Fishing a smallish river using wets , spiders and nymphs, water depth is between 10" and a couple of feet deep ......what leader length would you start with ?

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Any length that you can cast comfortably. There are no rules, start conservatively short, ie about 9 feet, and take it from there. A lot depends on you rod and line setup, and how good you are at casting short distances.

Thanks for the reply Andreb, I have been using a 9' leader..casting is ok (although as ever room for improvement I guess)

I am using a 7' rod, #4/5 floating line, I could likely cope with a longer leader...will give it a go on Friday and see how I get on!!

Cheers


Stephen

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Stephen,

I guess it depends on the foliage you need to avoid. I fish an overgrown stream and have found I can get away with fishing leaders of 7' or less. You are more likely to catch with a shorter leader on the water than a longer one in the trees!

Best

Jon

Stephen,

Try a 7ft leader it' will suit your 7ft, rod!!

hello mostyn yes we know there is never a set rule for leader length what does for 1 fisher different for others, i have never worried but most time my leader is just short of the rod length. your day on the windrush seems kyboshed shop says no day tickets, but but we can do the avon, means a trek to here and yours truely driving,

Never a truer word spoken.

There seems to be a bit of muscle flexing when it comes to leader length sometimes, with an attitude often thrown about that if you can't handle a leader of over 20ft then you're not a proper angler.
There may be times when a long leader is required, but for the vast majority of angling, a leader of rod length is more than enough.
On a 7' rod I'd be looking to use a leader of 7' for single flies and 9' for 2 flies.

What's a smallish river?????

If I can stand in the water and just touch one bank with an outstretched hand and the other bank with my rod tip (held in the other hand), with a 7ft rod, then this, by my definition, is a small river (about 13 foot wide).

In other words I can stand on one bank and side cast comfortably (under the trees).

However - on such a big river (!), compared to real small streams I'd be tempted to use my 9 footer for fishing spiders up stream as it gives so much more control. With this I would use a 9/10 foot leader.


Breton wet-fly experts would regularily use an 11 footer on such rivers (the ultimate wet fly rod in Britanny was made from 2 Hardy Conlon blanks...), using a parallel silk line ( and much moaning about the impossibility of finding a reliable substitute for catgut, which could be relied upon to sink...). Wierd, but effective.

Gordon

Great advice folks , I have a 9' rod and have been using a 3 fly team , but of late I have gone back to 2 flies as I find it easier to handle. I also use 4 lb mono straight tru is this ok ?
Al.

thanks for all the help on this chaps,

It is the River Derwent in Northumberland so I guess it is a medium sized in as much at times it must be >20' at some points, I have been using a 10' leader (or thereabouts)

I am a wet fly fisherman and fish the "down and accross" method.

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