How to make a furled leader

I have been researching furled leaders for the last few years. Every time I commit to figuring it out I am always overwhelmed in the complexity of the instructions. What I found is that the process is elementary simple but is quite difficult to explain.
I have boiled the process down to these summary instructions:
1. Wrap 6/0 uni thread around two fixed objects ~2.1x longer than your goal length.
2. Connect to a drill and spin clockwise until it begins to curl up on itself when tension is removed.
3. Fold the leader in half, and spin counterclockwise until it again begins to just start to curl on itself.
4. Insert a paper clip or similar in each end and let unfurl slowly
5. Tie a loop in each end, perfection loop is the easiest to begin with but work towards the shorb loop as it is much cleaner.
Full Detail at WesternFlys.com

[@paulepruss]

Thanks for this vid. I now make all my Tenkara level furled leaders this way. Where I fish, it's often too windy for the combination of my casting ability and even #4 fluro level line and this line (6/0) is perfect. I have made 14,11 and 6 foot leaders and attached tippet rings. Great demo!

[@DaveFer]

I love that ur using fly tying thread for your furled leaders. I started doing this in 2016 and “pro” fly fishers told me it would last about 2-3 days of fishing. 2 years later I caught a water-body-record carp on same leader. A year after that I caught several 19”-20” LMB on lake Travis (TX) on same leader. 7 years later, same leader shows 0 signs of wear and got me into some big-ass, hard-fighting Cuttbows up here in CO.

[@WesternFlys]

Awesome!

[@HudsonHaines]

I'd love to see a video on how to create the colored sections so seamlessly like in the picture you have in the beginning.

[@johnpatrickrivera]

... good work on the video ... thumbs up ... I liked it ... the simplicity of the demonstration is commendable ...

[@WesternFlys]

Thank you. I really need to get to work on part II. Life got in the way right after I made this.

[@chriswalport2979]

Would be real nice if you could make a 12 foot Farrelled tapered leader. The video on the short one was very good to show the process but myself among others would probably learn better if it was a full-length 12-foot for the tenkara rod.

[@What_If_We_Tried]

Excellent tutorial, and very easy to follow. Thank-you...

[@mikehuntsmels9680]

i made this without a jig and just with a drill and i did a 11 ft one, its so satisfying to do things on you own

[@johnsnotyours12345]

How did you tie it off at 2.21?

[@Danzchannel1]

Can you make a video showing how to make a tapered leader? Say for a 5wt fly line. That would be awesome! There are none on youtube.

[@akadventurer3165]

How'd you tie off after the 4 wraps?

[@fernandonieves2182]

EXCELLLENT WORK,GREAT STUFF

[@stonefly8622]

Nice Work! Greetings from Austria!

[@rinaldozbinden3999]

hope to see the multicolor Video soon...

[@pauljenkins5698]

hello great video very helpful can u tell me how you join the tapered furled leader sections together cheers

[@WesternFlys]

To taper a leader you use the jig and make loops so there are really no connections it is a bunch of loops connected together with one continuous thread. At the back of the leader you might have like 8-10 loops at the tip you might only have three strands. I count each strand at about 1-2 pounds for 8-0 and 6-0 thread respectively.

[@robbiesflytyingchannel]

Very cool video! Keep up the good work.....

[@DntBrnDPig]

So if you were going to make a tapered leader, you would just do this 3 times.. each time stepping down thread thickness (or initial loops) and nail not them together?

[@wyominggundogs9289]

DntBrnDPig you wrap a section, then move to next section wrapping threw loop made by first section, repeat, usually five sections tuning (furrel)the two and a half on each other. finish with shorb loops

[@brandoncoates1660]

Very cool! About how many 7 footers do you get from a spool of thread? I picked up one of these from cutthroatfurledleaders.com in Boise recently. I would like to make my own maybe someday but for now $13 isn't bad. Mine has a tippet ring tied in too.

[@BlackWarriorLures]

Hey, school me up. What do furled leaders do that tapared/tied mono leaders don't?

[@nichtverstehen2045]

they cost arm and leg and there is no way to untie a wind knot if it happens. knotless tapered leaders cost much less and are better in any imaginable way.

[@TimmyTbone33]

Great video!!!

[@WesternFlys]

Thanks Tim. I hope it was helpful.

[@okrek6]

Is there a way that you could get a tippet ring on one of these?

[@crt1983uk]

Brendan Krekeler Yes, just add it to the line the last time that you double it over. I'm not sure if you would twist the line by putting the drill paper clip through the tippet ring or through the leader though.

[@petek1pml746]

How long do furled leaders last when compared to mono or flouro? Great video thanks for. Posting

[@WesternFlys]

I guess I would have to say about 2x as long. Thanks for watching!

[@flyguy807]

Depends how much you use them, and, how rough you are with trees, rocks and other snags. I make mine with either 4,6,or 8 lb Trilene XL. Tapers usually ratio in 3 sections at 8 : 5 : 2 for 6 foot leaders or 11: 9 : 7 : 5 for 10 footers. A micro barrel swivel or loop on the heavy end and tippet ring on the light end. I have the 32 to 8 tapered on my 5wt,8ft rod , which I use regularly , and will usually get 80 to 100 hours on before repairs or replacement. Useing an 88lb to 40lb 10ft leader for Musky, or pike ( trolling) or casting big stripers averagesaround the same hours. A little less if the musky are hitting really good ; maybe 40 hours.There are a lot of variables,but, mine last a longtime better than anythi g madewith tying thread.

[@Sportmanfun]

I didnt see how you attached the 6/0 at the beginning. After winding 4 times around the "fixed points" and back at the hook?

[@brianwetter4898]

I just use an overhand knot or a figure of eight knot.

[@Sportmanfun]

Brian Wetter Aha,like so. About 15 year or so,a friend and flycast intructor gave me a very old drawing with intstructions how to make tapered leaders. Twined or in dutch: "getwijnde" leaders. And I was told it was about 100 years old these intructions. I made a really set up from planks with headless nails,to wind the nylon around the nails. After a few missers,I made very good tapered leaders.knotless and very durable. I could make them in different thicknes and lengths. But over the years I moved a few times and lost it. Don't know from the top of my head,didn't do it enough for to remember. So,I found my interest again when I saw your yt video. Thanks for that. People loved them or hated them I know. I:I fish with or without. Got 2 for free when I bought something at a webshop lately. Do you have a vid where you make the tapered ones? Thanks again. Cheers.

[@brianwetter4898]

I need to do that video soon! I was shocked to see the number of views but it is very muck like you are descibing.

[@marcelostrzelecki3892]

What type of line do you use to make this braided fishing line? Thanks.

[@WesternFlys]

As shown in the video I used UNI-Thread 6/0 or 8/0. I have also used very light mono around 2# works.

[@marcelostrzelecki3892]

@@WesternFlys Thanks.

[@troutmc1000]

Would love to see you make a full tapered leader

[@WesternFlys]

+patrick mc carthy I promise it is coming soon. I need to just sit down and do it, they are easy to make but filming the process is another thing. I may do a miniaturized version for illustration purposes. Apologies for not being more on the ball on this one.

[@CECS1]

+WesternFlys I agree with you on the difficulties of following worded text. Please do make a video on tapered leaders. Thanks

[@troutmc1000]

WesternFlys did you ever do that video

[@cudazi]

I'd also love to see a tapered version, some people at my local makerspace were talking about doing this, but not finding a good video to follow

[@tevahbuchanan5303]

Where can I find the plans for a jig to make a tapered furled line

[@brianwetter4898]

This is the version I used their are others out there. I used a 1x8 and some dowell. www.peninsulaflyfishers.org/page-1430061

[@tevahbuchanan5303]

@@brianwetter4898 thank you!

[@abahmufishing]

Nice bro thanks

[@Flyfishindog]

So is this a tapered leader? How so you make a tapered leader?

[@WesternFlys]

This is a completely flat leader which would really only be applicable as a butt section or as a Tenkara main line which is what I use this technique for. Coming out of the gate with the tapered leaders gets complicated so I meant this to be a part 1 to explain the basics of furling that were difficult for me to find when learning.

[@83JustSomeGuy]

I tried putting info on this guy's blog about furled tapered leaders. The comment either is in limbo to get approved or was rejected - which I found to be quite odd. Feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll give you a great resource for making your own furled tapered leaders.

[@kraa7754]

T.K. Archibald pls send me link or whatever so i can try to make a tapered leader :)

[@83JustSomeGuy]

***** ***** PM's sent :-) Happy fishing.

[@83JustSomeGuy]

Great! As I said, feel free to ask any questions and I'm happy to help. It's pretty simple when it's all said and done.

[@goingfishin]

dammit boy...I`m so lost...not my kind of fishing. much respect though for your fly fishing style and skill set. tight lines...

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

One day I will own an epic fly rod.

[@WesternFlys]

I enjoy them all, the nice ones are indeed nice. I got my first Winston a few years ago and really enjoy my days with it. I am probably stopping short of bamboo although I am also careful not to take one for a test drive.

[@superiorflycompany8217]

not a complete tutorial

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

this is really a waste of showing how to do a fueled leader. this doesn't show anything but how to twist thread.