Hand tied leaders: why and how!

A question I get all the time is why I use hand tied leaders. I will try not to get too involved but still answer the question. I like things to work as well as they can. I do not feel that a leader manufacturer can make a leader to function on all rods properly.
If you take a look at the leader formulas you will find that there is room to tune your leader. Start with a standard 9’ 4X leader and you are casting a soft rod. You may want to shorten the butt section and lengthen the tippet, by as much as 6” this will soften the 4X leader. On the other hand dif you are casting a performance rod you may choose to shorten the tippet and lengthen the butt section.

That is one reason I tie my leaders, the second reason is they are much cheaper. If you do not want to tie you own, Think about buying 7 ½” leaders one or two sizes heavier and adding tippet. This gives a base leader to work off of that tells you when to add more tippet.
One other tip I have is when you add tippet or tie your leaders up, try the Loon Outdoors Knot Sense Glue. This is a UV set glue that covers the knot so nothing can hang up on the knot.
Think about trying a hand tied leader. You can check out the leader formula’s at: www.froghairfishing.com and the loon Knot sense at, www.loonoutdoors.com



Best fishes Mike

Hey Mike,

how are you? it's been a while since I last checked this forum. I bought a Frog Hair leader tying kit back in April. I've been using my hand tied leaders all summer and I like them a lot. It improved my fishing immensely. I used to buy a knot less 9ft 5x leader and I would use it on every situation, casting dry, nymph, and even streamer! After a few casts, my leader would get messed up either by wind knots, or twisting. Then, it would eventually get break off. I was thinking, "men! my casting sucks!" I did not know any better.
Now I change my leaders according to the fly I cast; a 9ft 3x for a sz 8 hopper, a 9ft 6x for 22bwo, 7 ft1x for smallies, etc. I cast a lot better(more accurate) and spend less time fixing my leader, therefore more time catching fish. I understand what a leader do, now I make it myself.
I carry more than 6 different leaders in my leader wallet. It's pretty easy and fun tying leaders also. It's great when I cannot go fishing or when I cannot tye fly because my wife ocupies my vise. My favorit one is a 9ft 5x slack leader. It works great on selective fish in slow water.

cheers!
p.s. I will try a knot glue by Loon

When fishing on moving water--on all but the most challenging streams--I use the same basic knotless leader. I start with a good quality 7½' 4X, to which I add about 3' of 4X, or 5X or 6X, depending on the circumstances.

On streams that hold ultra-selective fish, I generally go to a 9' leader, adding the appropriate-size tippet as stated above.

I have never found an occasion that required adding any size or length to the butt section. In my opinion, most modern knotless tapered leaders do an excellent job of effectively delivering the fly to the target.

~Emerger

Brookbow and Emerger,
Glad to hear from both of you. What I found about leaders is that if it works don't fix it! But due to the fact that I can never leave thing alone, I started changing things and discovered some pretty neat things. Yes it did help my casting! (I need all the help I can get) It also gave me an understanding of leaders that I never even thought about before. All I can say is give it some thought and keep an open mind. Mike

Mike - The important thing is how it works for you. If it does, go it!

~Emerger

Hello Everyone,

I started tying my own leaders this early spring. It helped out my cast as well. I already had a great cast and knew how to use my rod as a finely crafted tool. I started to tie my own leaders in order to save money and get a better handle on casting large flies. But once I started tying my own I greatly realized how important a properly built leader is. I started looking for new specialized leader recipes and making many leaders with the Umpqua leader kit I bought. This leader kit cost me $45 and greatly improved my accuracy during casting. I would encourage any serious fly fisherman to tie at least a few of his or her leaders, I feel it makes you a better fisherman, no different than tying your own flies makes you a better fisherman. Knowing how to do both gives you greater knowledge about the sport and makes you more successful.

-Chad

bumpsy

Thank you very much for the reply and the referencing. MY biggest concern about doing it was the initial cost, but after running some numbers, I will be saving HUGE in the long run. My other concern was things getting caught up on the knots in the leader and tippet, but the glue idea sounds like a great idea to prevent some of the weeds and the like from clinging!

Thanks for the information!

most definitely a concern on weeds or algae etc clinging to the knots on the hand tied leaders , I mostly use tapered flouro & mono leaders for that reason - the waters I fish are often times heavy with the snot and cleaning your fly every cast is mandatory. Tooodles. B.D.

any thoughts on how to prevent this on hand tied leaders? The glue idea sounds like something that might just work?

Yes it helps -a lil drop will dewya but I'm a lazy tapered leader type of angler. G luck. B.D.