I tried out my new #8 weight rod this afternoon, I attached a 6lb leader and away I fished: however I found that half of the time as soon as the braided tip of the fly line landed on the water the leader & fly lost all momentum and landed badly. Is this down to my rather untutored casting or as the bloke next to me suggested I should match the #8 line to an 8lb leader to improve 'presentation'?:confused

Casting could be your problem.I tend to work on 2lb BS + or - the rods line rating.this has caused me no problems in 40+ years.
PS I tend to fish just a bit heavier when Salmon fishing.

Jim.

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Sounds just like slightly bad timing and stroke. I have had this myself, keeping the rod tip slightly higher on the forward shoot helped, and feathering the line and bringing the rod down parallel to the water at the last second, the dip in the rod and feathering is something you will have to try.

Like you, untaught. The biggest problem is you only know something is wrong when you get a big problem. An instructor would correct this in a minute, but it is interesting and satisfying to plough your own furrow, so to speak.

Also, check your line to braided loop connection is fluid. 2" of line/ braid set solid with superglue, or a soft spot ( large gap between end of line and loop ) will have equally bum consequences, especially if your ( like mine ) technique is a bit ropey.

Enjoy learning and asking questions!!

The casting it is then, I'll have a good look at the braided loop too; thanks for the advice.

A tapered leader would certainly help. Or you could try attaching a butt section of heavier nylon say 15lb to the loop, before tying on your leader. This will help turn the flies over.

Reads like a casting foible/problem unless you were casting into a breeze.Does not take much to have the effect you outlined if your casting is off.Do check the braided loop because if the line has not been threaded to butt up against the loop return section there will exist a break in the transfer of energy and it will hinge and do as you describe unless you have a following wind behind you.
Have encountered quite a number of braided loops with this problem.I guess sometimes when they have been set up they move unless they have been whip finished which seems to hold them in place better.Try a heavier leader as suggested and it should turn over on a simple pick up and lay down cast with enough line outside the tip to load the rod.If this is fine but your efforts to cast further end in tears have a lesson and save yourself a lot of grief and bad habits

Best JP

Thanks again for the advice, I was casting into the wind for most of the session, first time I've ever consistently tried it, started off **** but perservered and improved a bit . Casting across the wind made life a lot easier, but the fish weren't rising there.

I've checked the loop and much to my dismay ( I fitted it ) there's about a 1.5mm gap between my line and the solid bit of the loop. It hinges rather nicely

So next question is it OK to just chop off the offending loop and fit a new one properly?

Yes,try to get the end of the line up inside the doubled braid,before you whip the end.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Ok Gareth one down a few to go.Never easy casting into a wind of any kind.Timing and technique need to be brushed up.Turning over virtually weightless wind resistant flies like emergers/hoppers is not a forgone conclusion.
Tips ? shorten your leader.A taper will undoubtedly help.I use furled leaders for most of my topwater fishing but another issue and purely a question of personal choice.

Into a wind I try to cast conciously close to but parallel to the surface and jerk back on the line with my line hand as it turns over.Keeping the rod lower than normal on the delivery cast.Works for me some of the time but never plain sailing given the variables of mother nature.Good luck and stay with it.

Best JP