Leader/Tippet Formulas for Trout

[Drewcastic]

I'm probably asking for trouble making the subject so broad, but I'm looking for suggestions based on setup strategies.

I just got my new rod/reel and I'm looking to pre-make a number of leader/tippets, I'd like to see what people use and try out some combinations.


If I can save some money making the leaders, that's even better.

If someone has a tried and true setup they like to use for a certain situation, please post!

For instance:

For roll casting small dries, I like to use this combo:

22-26 sz dries, XX# mono/fluoro (brand) 3' Butt, XX# mono/fluoro (brand) 3' Mid, 5x 3' tippet


Thanks!

-Drew

[AaronJasper]

Look up George Harvey "slack leader" for dry flies.

[Silver Creek]

http://fishfliesandwater.com/gear-ri...ers-for-trout/

[Drewcastic]

Thanks Aaron and Silver Creek..

A lot of information about George Harvey's slack tippet approach in the link as well.

Jason Borger's blog has a ton of helpful links on the right.. I didn't know what a Bow-and-Arrow cast was until I read it.

When making these stepped leaders by diameter, do you generally buy a whole lot of fluoro to match? For instance, buy Seaguar/PLine/Amnesia (or whatever) in a number of different diameters?

What tends to be people's favorite line brands for making leaders?

Seaguar Tatsu looks great, but at $40 for 200 yards, it's a bit pricey.. I hear a lot of talk about Seaguar's AbrazX fluoro, Maxima and Amnesia..

Any preferences?

[AaronJasper]

First off... do not cheap out on tippet. It's your last line of defense to the fish. If the tippet sucks, plain and simple, it will cost you fish. For me, tippet is the last thing to skimp out on. Get a rod and reel of lesser value before even thinking about getting a less expensive tippet. There are no real cheap alternatives. I will tell you that Davy does use P line, which is around 20 dollars a spool, which is the same as Invizx and Abrazx, but when he fishes and it counts, he breaks out the Flouroflex Plus. Why does he do that? Plain and simple, it's better. The diameter is true and it has a much higher break strength. I won't use anything else when I fish.

As for making the butt sections of the leader, I use 100 percent monofilament. There is no need for flourocarbon, nor would you need it to make the stiffer butt section of a leader. I use flourocarbon for fishing sub-surface, whether it's nymphs, wets or streamers. When I fish on the surface, I use monofilament.

[one2fish]

Here is a link to a website with enough hand tied leaders to keep you busy for a while. I have used a few and they work great.
http://www.tablerockangler.com/FlyFi...lp/tipList.cfm

Mark

[Silver Creek]

I agree with Aaron on tippets. If you look at strength vs diameter, mono or fluoro for fly fishing tippets has the greatest to strength diameter ratio. You can use lesser material for the the butt and mid leader section if you want. Just make sure the stiffness to diameter is what you want for leader turnover.

Another key is to use good knots. If you use good knots, the tippet or the tippet knot should be the weakest link. If the tippet is the weakest link, shouldn't you use the strongest material per diameter IF that strength is needed?

If you don't need the absolute strongest material because of the type of fishing you are using such as for panfish or smaller trout, then by all means use the cheaper stuff. But when I am going for tough larger fish, I use the strongest and best stuff even if it cost more.

[FK]

I vote +1 on the Rio Flouroflex Plus, it is the most reliable tippet material I have used.

http://www.rioproducts.com/product.php?recKey=58

Knots are seldom discussed with leader/tippets, they can be critical to the performance of your gear.

This book is well worth the $$ and will help enormously in understand knots and how to properly tie them

http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/b...ts_review.aspx

Regards,
FK

[Drewcastic]

I was considering picking up this kit:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te....form23&Go.x=0

I generally buy Umpqua tapered leaders (5x, 7.5 ft) and use Suppleflex Rio tippet (I'll have to look at the specs when I get home)

Buying the aforementioned kit looks like it'll give me a little more selection/flexibility, as well as being cheaper than continually buying leaders.

It's sounding like the Rio fluoroflex is the better way to go..

What knots do you use? I use a Nail-knot from line to leader, double-surgeon's knot from leader to tippet and then a Davy knot from tippet to fly.

[SherpaB]

I have been using a couple of leader formulas. I really like the Borger Uni-Leader formula for nymphing. It consists basically of >020(4ft), 013(1ft) and 2x(3-4ft),then the tippet of your choice. It turns over pretty well using Maxima for the first two sections, the 2x and tippet (4x-6x) is a soft mono or flouro. It keeps me from having to buy a butt load of spools. The newest dryfly leader I am using is a 4ft section of 20lb amnesia, a 2ft section of 15lb clear amnesia and then tapering down with 2ft of 2x, 1ft of 4x then a 2or 3 ft tippet. Ive only had the chance to use it a couple of times but its seems to be working well. My all time favorite dry fly leader is the Harvey formula...if you are thinking of tying that formula-definitely get the Umpqua kit you will need all those sizes. For my euro nymphing adventures Im pretty much going with Czech and Polish styles right now...so I have a 200 meter spool of Pline 4lb for that and a couple smaller spools for the 5x and 6x(flouroflex).
As an afterthought-I have been tying my own leaders exclusively for the last five years. I am not sure but I think Ive saved a lot of money as there are no more $1.99 leaders to buy anymore-its as much to do with the crazy cost of premade leaders as anything( at least initially). Now that I am thinking about leaders I think I have become a better fisherman because it causes you to "think through" the fishing situation.