me. The look when you said that!😂

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@johnnylightning1491]

Thanks for the info Brian. I was wondering why you had that peach in your desk. I figured it was Katie try add some ambiance to the desk. Or maybe it was your after video snack. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. We are not sure how the peach got there.

[@Caithnessflyfisher]

I like the airflo polyleaders... If I'm fishing a single dry on a #6 weight with a fly size ranging from a #10 to a #14, then I'll use the 8ft polyleader with a tippet length of up to 6ft, I find 14ft appears to be the sweet spot, especially when I fish the lochs of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿... I've never used a 9ft leader for my dries because, in my opinion, feel that it's too short and could possibly risk the fish seeing the fly line more?... I dunno... That extra 6ft I feel, just adds that extra bit of distance between the fly line and fly which I feel, results in more successful hook ups. Airflo all the way 👍 All the best from over here in bonnie Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥃 Slàinte

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@lorawinfrey9112]

Awesome information for a newbie like me

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Appreciate you being here.

[@DC_J]

Tried all the packaged dry fly leaders out there, switched to a Airflo polyleader and haven’t looked back. One cast is all it took

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Apparently Brian agrees? Thanks for watching.

[@kevinrobertson2037]

Yip just swapped to it last week, what a difference 👍👍👍

[@tacticalskiffs8134]

I mostly use the George Harvey leader for normal up and over stuff. BUT. I used the Bolger version. I have to say his leader approach changed how I do leaders. I never buy leaders at this point, All my leaders are hand tied, or single strand. Bolgers approach gets everything down to a few knots (and a few spools of leader material, not to worry, it will go down at the same rate). I think with the GH it is only 2-3 knots, depending on your line size and fly size. Since any leader may have a tippet attached to it, or after some use added to it. You have a perfect performing leader with one extra knot than you would have in a regular leader. Not for blood knots aficionados only. Plus, on the blood knots, assuming one has that down, h e doesn't bother with a lot of turns or an even number of turns which makes them a lot easier to tie, and just as strong as the weak point will normally be at the fly, or should be.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching.

[@speedoflight9005]

Brian, great video. I use mono furled leaders and yes, are much better for dries, specially those MadamX, Fat Alberts. Never regular leaders again.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@kansasscout4322]

I had no idea about poly leaders for dries. Thanks.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and feel free to email or call the shop if any questions.

[@kansasscout4322]

Furled leaders for dries are wonderful.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

We agree! Thanks for watching.

[@rassiesmithiii2836]

One question. You mentioned tying a perfection loop to and tippet and taper down from the thicker lever. Can you tie a snell knot to connect the sections? Thanks, I’m literally brand new to fly fishing.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Please send your questions directly to Brian at the shop and he'll be happy to help. You can e-mail him or give him a call.

[@georgegoddard9636]

Hey Brian. I’m new to fly fishing. Really like your teaching. You say if it swims you can catch it with a fly rod. I like catfish. They hang to the bottom. I’m sure you have covered this in one of your videos but to save me the searching could you give me a link to bottom fishing with a fly rod please? Thanks again for your teaching 👍

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Please contact Brian directly through the shop and he’ll be happy to help. You can email him or give him a call.

[@joshsamuelson1793]

So fishing mostly dry in Nebraska wind the mono one sounds awesome. However I also throw sinking wet flys for panfish. Will they handle that?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Please send your questions directly to Brian via e-mail or give him a call. He'll be happy to help.

[@jamiewilliams1287]

So if im fishing with a polyleader for dry fly fishing how much tippet do i add at the end of the polyleader for fishing a river ? And would i use musaline on the poly leader ?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Please send questions directly to Brian at the shop and he'll be happy to help. You can e-mail him or call him.

[@tysonolsen6147]

If I already have cut the loop of my floating line, do I need to tie a perfection loop to connect a poly leader or is there a better way?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Please contact Brian directly through the shop and he'll be happy to help. You can send him an e-mail or give him a call. He doesn't come around here much but he works in the shop most every day. Thanks.

[@jrcll7856]

what are your thoughts of tying a tippet ring on to your poly leader, like the furled leaders have..... to change tippet length or size

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Please send any and all questions directly over to the folks at the shop and they will be happy to help. You can e-mail them or call them. Thanks.

[@matthewshedden1818]

So if I typically fish dry fly on a 4x to 6x full leader I can replace buying all of those with one these and just using perfection loops to attach tippet?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

That is correct.

[@matthewshedden1818]

@@Madriveroutfitters I'm interested in purchasing that option but can't quite figure out which one it is

[@Madriveroutfitters]

@@matthewshedden1818 feel free to call the shop. They are always happy to help!

[@user-xi6sm4ce1s]

What tippet material do you use off the end of these poly leaders, for dry flies?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Our website tells you the "connector" diameter (think he does here as well) and then you would match the tippet to the size, weight and wind resistance of the fly. Just like any other fly. Thanks for watching and feel free to call the folks at the shop if any further questions.

[@jjjohnston54]

❤

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for being here.

[@allanstewart6894]

As a UK fly Fisherman this is all new to me, we all tie our own leaders here.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. The Airflo Poly leaders are made in Wales.

[@allanstewart6894]

@@Madriveroutfitters I know Airflo are made in Wales but you won't meet many anglers here you use bought leaders

[@rassiesmithiii2836]

Sorry for the typos.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@uncledaveswildride]

The state of Georgia thanks you for your product placement

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching and happy to help!

[@LinusCyrilBrown]

I love tying blood knots, haha.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Most of us do! Thanks for watching.

[@evans5803]

Any one that could help I’ve been using a 7’6 4wt shu fly trout traveler and I can’t cast more then 15ft at most I have 4wt fly line

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Please contact the folks at the shop and they will be happy to help. That’s what they do!!!

[@weisswurstfruhstuck8523]

These tippet rings are the worst. Cuts tippets also a lot of times. I use only micro swivels and they are the best option if you don’t want to learn too many knots and just can easily clinch knot a tippet and your streamer on. And off you go. Any metal rings or swivels I would avoid when dry fly fishing though! 😊

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@ruebdogg1]

Brian, the hair looks fabulous today!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

This was recorded a few months ago but he'll be happy to hear anyways. Surely it looks fabulous today as well?

[@ruebdogg1]

@@Madriveroutfitters what’s Brian’s secret to fabulous flowing hair, Gink? UV resin? Head cement?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

@@ruebdogg1 his parents and grandparents!

[@perrykomick9478]

​@@Madriveroutfittersas in his Mom and his Grandpa? Lol

[@pecosnick45]

Im on the furled leader program most of the time. Though I have a real hard time finding them with the shorb loop that I like. Would really appreciate if you guys started carrying them.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Please contact Brian or the folks at the shop directly and they can surely help.

[@garynicholson2855]

Furled all the way for dry fly fishing.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@bennyg6115]

Now you tell us

[@Madriveroutfitters]

He has before.

[@BobMorrisJr]

Would your recommend these furled leaders when using a dry dropper rig? Thanks!

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching. Please send any and all questions over to Brian via e-mail or you can give him a call at the shop. He doesn't monitor here but he certainly does there. He'll be happy to help.

[@jamessims5240]

1st comment. I didn’t Watch completely yet but I want to guess…it’s because the knots create drag?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Don't think he mentioned that?

[@jamessims5240]

@@Madriveroutfitters I took a stab. I didn’t hear that referenced either

[@CONEHEADDK]

@@jamessims5240 I never dry fly, so I'm not gonna watch. But that was my guess too.

[@morgancarmichael8313]

Is that a Palisade peach?

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Sorry but we have no intel on the peach. Thanks for watching though.

[@morgancarmichael8313]

@@Madriveroutfitters Just got into the game so really, the peach was my only connection. Learning a lot from your array of videos. Thanks for the quality content.

[@user-po7iv4ni3o]

You'd have to be intentionally not paying attention to tie two tapered leader sections together 😂

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Thanks for watching.

[@Eclipse1988]

Flyagra? 😂😂😂

[@Madriveroutfitters]

www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-6836-fly-agra.aspx

[@smctrout4423]

Every knot is a potential failure point.

[@Madriveroutfitters]

Don't think that is his reasoning here but thanks for watching.