ive been using airflo taperd poly leaders theres a loop at one end and a loop at the taperd end i usualy just cut the taperd end loop of and tie my fly one but if im changing flies alot the leader ends up been too thick for the eye of the hook i am aware of tippets but im not 100% ..could i just get a 3 or 4 ft lenght of any line and loop to loop it with the end of the leader? is that the right set up?

regards,alan

After a while as you say the leader becomes unusable to attach flies, don't throw it away as you need the thick butt section to transfer the energy from the fly line. Use a water knot to join the tippet to your leader. Tippet material will depend on how you are fishing. I use co-polymer for dry and Fluorcarbon for wets/nymphs etc.

Other option is to use a furled leader, which last a long time and attach tippet to that. That is my preference for drys.

Welcome to the forum.

Eddie

Hi' Alan, and welcome to the FFF.
I use polyleaders, too, as well as tapered leaders of my own tying and the odd braided leader for wet fly work. Braided leaders throw out a spray of droplets, so I wouldn't use them for dry fly presentation.
Don't cut off the loop at the end of the tapered section. Add your own tippet material by using a loop to loop connection. As an example, I use 5ft polyleaders for dry work on rivers, and I tend to go for the light trout ones. My extensions for river work are usually about 4ft of copolymer, joined to 2ft of fluoro. That helps the tippet near the fly to sink.
My river polyleader has a loop of 8lb breaking-strain. I make up the the tippet extension with 2ft of 6lb copolymer, water-knotted to 2ft of 4lb copolymer, water-knotted to 2ft of 2, 3 or 4lb fluoro, depending on the conditions and size of fish I might see. With a loop at the 6llb top end, I can carry a couple of tippet sections of different make-up, and swap them easily, as necessary. On still waters with bigger average fish, I would use the heavier 5dt polyleader, which ends with a 12lb loop. You can add up ot about 11ft or more to that. Or you can go for the 10ft polyleaders. They are very versatile, but they don't last forever. Just don't cut off the factory loopls. Cheers. TerryC
You can also try furled leaders or tie your own knotted, tapered leaders any size you like.

hi terry thanks for all the info much apprecieated..so all in all use the poly leaders but get myself some co polymer and use that as a tippet for dries and if im using lures or wets use flurocarbon? also could anyone tell me what the difference between an emerger and a dry flie? also whats a CDC?

Alan,
Speaking generally

Dry Fly- floats on the surface of the water, for example a Grey Duster.
Emerger- sits in the surface of the water, for example a shuttle cock buzzer.

CDC- Cul de Cunard is a type of feather from the back end of a duck that floats well, so usually used in the construction of emergers and dry flies.

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Tight Lines.
Brian.

I have published this on another tread but so far have had no reply and i would appreciate some advice.
I recently purchased several airflo poly leaders and have had a problem with the 5ft and 8 ft clear trout floaters. The problem is that the eight foot one corkscrewed at the end very badly after a short time in use, the other had a series of whiskers on it near the business end. I return the first two to airflow and they were quickly replaced,but I have had the same problem with one of the replacements ie the corkscrew effect.
I also gave one unused leader to my fishing mate and he has had the same problem.Is it something we are doing wrong or has anyone else had this problem? I have tried streching one of the replacements very gently after taking it from the packet but the last two feet of this this immediately assumed the coiled spring position and resists all attempts to staighten it. I would appreciate any words of wisdom or sympathy.

try gently steaming it over your kettle, dont hold it too close though or you could damage it,

cheers,
matt.....

I have had the same problem with the Airflo polyleaders...
My solution was cut off the point loop and 6" to 8" (inches) from point back towards the butt, I used my finger nails to peel off towards point the outer layer. Then tie in a small new point loop and put the leader under some tension but not excessive, preferably using the loops to a anchor point. (I used a door handle at the butt end and a dining room chair to the point end. Tied with a old shoe lace through the loop to the chair).
Then gently with forefinger and thumb coaxed the outer layer down towards the point. Occasionally releasing the tension at the point end and re-tensioning. Once the leader lies nice and straight once again, I applied a very small amount of Zap A Gap angling glue (super glue) to the area where the inner core and outer layer now meet. My Polyleaders now have about 6" of the inner core exposed between the loop and outer core.

The whole process took me about 10/15mins and I've used them for about ten trips out so far and they still lye perfectly straight...

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Thanks folks I will try the steaming first, then the peel and stretch if that doesn't work. I will let you know how I get on.

Why not send them back and try something else, different brand perhaps, plenty about.