Good rod specs for small streams, native brookies

[TimMurphy]

I'll have to consider using shorter leaders then. It seems the 9ft premades are very common, but I suppose I'll have to make my own if I want a specific length.

I've decided to make this build a 3wt, 7.5ft. With that in mind, what length of leader should I make for the small stream situation? Do you have a formula you can recommend? Is there any brand of mono you prefer?

Fwiw the one part of my set up I wasn't worried about is fly size. Brookies are hungry and the little guys will readily hit on a spoon nearly their own size. I had no trouble getting them to bite down on my nymphs. Just couldn't get them to stay on there while stripping in!

Dear SleepySheep,

Just buy a 4 1/2-foot furled thread leader with a tippet ring and add 3 feet of tippet. For small stream brook trout fishing anything else is just a waste of time and effort.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[wildtrout2]

Just buy a 4 1/2-foot furled thread leader with a tippet ring and add 3 feet of tippet. For small stream brook trout fishing anything else is just a waste of time and effort.

Ther you go! I just start out with a 7.5' tapered leader. Then, when I lose enough length from changing flies, I tie on a tippet ring with 3' of tippet. The original leader butt section and ring stay for the rest of the season.
I just use 4lb test straight mono as tippet, it's MUCH cheaper in the long run.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I'm pretty handy with a uni-uni knot, I tie them all the time. Is there an advantage to the blood knot over a double uni?

I've only used a double uni-knot to tie ropes together. I only know the blood knot is easier to tie while seated in a comfortable chair at home than at streamside. Most of my in-field leader repairs use a double surgeon's knot, unless the lighting is right.

 

[SleepySheep]

Dear SleepySheep,

Just buy a 4 1/2-foot furled thread leader with a tippet ring and add 3 feet of tippet. For small stream brook trout fishing anything else is just a waste of time and effort.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

I've only used a furled line on a tenkara rod before. It was made out of some kind of nice supple material. I bought a mono furled leader to try it out and it was really stiff and kinky in comparison.

What material would you suggest in a furled leader for a western fly rod?

 

[JeffK]

I made a furling jig once but have gone back to mono leaders. That said, the supplest furled leaders I made were from tying thread.

 

[Bamboozle]

I've only used a furled line on a tenkara rod before. It was made out of some kind of nice supple material. I bought a mono furled leader to try it out and it was really stiff and kinky in comparison.

What material would you suggest in a furled leader for a western fly rod?

The standard was UNI fly tying thread because it is bonded and polyester so it is soft & pliable, I'm not sure what size, but probably 6/0.

The first furled leaders I tried were mono and I hated everything about them. Shortly thereafter I tried thread furled leaders and never looked back. They float great if you grease them and don't twist up as badly as mono or fluoro furled leaders.

I buy 3 foot and 7 foot versions with the smallest tippet ring I can get, usually 1.5mm. I won't buy a leader with a tippet ring bigger than 2.00mm, it is just a hang up of mine.

Maybe that's because the first furled leaders I used was BEFORE folks started using tippet rings so they had a small Shorb loop on the tippet end.

I always tie a short transition section, and sometimes two to the tippet ring and knot my tippet to that. I'm not in the "just add tippet" to the furled part of the leader camp because if I'm really not into super long tippets for a lot of reasons.

 

[SleepySheep]

The standard was UNI fly tying thread because it is bonded and polyester so it is soft & pliable, I'm not sure what size, but probably 6/0.

The first furled leaders I tried were mono and I hated everything about them. Shortly thereafter I tried thread furled leaders and never looked back. They float great if you grease them and don't twist up as badly as mono or fluoro furled leaders.

I buy 3 foot and 7 foot versions with the smallest tippet ring I can get, usually 1.5mm. I won't buy a leader with a tippet ring bigger than 2.00mm, it is just a hang up of mine.

Maybe that's because the first furled leaders I used was BEFORE folks started using tippet rings so they had a small Shorb loop on the tippet end.

I always tie a short transition section, and sometimes two to the tippet ring and knot my tippet to that. I'm not in the "just add tippet" to the furled part of the leader camp because if I'm really not into super long tippets for a lot of reasons.

If I'm using a 7.5' 3wt, does the 5' version of this leader seem viable? https://www.clearstreamflyfishing.c...roducts/uni-thread-small-stream-furled-leader

Also, what would you recommend greasing it with? Is there a specific sort that, once 'cured' on the line, won't leave an oily slick on the water?