Tapered Leader
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 THE IRON WOLFF MYSTIC CREEK FURLED LEADER  US $6.99
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 THE RED BUMBLE BEE UNI BLEND FURLED LEADER US $4.99
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 Saltwater Flyfishing line leaders 0X for Tarpon etc US $9.99
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 Pflueger Purist Graphite Fly Reel Up to 7 Fly Line US $1.04
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 4 New Packs Fly Fishing Knotless Tapered Leaders 7 1 2 5 Lb Test US $3.88
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 4 New 9 BlackHawk 4 Lb Test Knotless Tapered Leaders US $3.88
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 SHAKESPEARE FLY ROD AND FLY REEL COMBOS US $31.00
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 THE IRON WOLFF UNI BLEND FURLED LEADER US $5.99
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 THE RED WOLFF MYSTIC CREEK FURLED LEADER US $6.99
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 NEW Rio Spey 10 ft VersiLeader Floating Free Shipping US $12.50
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 NEW Rio Spey 10 ft VersiLeader 39IPS Free Shipping US $12.50
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 CRYSTAL RIVER FLY Fishing Combo ROD REEL LINE Tackle NIP US $23.99
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 LOT of Fly Fishing gear from estate Rod Reel Flies lines leaders LQQK US $49.99
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 Fly Line Braided Leader Loop Connectors US $6.99
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 Orvis Mirage Striper Leaders 7 1 2ft 12 2 packs US $.99
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 Scott S4 590 4 9 5wt Fly Rod 905 4 Leland Upgrade US $365.00
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 Scott S4 490 4 9 4wt Fly Rod 904 4 Leland Upgrade US $270.00
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 South Bend Midget Pike Oreno 955 SF Fishing Lure US $9.00
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 Scott A4 8wt 96 4pc fly rod with Lamson Velocity Reel Free Shipping US $625.00
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 THE BROWN RECLUSE UNI BLEND FURLED LEADER US $5.99
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 THE MAROON MAYFLY UNI BLEND FURLED LEADER US $5.99
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 THE BLACK WOLFF MYSTIC CREEK FURLED LEADER US $6.99
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 GUIDELINE KISPIOX FLY FISHING KIT US $216.00
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 Anglers Ace Blood Knot Tool for leader tippet line mono fluorocarbon flyfishing US $12.00
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 Fly Logic 8 9 Weight 3 pc Fishing Graphite Rod Tube Reel 8wt Line Combo Kit USA US $324.99
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 Cabelas Prestige Leader Custom Tapered Nymph Leader 7X US $.99
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| The Outdoors Advice Blog |
How do I make a flyfishing leader line for a 7/8 wt. rod and 7 wt. line and #1 to 1/0 flys?
I'm new to flyfishing and I finally got my rod, reel, backing, and line setup today. I know you can buy tapered leader line or you can make your own. I am ordering leader line, but I want to get started tomorrow and their is no nearby shops where I can buy one pre-made.
So from my understanding you make it by tying different monofilament lines together, where it goes from longest AND largest pound-test down until you get to a certain size. There's a shop that'll pretty much do this for me for next-to no price.
My problem is I don't know what pound-test lines I need and how long they should be.
Fly fishing tackle has four parts: backing, flyline, leader, and tippet. You seem to understand backing and flyline. Leader is (as one answerer here on Y!A once put it) the "invisible barrier" between you and the fly. On the end of the leader is tippet, which is more clear line, usually the same linestrength as the end of your leader. Tippet is the "disposable" part of your line -- you use it up tying on flies so that you don't eat into your leader.
You don't have a tapered leader, so you want to make your own. That's great and perfectly do-able. For a beginning fly angler with a 7/8 wt rod, I'd recommend a 7-foot leader, though as you get better at casting you'll want to move up to a 9 or 12 foot leader. So, 7 feet of leader from your line to your tippet. I would recommend that you taper in three steps if possible -- from about 8 pounds down to 4 pounds. If you could do this in three steps, that'd be optimal. The taper allows the energy in your cast to dissipate in a way that straightens out your leader and lets it cast flat out onto the water. If you can taper this in three sections with very small, tight knots, I think that'd be best -- 8 lb., 6 lb., 4 lb., in roughly 2.5-foot lengths.
To join them I'd recommend a surgeon's knot:
http://www.animatedknots.com/surgeonsjoin/index.php
If there's any way you could get some "real" tippet (about 4x or 5x) , I think your experience will be better. Get tippet that is the same linestrength or slightly lighter than the line at the end of your homemade leader. If you can't get real tippet, just use another 18-inch length of 4-pound test for your tippet. Use this to tie on flies, and when you run out, tie on another length. That way you don't use as much of your leader.
This will get you started, but be advised that using "real" leader is much more satisfactory. It tapers evenly, gives you better distance, and will not have knots that may spook or distract fish.
One more thing -- your leader will look like a big slinky after it's been on the spool and then on your reel for a while. In spincasting you don't care much about line memory -- you just let it work itself out as you cast and retrieve. In fly fishing, you want to get that memory out of the leader BEFORE you fish. Pull the leader through your hands a bunch of times to warm it up and ease that memory. You want it nice and straight with no loops or coiling in it. You can also pull the line through some cloth (like a pinch of your shirt or vest), and they even make a little gizmo made of leather that does the same thing.
