Probably a silly question but we all started somewhere didn't we.

My new line will be arriving shortly (courtesy of Pitsford Pirate) so I’m looking at leaders. They are priced between say £2-3 but you can buy 50m spools for anywhere between £2.50 - £5 . How come the spools are so cheap( or the leader are so expensive?) I estimate you could potentially make 16 9ft leaders from a spool?

I’m sure I’m completely missing the point here though

Thanks all
Martyn

If you are just staring out, a tapered leader makes more sense than one made of level line as it turns the fly over better. Making leaders accurately tapered accounts for their cost.

As an alternative to shop bought tapered leaders, try a home made knotted one. 4 feet of 12lb bs Maxima (ultragreen for preference), 4 feet of 8llb and 4 feet of 6lb will see you right for stillwater fishing.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Thanks. I think in that case for now i will stick with the shop bought ones but in time switch to a more cost effective(eventually) homemade version.

These are a good tapered leader when starting out and the essential fly are always excellant to deal with

Tapered Fly Leader - All Round Usage 3.9lb 5X - Fly Fishing Tackle

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Allan
Only dead fish go with the flow.

Depends where you are fishing Martyn.

Yes tapered leaders turn over better but I would personally only need/use them if fishing a single dry upstream.

If fishing stillwaters, a straight through leader of the same diameter will be fine, especially if you have the wind at your back.

The Pirate.

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates - No pressure, just pleasure! Pip pip!

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you beat me too it pirate. the tapered leaders do help turnover but if fishing a stillwater straight through leader of about 6-7lb would suffice and in these times of financial hardship will save you a small fortune

Ok thanks, so is leader material just normal mono line?

Hi Martyn

You can get mono, copolymer or fluorocarbon, the latter being a bit more pricey.

You don't need to spend a fortune, lots of good brands out there for little money, it's just a case of finding what is comfortable for you.

Personally, I use mainly fluorocarbon on stillwaters and copoly on rivers.

Where will you be fishing mate?

The Pirate.

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates - No pressure, just pleasure! Pip pip!

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/trade-cla...e-bonanza.html

http://www.soniksports.com/

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/fly-lines...unkistbob.html

Here is how to make leaders of your own that will out perform any shop bought leader in most circumstances, especially when starting out on your fly fishing career...

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

I think initially it will be local river but i hope to have a go on some still waters. Avon springs and Manningford are local to me.