Picture of Basic Competition Leaders

[pbourcq]

These arent the gospel but they are a good start. The leaders on below work. Although the techniques between them varies slightly.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h57/pbourcq/eurorigs-2.jpg

[bonedog]

Thanks a bunch, Man. We unwashed masses are trying urgently to learn.
bd

[2fly]

Thanks Paul, that's real helpful.

[FishWillie]

Paul what is a sighter ?? and what does it do ?

[benvan]

a sighter is a colored form of monofilament that aids in "tracking" your flies int he water. This acts as a visual guide for the angler to follow their flys through the drift.

[rocky1525]

I noticed in the last leader design that it goes from 33" to 28'... Is that a misprint? I have read and heard about leaders up to 25ft before but the picture would depict a 50+ft leader? Just wondering! Also I make curly sighters with 20lb test is the 10lb just for sensitivity of takes or a preference choice? I usually use about 8 wraps for my curlies is there any advantage in the longer ones? I like to have as small of an indy as I can so I draw less attention to my leader when casting to spooky fish... Thanks!

[pbourcq]

I noticed in the last leader design that it goes from 33" to 28'... Is that a misprint? I have read and heard about leaders up to 25ft before but the picture would depict a 50+ft leader? Just wondering! Also I make curly sighters with 20lb test is the 10lb just for sensitivity of takes or a preference choice? I usually use about 8 wraps for my curlies is there any advantage in the longer ones? I like to have as small of an indy as I can so I draw less attention to my leader when casting to spooky fish... Thanks!

A sighter is colored mono or fluro tied into your leader to help you track flies and also to register takes. Youll notice the same ticks, pauses, and dips as you would indie fishing.

Yes that is typo, i meant inches. I wrap about 30 wraps of 10 pound on small wooden dowels. You end up with about 4.5 inches of acutal curly, it makes a nice tight curly. I have made curlies from 8lb to 14lb depending on fly weight. A ten pound covers most situations.

The longer curlies help when a fly hits upward on your nymph. it closes up better than a curly with less wraps on it.

As far as stealth keep in mind you can make curlies from clear mono. Take a black permanent marker and color 4 sides. then its stealthy but you still have some contrast for visual reference.

[OLC55]

Thanks Paul.Good Stuff!!

[rocky1525]

I appreciate the info. I make my slinky/curly out of a green colored mono and just color it to the occasion or leave it clear. I also color my leader with sharpies to act as a sighter. But like you said before wading properly is a big factor. Thanks again!

[pbourcq]

No problem. Straight sighters are very very deadly so dont neglect those. Curlies are good but are limited in deep water and how far you can cast, they hinge and act like a kite. They have a place but stay sharp on all of them.

[discomidge]

Is there a brand of mono line that works better for your leader section?

[pbourcq]

Maxima chameleon
Rio saltwater tippet
Or stren hi vis gold

[discomidge]

Thank you sir!

[Stinkbait]

Paul,

I made some curlies last night wrapped on a bamboo dowel. Not calcutta, just tomato stake quality. How do you store them? Would it be better to keep them wrapped around the dowel and unwrap steamside when ready to use or just throw them in a baggie or other storage vehicle now? I usually fish the Hooch DH and my thought was there probably would be some good runs and pockets where I'd want to try Euro Nymphing and other places where I'd want to cover more water with traditional methods.

[SlowStreamer]

Hey 2fly, what was the breakdown of the leader you were fishing Friday ?

I remember you said you used the Cajun 30lb, which I have and most of the other wts I kinda remember but wanted to get the details from you before just guessing.

Thanks

[2fly]

Hey 2fly, what was the breakdown of the leader you were fishing Friday ?

I remember you said you used the Cajun 30lb, which I have and most of the other wts I kinda remember but wanted to get the details from you before just guessing.

Thanks

Sam, the leader I was using was approximately 30' of 30 lb Cajun mono/15' of 20 lb Cajun mono/18" 20 lb red Amnesia/18" 15 lb green Amnesia/18" 15 lb red Amnesia and then tippet to length. I use either 5 or 6X pretty much all the time. If I'm fishing faster water and I need to sink the flies faster, then I go to the 6X. I don't have 7X, but I know alot of the comp guys will go to that in those conditions. I'm still tweaking this leader format. I can cast a dry/dropper about 35 to 40 feet, but I think I can get a better turnover with maybe a 35 or 40 lb main section and then tapering down. I'll let you know if I get it dialed in the way I want. Paul has a different formula, but I haven't gotten comfortable with it yet. I will have to work with it a little more to see if it fits my style of fishing.

[SlowStreamer]

Cool. Thanks for the details 2fly. Keep us posted on your tweaks.

[2fly]

I will Sam, and I'm sure there will be others from the team that will post from time to time techniques or methods that we are trying out.

[pbourcq]

Their are a ton of leaders out there. Find one you like. Spools of Maxima are cheap.

I follow the 60/20/20 rule. With 60% butt section i can turnover dries out as far as I can cast with my "euro nymphing" leader.

In comps and in regular fishing I try to use one leader for everything. Ill have some specialty leaders for certain situations. Versatility is key.

[pbourcq]

Paul,

I made some curlies last night wrapped on a bamboo dowel. Not calcutta, just tomato stake quality. How do you store them? Would it be better to keep them wrapped around the dowel and unwrap steamside when ready to use or just throw them in a baggie or other storage vehicle now? I usually fish the Hooch DH and my thought was there probably would be some good runs and pockets where I'd want to try Euro Nymphing and other places where I'd want to cover more water with traditional methods.

Im about 6 months late on this but i keep them wrapped up untill i use them. Even if you clip it off and throw it down it will be fine. the secret is NEVER reel it up on your reel. keep it outside the whole time.

[SlowStreamer]

After watching and listening I see that the fly line rarely even comes off the reel. Is it even needed when fishing such long leaders and high sticking ?

Reason I ask is I'm thinking of setting up a spare spool with a comp style rig and thinking about going from a longer backing straight into a long leader..

[MariettaMike]

After watching and listening I see that the fly line rarely even comes off the reel. Is it even needed when fishing such long leaders and high sticking ?

Based on my very limited experience I would agree that you don't need "fly line" line but you want "line" to come off the reel for playing the fish. Especially if its got any size to it.

Hooking up with 10' leader out the rod tip and a "fresh" fish on a size 20 zebra midge will pull the hook if you don't give the fish some line to run with. An 11" trout feels like 20" when you hook up on the reel and straight leader on a 10' rod. Presently I have lost more fish than I've landed, but hopefully I'll get my drag set to eliminate that problem.

What I find the most fun about this technique is sneaking up on the fish from their blind side and seeing the take.

[SlowStreamer]

Based on my very limited experience I would agree that you don't need "fly line" line but you want "line" to come off the reel for playing the fish. Especially if its got any size to it.

Hooking up with 10' leader out the rod tip and a "fresh" fish on a size 20 zebra midge will pull the hook if you don't give the fish some line to run with. An 11" trout feels like 20" when you hook up on the reel and straight leader on a 10' rod. Presently I have lost more fish than I've landed, but hopefully I'll get my drag set to eliminate that problem.

What I find the most fun about this technique is sneaking up on the fish from their blind side and seeing the take.

I was also thinking you would need line to play large fish, but no need for high dollar fly line, right ? I figured since I can put it on a spare spool, why not use cheap or old line I have laying around or just put on a longer length of larger diameter backing or braided line.

[Gatorbyte]

If you look into the history of euronymphing I think you'll find that some of the reason for the long leaders was out of necessity. I've read that behind the "Iron Curtain" it was difficult to get equipment including fly line so they went with Mono instead. Just like us, sometimes, you just gotta fish no matter what.

[SlowStreamer]

What knot do you guys recommend for connecting all the pieces of mono ?

Blood Knot ?

[Col. Forbin]

Blood all the way down to the last piece of sighter, then double or tripple surgeons to attach your tippet material

[SlowStreamer]

Blood all the way down to the last piece of sighter, then double or tripple surgeons to attach your tippet material

Cool, Thanks Col. Forbin.

[Mog]

What knot do you guys recommend for connecting all the pieces of mono ?
:shake: You need instruction on how to tie one too?::ke:

[MariettaMike]

What knot do you guys recommend for connecting all the pieces of mono ?

Blood Knot ?

Just in case you don't know how to tie one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/bloodknot/index.php
http://www.netknots.com/html/blood_knot.html
How to Tie a Blood Knot Video – 5min.com
YouTube - ‪Blood Knot | how to tie a Blood knot‬‏

[Mog]

Just in case you don't know how to tie one.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[SlowStreamer]

Just in case you don't know how to tie one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/bloodknot/index.php




Dang and I thought there would be real chicken blood involved :cool:

[2fly]

What knot do you guys recommend for connecting all the pieces of mono ?

Blood Knot ?

Sam, I tie the Davy knot variation for my main leaders and sighters. It's smaller than the blood and much quicker to tie. I found that that knot doesn't work well with 6X and higher though and have gone back to the double surgeons for my tippet tags when using the lighter tippet.

[SlowStreamer]

Sam, I tie the Davy knot variation for my main leaders and sighters. It's smaller than the blood and much quicker to tie. I found that that knot doesn't work well with 6X and higher though and have gone back to the double surgeons for my tippet tags when using the lighter tippet.

Pat,

do you have a link or can you describe how the Davy knot variation is tied ?

Is it tied like the Davey leader knot shown in this link ?

http://www.troutpredator.com/community/thread2305.html

[OLC55]

Pat,

do you have a link or can you describe how the Davy knot variation is tied ?

Is it tied like the Davey leader knot shown in this link ?

http://www.troutpredator.com/community/thread2305.html

Sam,
That's the one I use. Super easy to tie, strong, and very small.

[fishonthebrainga]

The davey know rules. Seems to be much smaller and goes through the gides easier. Works better for me when tying two pieces that have much differnt diameters.