Hi i'd very much appreciate a little advice if somebody would be kind enough please, I went fishing on friday for the first time so i'm very much a novice when it comes to fly fishing and i had a casting lesson this afternoon and the instuctor said "if i was you i would chuck those braided loops away and buy some tapered leaders" so i've come home and been on a web site to buy 3 one for each line, but the write up on them some say (which makes them great for fishing nymphs) do you buy leaders in dry and wet or is there a general purpose leader, as that you can use for wet or dry Thanks in advance for any advice i might get, Rod

That advice seems very suspect, I wouldn't state that to a beginner. Especially without offering a decent alternative. You would need the braided loop to attach the leader to.

Chris

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Funny way to put it, Rod. What's the one thing got to do with the other? The braided loop is just a way of attaching your tapered leader to your fly line. There are other ways, do a search on here or google around. You can easily get away with one tapered leader for several fishing techniques. What I prefer in this case is a tapered leader with a butt diameter (in mm) where the first figure corresponds with the line weight I'm using. IE 0,40 mm for a 4 line, 0,60 mm for a 6 line. I find this gives adequate turnover without hinging (just my rule of thumb, I'm sure lots of experts will tell you otherwise). Your chosen leader will end in a certain diameter too (0,16, 0,18, 0,20 mm and so on). I usually tie a micro loop (surgical knot) at this end and add the tippet I want to fish according to the technique with a loop to loop junction. This way your tapered leader will last a very long time and you change the tippet in seconds to match your technique.

Regards,
Johan

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Johan Janssens

Hi again thanks for the advice thats made things a little clearer, Rod

If I may ask, is the "braided loop" on the end of your fly line? Or if you will, you've a loop to loop connection from tip of fly line to leader.

If that's the case I'd say 'hinging' might just well be a problem. Personal taste here only, but I'd want a solid connection (knot) where leader joins the end of a fly line.

The 'exception' to the above would be as solid connect for a butt section and a loop on the end of that for a second section and tippet. For how much of what, for a simple (but effective) formula I use a 60-20-20. 60 per cent butt section, next 20 per cent is half the weight of the former, and the last 20 is tippet.

For the purposes of 'full disclosure' with the above I'm fishing for Steelhead and Pacific Salmon, not "wee troot" so a build your own (probably) should be a 40-20-20-20 for a better 'step down.'

Fred

Edit: If you want to build your own (very easy) use 'main line,' not leader material for the butt section (far stiffer), then go to tippet material for the remaining sections. Connect the 'bits' using a three/four turn 'water knot.'

fae

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I fish for a living, have at least 10 fly reels and every reel has a braided loop on it. No problems, no regrets. Find a new instructor.

This is how I read it.
I thought your instructor meant use tapered leaders connected by a needle knot to the fly line, which would hardly be controversial advice & might possibly aid casting/turnover/presentation.