Leader question

[Wuluf]

What type of leaders are preferred? Do you buy a tapered leader or makeyourown? If you make it, then what is your recipe?

[islander]

Make em because it's cheaper.
Formula is simple:
-The butt section is half the entire length of the leader 40 lb. test (I use 12 ft. leader, so in this case 6ft. Of 40lb.).
-Half the length of the butt section 30lb. (3 feet).
-Half the length if section 2, 20 lb. (1.5 feet).
-Tippet.

I cant tie a blood knot for some reason, so I bought a little Dennison leader making vice off ebay. It's cheap and it helps alot. I attach the tippet with a surgeons knot.

[Wuluf]

Great! What type of tippet do you use for reds?

[ChrisR]

I buy tapered mono leaders, and attach a flouro bite tippet. Sometimes, I'll tie on another section of mono tippet when the tapered leader getrs clipped down a little too long. I know it costs less to make your own, but one leader typically lasts a pretty long time for me, so the cost isn't a huge factor in my mind. I think the leaders that I buy are only $3.

[Evan]

All great advice so far. Take time to learn the Blood Knot if you don't know it already, as the connection it makes is far more streamlined and reliable than the Surgeon's Loop, etc and is useful no matter what type of leader setup you choose. Apply some chapstick to the knot before tightening if you have trouble joining 40# to 30#. For larger flies and setups, you may need to use 50# mono for the butt section.

I always use 20# fluoro for Reds, even when sightfishing spooky fish in clear water. If they don't eat the fly, it's most likely a presentation issue, not a tippet size issue.

[dunfly]

I tie my own. Tapered leaders are nice, but they are a waste of money in saltwater IMHO. My recipe for floating lines is 4 feet of 30# hard mason mono butt section, 3 feet of 20# hard mason mono for the middle section and 2+ feet of 12# fluorocarbon for the end section. For reds and trout I use the 12# end section as the tippet. For other species I may tie on a bite tippet of about 25# fluorocarbon.

For sink tip lines (I use clear tip) I just use a 5 foot section of 25# fluorocarbon with a 12# fluorcarbon tippet. I may add a bite tippet depending on species.

[BearsFan]

Be sure to use fluoro or hard mono.

[Offlander]

Be sure to use fluoro or hard mono.

I under stand fluoro. Why hard mono?

[Wuluf]

My attempt at a blood knot was terrible. I used a uni to uni until my blood knot is serviceable. I also dabbed a little super glue on the knot for strength. Hopefully super glue doesn't degrade the line.

[Evan]

Uni to uni is a strong but sloppy knot. It doesn't transfer energy quite as well and tends to snag more grass. Still, I'm sure that it will work just fine. Superglue shouldn't be necessary either way.

[Captain Hugh]

Answer to former question. Why hard Mono? Hard Mono lays out strighter and helps flip the fly at the end of the cast. It is however harder to tie.

[Rik]

It doesn't transfer energy quite as well

Huh?

[Evan]

It doesn't transfer energy quite as well

Huh?

Blood knots are smaller and tighter, and have less "hinging" effect than uni knots. If you don't believe me, try it. Tie two fly leaders using the exact same materials and proportions, but use uni-to-uni knots on one and blood knots on the other. See which one turns over better.

[islander]

My attempt at a blood knot was terrible. I used a uni to uni until my blood knot is serviceable. I also dabbed a little super glue on the knot for strength. Hopefully super glue doesn't degrade the line.

The Dennison vice is a godsend, I tell you!

[BearsFan]

Another good thing to use is the search function.

[Wuluf]

looking up that little ditty right now.