Leaders

[Paulson]

Another leader question...How do you straighten your leaders out from the package. I feel safe saying it has caused a few birds nests is places I didn't know they made nests.

 

[sroach]

Paulson,

Depending on the material, if it's typical leader then you can run your fingers down the length and "warm" it up, they do sell line straightens which I believe are two flaps of leather or some other material that you can run the line through.

Furled leaders don't have this problem, or at least in my limited experience.

 

[pcray1231]

I use Maxima chameleon as the butt and front end of the taper. I just pull hard, it stretches, and when it recovers it's straight.

The softer tippet ends of my leaders don't seem to have the memory issues. So that's all I really need to do.

 

[Paulson]

Thanks guys, I had to cut off about 2 feet off a fresh one today trying to quick swap out of my flouro rig.

It seems to be the butt section that gets it the worse.

 

[snag]

Paulson,
Are you turning your leaders into a bird's nest trying to unpackage them? If so, try putting a few fingers inside the spool of leader and slowly unwind it from around your fingers.

 

[wildbrooky]

I personally never uses tippet rings. I just never got into them. But I typically use a 9' or 7.5 5x leader and cut this down to where the diameter is equal to the 2x tippet you have. I use 2-3 ft 2x, 2-3 ft 4x, then 2 ft 5x to the top fly then the droppers depends on situation or technique used. The vary in lengths depend on what type of fishing and rod being used.

I try to re-tie onto the 2x portion with the 4x when the tippet is running low. I only ever have to change my tapered section once every year or slightly before that depending on how my leader gets treated over that time.

 

[geebee]

has anyone ever had a tippet ring fail ?

and i just use 3ft of 30lb mono nail knotted to the flyline and then triple surgeons knot 6 or 8ft of fluoro tippet for my nymphing and streamer work.

i do have some rio leaders which are good for dry fly work - incidently an orvis guy told me never to buy their leaders as they are too stiff...

 

[WildTigerTrout]

geebee wrote:
has anyone ever had a tippet ring fail ?

and i just use 3ft of 30lb mono nail knotted to the flyline and then triple surgeons knot 6 or 8ft of fluoro tippet for my nymphing and streamer work.

i do have some rio leaders which are good for dry fly work - incidently an orvis guy told me never to buy their leaders as they are too stiff...

I have used tippet rings on my hand made leaders for quite some time and have NEVER had a failure due to the tippet ring.