timmyt wrote:
I have been a ff'er for about 10 years now but I never really got past beginner skill level with nymphing. Looking to up my game and i want to tie some flouro leaders up for a couple outings i have planned.
I will be fishing these leaders on a 9' 6 wt rod. I also fish dries with this rod on tapered mono leaders. Often when nymphing i have tried to use these same tapered mono leaders and after doing some research and reading i believe this is a big part of my issue
Additional input is also always welcome, thank you!
Buying a fluoro leader for nymphing probably isn't the answer to improve your nymphing skills. In fact, it may do more harm than good. The last thing you want is for the tapered (thicker) part of your leader to do is sink. The bigger diameter of line drifting and submerged in the water, the more drag is imparted to your fly. This is true if you fish with or even without an indicator. In Euro nymphing or high-sticking you want everything from the sighter and above to either float or not even touch the water.
My suggestion, as a beginner, is to use a floating indicator. The mistake I see most anglers make is to attach their indicator high up on a tapered leader into the thicker tapered section.
I've even seen indies placed right at the fly line / leader junction or a foot or two from the end of the fly line.
Like a stated above, the heavier line will cause your fly to drag.
Also, the indie being attached to the heavier, stiffer line will cause you indy to drag.
Plus, being attached to the heavy line will make your indy less sensitive to subtle strikes by the fish.
And finally, with the indy and fly line being so close together, both your indy and fly line will float over the fish and spook many of them.
^ All bad things.
Try using your standard mono 7.5 - 9' tapered leader. > remember, you want your leader to
float to be able to mend to your indy and not cause drag.
Attach a long tippet that's about twice the depth of the water.
Using a fluoro tippet may help since it sinks a litter faster and is likely more abrasion resistant than mono, but not mandatory.
Attach your indy on the tippet or close to the end of the leader that's very thin diameter similar to your tippet.
Adjust your rig from there > 1.5 - 2x the water depth.
Having only the thin tippet material submerged with the tapered leader and fly line floating > will give you less drag on the flies > less drag on the indy > more strike-detecting ability > as well a small indy floating over the fish and not your entire fly line will spook less fish.
Oh and don't forget to mend to the indy to get a good drift and a longer drift. Give it a try.
Good luck.