Hi Guy's,

I just wondered what leaders other anglers use for Reservoir's, when fishing from the bank.

I keep going from a tapered nylon leader (to a tippet) to a polyleader (to a tippet).
But recently several of the polyleaders have badly curled at the bottom, making for poor presentation. I find many of the nylon tapered leaders sink, or don't and cause waking with dries.

With dries or emergers you have to use something.

When heavy nymph fishing it's possible to get away with a very short or no leaders at all, and just use a single piece of nylon.

But I'm still looking for perfection? Any ideas thought!! What do you use?

Oh please don't mention furled leaders for distance fishing.

I use airflo polyleaders, I've not had any problems with kinking/curling and mine get quite a bit of use before I change them

I have found if you try to pull any memory out from them, they can curl and be ruined.

I have even sent some back due to this problem. What size do you use, and what tippet do you add?

I fish a 4wt rod, with a 15 to 18 foot straight untapered leader of 5 pound mono, attached directly to the flyline, with three lies , spaced about 3 feet apart, on dropper knots. Works for me. I find that I don't need a tapered leader for bank fishing a stillwater. you can get a great presentation and turnover with a fairly light straight leader.

Yep, for stillwater fishing a level leader will turn over quite nicely. I just use the polyleader to cut down on the amount of leader material I get through.

Andreb,

I defy you to cast 3 flies on an 18' level mono, unless they are weighted or on heavy hooks?

How do you cast 3 light nymphs such as Bits, or dries like Suspenders?

And if there is any wind (not from the rear) your well and truly Screwed?

Please explain?

Was just sorting out my fishing gear after a trip on Saturday and noticed the polyleader I was using had a curl near the end as you describe, not happened to me before. Probably to do with the way I packed it away after the session.

Anyway I gently steamed it under tension over the kettle and it straightened out. Doesnt seem to have damaged it in any way. I gave it really good stretch to make sure and it held firm.

The question was asked "what leaders do other anglers use...blah blah", and I answered and said what I use. The fact is, I can cast this setup with weighted or unweighted flies, a full line into the backing, with three false casts, and have no trouble doing so. Sure, strong wind either from behind, or the front is a problem with any casting, but a moderate breeze isn't really a problem if you can use the wind to carry out either the back cast, or the forward cast. I don't really see what the weight of the fly has to do with it, as it's the fly line that casts anyway.. but I'm assuming you know that. an 18foot leader from flyline to point fly isn't actually that long anyway. sometimes I fish a longer leader when using a team of buzzers. Its a personal preference, and I don't think it's any special feat.