I've read about using very long, perhaps 30ft, leaders to fish dry flies at close range in the "leader to hand" style, where there is no flyline in use. I've read that one uses light, soft rods and mostly side casts to deliver the dry flies to their target.

I can see how this would be advantagous as regards keeping drag to a minimum, but I wonder does anyone know how on earth these casts are made? I'm looking to learn this casting technique.

Hi ITS, I use this method a lot for fishing both nymphs and dries, to be honest the casting technique is not that different that casting a normal line.
I prefer tip action rods in 2# rather than full action.


You can use side cast but an overhead cast works just as well.
The leaders is construction is very important I tie and sell them as does Jon who's leaders are featured n the video.

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I can imagine leader construction would be crucial. What would be the advantages of a long leader over just a 2wt line? Obviously the leader is less visible, but is drag reduced? Does the leader sink?

Ss you say the leader is less visible, it also does not make as much splash at it lands on the water, so is less likely to spook fish. Also when holding the leader of the water the leader does on say so much helping you keep in better contact with the flies. The latter point is more important when nymph fishing leader to hand.
Drag is reduced due to the lower diameter of the leader compared to fly line but if you have to much leader on the water you will still get some drag.

For me the visibility aspect is probably the most important when fishing dries.

Frank

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Hi Frank

How does the leader for dries differ from the standard French, is the taper longer and more gradual? Can you still get them knotless or is knotted the way to go here?

Dan

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HI Dan, actually the taper is slightly shorter and a bit steeper but with a very long but section often up to about 8 mtrs.

Frank

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Kamoufil leader material ¦
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What would be the minimum length of leader you'd need outside the tip ring in order to get the rod to load?
If you can cast a regular flyline, is it safe to say that you could cast in the leader to hand style?
Is it so that fishing leader to hand is really like underlining your rod but with a clear less buoyant flyline? Sounds a lot cheaper than a flyline!
Is casting accuracy affected?

Rod loads even without line because blank, guides and wrapping have mass. Heavy, soft (bamboo, class fiber) and full action) rods bend more and modern lightweight, stiff, carbon, tip action rods bend less.

LB, I think you have hit on an important point here and one that is often over looked. I think that people often mistake loaded for fully loaded. I think any rod will load proportional to the weight/mass it is being loaded with. In L-T-H techniques it is more about how the energy is then transfer ed to the leader and how much energy the leader can carry. Of course some rods will load easier than others.

I-T-S I will try to answer you points in order, I think the above has partially answers the first point you made but it really depends on the caster, a skilled caster will be able to turn over less than a 9ft tapered leader with a single dry on.

Your second point I would say yes, but depending on how well you can cast a fly line you may need to refine you technique as there are different degrees of being able to cast a fly line.

To your third point I would have to say yes as well, but bear in mind the point above about rod load.
I use a 2# rod and the weight in grams of a standard 2# is 5.1 gms, at 30ft the leaders I use vary between 1.1 and 1.6 gms at 30ft. I have on with a but section or .5mm for ease of casting and one with a butt section of .35mm for increased sensitivity. This latter leader is very good for nymph fishing as it has less sag between the

The rod butt and the water making it more sensitive to feeling the takes which is less important when fishing dries.

And finally yes accuracy is compromised compared to standard fly line but what you loss in accuracy you gain in delicacy.

Frank

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Frank Williams APGAI

See Classified for;

Flouro Drop Style Indicators ¦ French/Czech nymphing leaders ¦ Hi-Vis tippet for indicators ¦
Kamoufil leader material ¦
Stroft ABR & GTM

Sponsored Kilimanjaro climb

Thanks, guys. You've been extremely helpful. I appreciate it. I'm going to give this a try.