Hi

Sorry to bother you with these stupid questions but I would like advice on leaders/tippets etc.

I have been using say a 9 - 10ft 6lb leader and tying the fly straight on the end. But I now realise that I should've been using a tippet on the end of that. - is that right? No wonder I haven't been f8cking catching much.

Can anyone give me advice about what leader tippet to use - I have just gone and bought myself some of that 'invisible' stuff now in 8lb BS- is that ok for a tippet on stillwaters for stockies and should the leader be heavier BS? Does the leader have to be flurocarbon too??? What about tapered leaders???

Sorry for all the newbie questions but I blanked yesterday when everyone was catching 5lb+ trout

I might just go back to coarse fishing and buy some f8cking maggots

Cheers

If you are fishing lures on smallish fisheries then there is nothing wrong with matching your leader with your line weight and using say 7lb BS with a 7# line,and though I would try to use a bit longer leader say 12' for 1 or 2 flies.you should have no problems with your 10' leader
If you wanted to have a bit of a taper then have your leader divided into a 6' section of 8lb and a 4' section of 6lb joined with a 3 turn waterknot by using this knot you can leave on the tag nearest the point as a dropper of about 6''
Dennan sub surface green.and Maxima green or clear are very reliable mono's

Jim

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

Not a stupid question at all, go to this site Leeda Selectacast - Sportfish Buy a 15 ft tapered leader, buy some sight free flouro' tippet material, add one metre of tippet to the end of your leader, by a 3 turn water, or, surgeon's knot, or, if you wish, a Roman Moser tippet ring, tye on your fly with a Davy knot, cast away, no problems..................................

Is It possible that an 18' cast/leader would be just a bit long for a beginner.

Jim

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

Probably so Jim, in that case the tapered leader can be cut back to whatever length required, there is a chart included with leader, I don't fish still water, only rivers, so I cut back my leader as required, I sometimes make my own Ritz leaders, taught by my Grandfather............................
I should have said, I don't fish stocked still waters, I have fished natural lakes for wild fish.................all catch and release....

Excellent, thanks for the comprehensive answers; everyone is so helpful on this site. Is there any advantage to having a taper as opposed to a single length?

Thanks again

I tend to taper my leader only when using a single dryfly.If you were using a weighted fly then theyr'e is no real advantage IMHO in using a tapered leader

Jim

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

Jim is absolutely correct, the weight of flies will assist turn over of your leader, I never use more than one fly, usually a dry fly, hence the tapered leader, accurate and precise presentation are my prime concerns.....................

I would wish to add, make sure your tippet sinks. so as the fish can't see it, rub mud on it, take mud from the river bank, it's free, you can buy mud especially for the job, or mix, I have heard, Fuller's earth, don't know how to do this, but maybe Jim or one of the others on forum will tell you..good luck with your fly fishing and your casting, like everything in life, It's easy when you know how.............??

As you say - you get lots of sound advice here and all for free!

I would also suggest, if everyone else is catching you ask them what they are using, how deep are they fishing and how they are retrieving. Most people are helpful! As the man says, I think the tapered leaders improve presentation. It is possible to catch using just a simple leader - I'm new as well and like to keep it simple where possible.

Best of luck - I wouldn't dream of going back to maggots these days