Leader questions

[goose]

I am so confused....:passout:boughten tapered leader or homemade? What is 6x,5x,etc.. I know that it is the diameter, but can you get ie, 5x that is 3lb or 5lb, or 10lb test?
Do I even need a tapered leader if I am nymphing? I do use a 10ft tapered if I am swinging. Is that right?
Now I know there are many questions not asked and not enough information given, and it may be too complicated for here, but if somebody can tell me where to find some reading or video.. I will soak it up.
thanks////:)

[kilchisfisher]

I did a lot of googling and reading, plus bought a basic book. Really helped answer these types of questions. The link below is to one such site, there are others out there. A local fly shop can answer questions, too.

I'm a newby this summer, and would recommend buying tapered leaders if you are too. Simple and easy to get started. Based on discussions in the archives it appears there's more to making homemade leaders than simply tying line together.

The little nymphing I've done was with 7 and 9 foot tapered leaders with a section of tippet, although I've gone to a 4X leader/tippet as I have snapped off a few flies :whistle:with 5X.

Hope this helps.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/

http://www.flyfishinggear.info/how_to/nymph-fishing-advanced-methods.shtm

[goose]

thank you.. I will go to those links.. thank you..

[Wild Chrome]

I don't think tapered leaders are necessary unless you are fishing around a lot of weeds (and don't want the knots to catch). I usually tie my own with 3 different 3 foot sections of Maxima, connected by surgeon's knots. (I hate tying blood knots)

[Wild Chrome]

I just read a section of an old steelheading book in which Frank Amato stated he always ties his own steelhead leaders using 5 feet of stiff 25# leader, 2 feet of 15# and 2 feet of 6-12 #. He recommended either blood or surgeons knots.

[Trout]

The leader question is pretty complicated. As the number of x gets larger, the tippet gets thinner and weaker. There will be some discrepancy in lb test between manufacturers and between leader materials.

As far as what leader to use when, that is a big part of learning to fly fish. Sometimes, what leader you use and how it is constructed is more important that which fly you pull out of the box. Enjoy this learning process.

I would recommend checking out some of the tutorials and google books available online. A 9 ft 4x tapered leader will be a good starting point for most trout fishing. For swinging streamers, what wild chrome has suggested sounds about right - maybe a little on the long side.

[surfnfish]

I am so confused....:passout:boughten tapered leader or homemade? What is 6x,5x,etc.. I know that it is the diameter, but can you get ie, 5x that is 3lb or 5lb, or 10lb test?
Do I even need a tapered leader if I am nymphing? I do use a 10ft tapered if I am swinging. Is that right?
Now I know there are many questions not asked and not enough information given, and it may be too complicated for here, but if somebody can tell me where to find some reading or video.. I will soak it up.
thanks////:)

The advantage of tapered leaders is they turn over correctly - makes casting much easier. If a home built leader is not built to the correct formula, it will either collapse or not land correctly.

A standard dry fly leader is 9', usually 4x, to which you can add from 1 to 3' of tippet, down to 6x for finicky fish.

When nymphing, a 7.5' nymph specific leader will give you more control on casting what is usually a weight fly and a couple of split shot, plus the indicator.

I usually scour Sierra Trading Post and Cabelas bargain cave for deals on leaders, and recently picked up a couple of dozen Orvis flourocarbon leaders (flouro really is invisible underwater) in asorted strengths for just a couple of bucks apiece.

[goose]

thank you everybody.. this has really helped..