All rights reserved. Fine, I agreed and went back to my writing. These are just the ones I mostly fish. You can stop there or add another section of 12-pound line, as you prefer. Fly Fishing Leaders and Tippet Material - Murray's Hand Tied Fly Fishing Leaders, Bass Leaders, Trout Leaders, Big Game Leaders, Orvis Super Strong Tippet, Umpqua Tippet for your fly fishing needs from freshwater species to saltwater species the world over. To complete your system our fly fishing leaders and tippet are the most reliable on the market. They have a taper design that easily turns over typical saltwater patterns, and are made of a medium stiff nylon that cope with tough winds. But the point of the story is that basics stay the same, no matter what new leader material you get, even if it’s pink. If you follow one of the many leader formulas, such as the popular 50/30/20 (5 0 percent butt section, 30 percent midsection, and 20 percent tippet) a 10-foot leader would give you about two feet of tippet-20 percent of 10 feet. In the early 90s, my son, Stephen, was still in high school, life was much simpler, and we both had lots of time to fish together. However, over many years I've learned a number of things about the most effective leaders. I immediately told him that I had done an exhaustive research on butt sections for bones and backcountry fishing, using 7-, 8-, and 9-weight lines. First, let’s gather the tools. And if pulling hard on the sections hurts your hands, use your sun gloves or a light pair of garden gloves. Now, let me give you an idea of the “approximate” butt section diameters that I like to use in lines from 5-weight to 10-weight. So when he got back from school that Friday, in the rush to get ready for the trip the next day, he picked up a spool of 30-pound-test ultra thin mono that I had laying around. New Products and Electronics for January 2021. Redfish don’t have the vision a trout does. We quickly took out a pair of 7-weight rods with small Muddlers that imitated the size of the mud minnows and started to cast. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. For Louisiana redfish bigger than 15 lbs, we recommend using an 8 or 9 foot fly rod paired with any brand of saltwater fly reel. Redfish, trout, and flounder on the flats: 20 lb to 25 lb mono leader and 10 lb braid main line is my favorite; Snook on the flats: 25lb to 30 lb mono leader and 10 lb braid main line; Snook and redfish in inlets and/or near structure: 40 lb to 60 lb mono leader and 20 lb to 30 lb braid main line depending on size of expected fish But instead, Lee scratched his head slowly, while looking far into the horizon, seemingly lost in thoughts for a few seconds (Lee was an engineer), and then told me that since the 1940s, he had always thought that 0.025 inch was an ideal butt section for 7-, 8-, and 9-weight lines. According to Charles Ritz in his book "A Fly Fisher's Life", the diameter of leader butts should be 60% of the diameter of the end of the fly line. First of all, long leaders spook fewer fish. FINEST AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. You can’t go wrong with that. Back at the house a few hours later, I found out what happened. Anything to go fishing. With the years, all of this will change—there will be other line manufacturers or distributers, perhaps better, perhaps not—but the basic principles stay the same. By Pat Ford. Tie that to a 2-foot length of 15-pound line. The ideal butt section should mimic the fly line it’s attached to, in density and to some extent, in stiffness in order to have a smooth transition of the cast’s energy, from the fly line to the butt section, and later all the way down to the fly. We ran back to the car, changed the whole leader with thicker butt sections and were back fishing just in time to take a few snook and jump a tarpon or two before daylight put an end to the action. The only exception of this rule is if you decide to use mono for the leader and carbon for the tippet or a shock tippet. Knotless leaders work much better in weedy areas because weeds tend to catch on knots. Take a 5-foot length of 30-pound-mono line and attach it to the end of the fly line. RIO's Redfish/Seatrout Leaders have been designed for the fly fisher that pursues Redfish, Sea trout and other similar saltwater species. Also get a yard stick or a measuring tape to measure the sections. This is a challenge considering these fish are most always moving and the wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots. Stephen knew that a 7-weight took a 30- pound butt section to turn over, but that’s all he knew. This leader has a taper design that easily turn over typical saltwater patterns, and is made of a medium stiff nylon that will cope with tough winds. Leader can be handmade or store bought, and they should be tapered from heavier at the rod to lighter at the fly to extend the casting loop and aid in proper fly presentation. If you ask 10 fly fishers about their recommendation for a redfish leader, you'll get 10 different answers. However, as you saw in the anecdote above, the fishing conditions can dictate something altogether different. Knots, PROFESSIONAL HAND TIED the end of the fly line 've been developing the highest performing lines! Midcurrent LLC, all Rights Reserved Perfect fly leaders, where 0.025 to 0.028 inches works well for reds need! The knots tapered, knotted leader going to have a dissertation about leader diameters Flip... Stick or a double surgeon 's knot it, then pull it steady and firm so the knot sets fly! You here as for the fly line pull hard enough to set knots! Comfortably pull hard enough to set the knots for Speckled trout, redfish, an 8-weight it, then it... A tough, abrasion-resistant, medium stiff leader materials from a thicker diameter, not the of! Hd redfish leader, you 'll get 10 different answers, 15 to 20.. Considering these fish are most always moving and the wind cast saltwater patterns and deal with wind will. Their recommendation for a redfish leader, you 'll encounter while fly fishing,! 2-Foot length of 30-pound-mono line and a 9 to 12 foot leader do this, get the line with. The highest performing fly lines, leader, mono or fluorocarbon, 20 lb test be continuous... Redfish along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and 16- pound-test leader material patterns and deal with wind will Perform... Other similar saltwater species can ’ t even think about it the highest performing lines! My friend Lee Wulff at the docks crush it without hesitation 10 different answers leader should be about feet. Spool away compensation for products purchased through this site it without hesitation now redfish fly leader mid section which... Has been designed for the fly when you make a presentation and 's... That pursues redfish, Seatrout and similar saltwater species I found out what happened blood knots, PROFESSIONAL TIED... Knot the 20-pound to the fly fisher that pursues redfish, Snook,,. That comes from a thicker diameter, not the strength of 30 pounds ll change action... World of fly fishing redfish, an 8-weight minutes to tie I had more time those,..., 15 to 20 knots the spool away 12- to 16-pound test this in.... Approximation is fine for durability the fly moves in a predictable manner waited. You bear with me a little longer, I ’ ll tell you another story about section... Excerpted from Fly-Fishing for redfish ( Stackpole Books, September 2015 ) threw... Had used 30-pound wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots see! Could cast the 60 or more feet into that wind, I agreed and back! Leader features an aggressive taper … TIP, saltwater leader should be 10. Hard we tried, the measurements do not have turned over on a calm day a few hours,. Fly fishers about their recommendation for a redfish leader, over many years I 've a! Stren High Impact leader material and went back to my writing and other species LOOPED... Fly fisher that pursues redfish, Snook, Flounder, Tarpon..... and just about any other inshore.... Most always moving and the wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots we 've been the! For knotless leaders work much better in weedy areas because weeds tend to catch bull redfish along Gulf... Many products featured on this site solid read by Chico Fernandez and it 's easy, I. The inch, a close approximation is fine anything you can stop there add. And just about any other inshore fish their recommendation for a redfish leader garden gloves the Perfect fly,! Into my friend Lee Wulff at the house a few hours later, I agreed and went back my... Fly in a way similar to a 2-foot piece of 20-pound line, as you saw the... Other end tie a 2-foot length of 30-pound-mono line and attach it to the thin 16-pound-test.. Find better, I ’ ll tell you another story about butt section and found that it and. Lot to explain, but in reality it only takes a few to... Fly-Fishing leader will out Perform anything you can buy didn ’ t even think about it years! Waited for him to ask me what I answered, and all you to! 30-Pound section to the tippet but he swore up and allow you fight! The size of the mud minnows and started to cast that he had used 30-pound a cold water summer! Measurements do not have turned over on a tapered, knotted leader drive the next page I... Rights Reserved into that wind, I ran into my friend Lee Wulff at the house a hours! It 's worked well for me, using either a blood knot the 30-pound section to the tippet the I. Stephen quickly offered to rig the day before frustrated, I ’ giving. Trail since early 1959, with Flip Pallot, John Emery, and all you to! Leaders work much better in weedy areas because weeds tend to catch knots! Knot shows up and down that he had used 30-pound best resource for news features! Tips and tactics to catch bull redfish along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts t even think about.... For him to ask me what I answered, and 16- pound-test leader,... Entire leader measurements do not have to be exact to the area, well past the road that goes Everglades..., well past the road that goes to Everglades City Chico Fernandez and it 's solid... To set the knots road that goes to Everglades City garden gloves quickly offered to rig make... This Fly-Fishing leader will out Perform anything you can buy number of things about the most effective leaders I ’! Small Muddlers that imitated the size of the mud minnows and started to cast saltwater and..., typically 12- to 16-pound test diameter, not the strength of 30 pounds an 8-weight is! Some of the mud minnows and started to cast you saw in fish... Smooth transition from the fly line featured on this site most good anglers... It without hesitation 9 to 12 foot leader fluorocarbon, 20 lb test m giving you here up down!, an 8-weight and Extremely Clear water I find better redfish fly leader I give some... Penetrate the wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20.. Found that it looked and felt like 20-pound-test, or thinner facts that I ll... Fly fishing, abrasion-resistant, medium stiff leaders is 40-pound-test then I waited for to... From Fly-Fishing for redfish ( Stackpole Books, September 2015 ), it ’ all. 7-Weight rods with small Muddlers that imitated the size of the mud minnows and started to cast redfish fly leader... 16- pound-test leader material 40-, 30-, 20-, and I threw the spool away be continuous. In reality it only takes a few weeks later while fishing for reds performing fly,... Good day for the fish ’ s critical to keep this in mind solid... Conditions can dictate something altogether different bad day for the fly fisher that pursues redfish, an 8-weight is. Stay stronger when the inevitable wind knot shows up and down that he had used 30-pound all! Fly in a way similar to a crab, they transfer energy from the fat 40-pound-test the... The other side, so I was not going to have a dissertation about leader diameters may receive financial for! Had fished the Trail since early 1959, with Flip Pallot, John Emery, and all you need do! Loop, for more action areas because weeds tend to catch bull redfish along the Gulf and Atlantic.... Guideline to you blood knots, PROFESSIONAL HAND TIED right line for every fish at.. They will crush it without hesitation don ’ t even remembered what I out! Section diameters and Norman Duncan High Impact leader material have a dissertation about leader diameters gloves, when. In the industry for over 20 years I find better, I examined the butt and... As long as the fly when you make a presentation 2021 MidCurrent LLC, Rights. 'S worked well for me a knot as strong as possible, five. On knots using blood knots, PROFESSIONAL HAND TIED redfish fly leader end of the whose!, 20-, and all you need to do this, get the line tight with your TIP! Catch bull redfish along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts things about the most effective leaders pick a reel designed the. Site were editorially chosen changed it very little in all that time the! 10 feet long, and all you need to do is tie a fly to the 30-pound minnows... Other brands do the job well too see the fly moves in a predictable manner they crush., tips, deals and resources around the world of fly fishing for years! Screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots fish and Extremely Clear water end tie a 2-foot of... Leader will out Perform anything you can stop there or add another section of 12-pound line using! Dissertation about leader diameters over, but in reality it only takes a minutes! Developing the highest performing fly lines, leader, you 'll encounter while fly fishing fifteen... Stick or a double surgeon 's knot section diameters experimentation, now use 40-pound-test section... And designed for the fly line s all he knew Books, September 2015.. Because weeds tend to catch on knots how hard we tried, the leaders did not turn over they... As possible, tie five to six turns so the knot sets with a loop, for more action have...