Furled Leaders
- This topic has 19 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Aug 4, 2008 at 1:09 pm by
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Hey, Bill
I use them, but don’t make them.
They come made of Unithread, which you usually have to dress with Mucilin or some other floatant to keep it up. They also come in mono, which is what I use down in the hot south.
The leaders are made with a certain rating at the end, and you use a loop-to-loop to connect appropriate tippet. For instance, a 12-8-6 (I might have the numbers a little off, don’t have one in front of me) is the number of strands, say of 1lb. test, from the butt tapered down to about 6 strands or 6 pound total test at the loop, and a 6 lb or lighter tippet is appropriate.
That’s about all I think I understand technical-wise, but I love using them.
Best,
Roger Stouff
LouisianaBilly…I just have started using furled leaders this past summer and finding them to work really great.
Billy . . . Furled leaders can be great in certain situations and conditions. One thing to keep in mind is that this is “controversial topic” if there is such a thing in fly fishing (?). Two camps so to speak. One camp believes that furled leaders are nothing more than a casting crutch and used by poor casters who can’t turn over a fly with a standard leader. The other camp sees them as a great advance in leader material that allows you do things more efficiently. For example, up in Michigan on the the tributaries guys are using furled leaders for roll casting and catching some big trout. Actually, they are great for roll casting in general! Here in the south they haven’t caught on much and so you might hear guys talking them down.
I just started using a small furled leader on my 3wt 7′ fiberglass rod and it is a great setup. A pure joy to fish on the small mountain streams (both dry fly and nymphing, not streamers). If I’m by myself I put it on and have a good time, but if I’m out with my serious technical fishing buddies I usually use a more traditional setup. Admittedly, it’s still kind of a niche thing for me.
The article that Craig mentions from American Angler is an awesome reference to explore the use of furled leaders. To the best of my understanding, the leaders that the author shows you how to tie are not “true” furled leaders, but the concept is the same, and they are incredibly easy and economical to tie using this technique. I have never heard the argument of them being a crutch, but I can say that they will flat turn over a fly, so I dont have a problem with a little extra help here and there.
Craig,
I stand corrected. The wording in the title must have been what misled me. Great article, and I apologize for not realizing until after I posted that you were the author. I didn’t really have any trouble figuring it out from your article. It took one or two tries before the twisting method clicked with me, but once I figured it out, I realized how easy these things are to tie. It is an incredibly useful bit of information to have. For big bass flies there isn’t anything better. Thanks for sharing the information.Andrew
Craig . . . as I mentioned above, I just started using furled leaders and so far just a small setup on my 3wt fiberglass rod. In your experience (and others) are furled leaders better on any “specific” weight rods/lines. In other words, is a smaller furled leader less responsive than say one put on a 6wt? Just curious and it’s always good to hear from guys who have the knowledge. Also, what is “garden hackle”?
Also, can anyone tell me about furled leaders for bonefishing? Is it worth it, etc?
I use pretty much whatever I have at the time. With a little fooling around, almost anything will work. Hack out a piece of that, tie in a piece of this, you know. Sometimes I buy a bunch of tapered leaders on sale and redo the tippet end to get a better presentation. Saves me having to tie the whole think at home.
I have used both braided and furled leaders. Both turn over and roll cast with very little effort. Furled leaders are better than braded because they spray less on a pick-up. I have spooked the next fish down when picking up on a refusal for a new presentation with the spray from a braided leader.
An expert on furled leaders(besides Fly Goddess) in the south is Jack Hise. You can contact him over on http://www.flyanglersonline.com. Blue sky also sells them.
Bob
Craig,
Looks like the lack of specificity has reared its ugly head again…You speak of “we make,” and how “we” make.
I am a big fan of furled leaders for small mountain streams where the cast does not amount to much more than roll casting the leader.
Thanks Aaron,
Unlike some of the other posts to this thread yours at least has a point, any preference on the single malts.
MS
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