Hi Folks,

Was just leafing through the French Fly Fishing Magazine I normally read. No pictures of dead fish in it but in several of the articles they recommend fishing with a 7 to 8 meter leader and a 2 meter tippet. We're not talking French Nymphing either but for dry flies on a river using a nine to ten foot five weight rod.

Is it just me or does this seem a bit excessive? I mean a thirty foot leader and tippet for dry flies and on a river? On a personal level I really don't believe I can cast that long a leader with any type of accuracy. Am I wrong and should I be out practicing in a very large field or should I stick to my 10 to 15 foot leaders and tippets for a nine foot rod?

Let's see some opinions on optimum lengths of leader and tippet for a medium to large river using a nine to ten foot rod.

Take care

Terry

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"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all!"

This seems to be a continental thing. The Italians I fish with all use what I would consider very long leaders -- 15' on fast mountain streams and 20'-30' on larger rivers. That most of them are expert casters and instructors is probably one reason why they don't seem to have any problems controlling the whole thing.

For example, on small mountain streams where I would normally use a 7' bamboo rod with a 7'-9' leader/tippet combination, my friends would use a 7.5'-8' ultra-fast rod with a 15' tippet -- the Italians have a tight-situation cast that's a sort of modified roll cast, really effective, that's able to achieve good turnover with very little fly line out the tip. The French probably have something similar. It's all very impressive, but I still prefer fishing with a slower bamboo rod that allows me to "feel" everything.

Ciao,
Kenneth

Use the longest leader you can, but it must not prevent accurate casting. You must also be able to turn it over as well.

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Hi Terry, there was a thread about this a while ago, and I know that Phil (flyfishwithme) has just returned from Italy with a lot of knowledge regarding the use of long leaders/tippets.
I am sure, no positive, I would be in one hell of a mess with 30ft of leader on my 9ft #5, anything over 13ft and I struggle.
If I come accross the thread I'll put you a link up.
Cheers S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

I often fish 20ft+ when lough fishing but thats witha breeze behind you to aid turnover, get it wrong and you're in trouble, not sure of the need for it on a river.

Most of my bit of the kennet ,a 12 foot from fly line to fly would be a long one !
on the big lakes with a team up to 25 foot night be in order!

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

I am not on the continent then

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Save the Softmouth
The ancient noble trout of Montenegro

So, it's NOT a continental thing!

hahaha
I have been lucky this summer to get knowing one fine Italian gentleman and master in FFF,mr.Gabriele.I was interested to see TLT tehnuiq and all about italian way of fly fishing.....no super long leaders there

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Save the Softmouth
The ancient noble trout of Montenegro

How big a cone of vision do they think a trout has, it would have to be about ten feet down to warrant a leader that length. Any trout siting in 3 or 4 feet of water only has a cone of vision above him of around 12ft max (not taking into account refraction and that malarkey which only applies to what it sees above the surface).

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