floating line/streamer leader question

[littlej81]

Anyone have any good formulas for leaders when fishing streamers using a floating line?

I've read on here and elsewhere that short leaders are good for sinking lines, but I doubt that is the case for floating lines.

[AaronJasper]

I use a level leader and two tungsten beaded streamers. I make the leader 3 times the average water depth that you are fishing. If you are fishing a stream with an average depth of two feet you should have six feet of leader to your first fly.

Hope that this works out for you!

[alanb_ct]

littlej81: A WF6 floating line will let you cast typical streamers using a 7.5ft leader tapered to about 2 or 3X. If you want to make your own, I think that 2ft of 20lb, followed by 3ft of 15lb, then about 2.5ft of 2X will work great. If you are using something with lead eyes, it will be harder to cast. Even in super shallow water, you might consider the lines with the intermediate clear tip. The mass in the tip acts like a shooting head and makes it far easier to cast bigger streamers.

[AaronJasper]

Alain,

Why would you use a tapered leader with streamers fished on a floating line? The streamers will not sink at all. The level leader is used for the same reason that one uses straight tippet after the indicator when fishing weighted nymphs, to decrease drag caused by surface currents. By using a leader with a heavy butt section you increase drag and decrease the effectiveness of the presentation. Yes the level leader is harder to cast, but it is neccesary in order to get the flies down without the use of a sink tip or a sinking leader.

[alanb_ct]

Aaron,

I recommended the taper just to help with the casting, since you don't have the benefit of the shooting head. If you are using a floating line, you probably are not looking to go very deep anyway, and the last 3X section might get you there. You're right, though, it won't sink like a level leader. Any wind-resistant streamer like a cougar might be hard to deliver with a long straight leader, at least for the average caster like me. I guess the choice of streamer (weighted or unweighted) plays a part.

For my rigs, I generally use a real short leader of heavy fluorocarbon, but I always use some weight sink tip or density-compensated line. Then again, I don't fish streamers that much, especially in the low fall water, so I am not an expert like you.

[Magnet]

Alain,
By the questioners screen name, I assume that he is a PA guy. He may have had high water recently which may have precipitated the question.
Secondly, I want to give you credit for helping so many of us on a variety of different topics. Your knowlege and willingness to share has been an integral part of TPO.This site consists of guys from all different levels. It is a place where we all can learn from those who have more experience than us. I know you appreciate this since you allude to as much in the last line of your response.

[Mantis]

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[Walshmiko]

I have always used 3x level for streamers, I honsetly dont think a taper is needed,But somtimes if a taper is rigged ill cut it down to the 3x sectiong add a few feet and fish..

[mike734]

For what it's worth when I fish streamers on my 200 grain sinking line I rig up 12" of 25 lb maxima to 18-24" of 15 lb fluoro. I "taper" it just so I'm not attaching 15lb small diameter fluoro to my fly line which I find awkward and makes for a poor knot. When your terminal tackle is so strong you want all other links to be stronger. So when I cast this setup into a tree and pull with all my might I either break the branch or break my fly off not my fly line connection. I'm yet to lose a streamer when fishing with 15 lb, I've pulled large limbs out of the stream bottom without snapping the tippet.

I digress, an extensively tapered leader is not necessary but a short tapering section I feel is necessary for example if you're fishing 2 ft of water like Aaron said I'd put a foot of 25lb maxima then maybe 5 ft of 15lb fluoro, or lighter fluoro if you're using small streamers. Also try a loop knot at the fly to allow for much more action to be imparted to the streamer even with super heavy tippet.

[rs0i]

This is the formula I was given:

Short leaders....approx 8 foot with floating lines.
4ft of 20lb maxima and 4ft of 10lb maxima ultra green. Attach the desired tippett.