Next season i am planning to tie and fish so called micro flies in the size 18 to 24 range (maybe smaller if i can!)

Could anyone recommend me the set up they use for these size of fly and the strength and type of leader used. I am aware that thicker leader material will possibly affect the takes as it will look obvious and not fit through the hook however i am also worried too thin and it will snap.

Cheers.

These very small flies are very fiddly to tie up but very productive.
Remember the very small dry flies 16-22s s will require very light tippet 1/2 lbs- 1.5lbs max and will require a little gink. Casting with too heavy a tippet is a little like using an ocean liner anchor on a dingy when using tiny flies to big a chain and it will drag it down.
I have a few very small klinkhammers down to 22 on ebay with hi viz post so you can pick them up in broken water which becomes another problem. They also don't float as easy as a larger fly because they cant trap air in the same way and do not displace the same amount of surface tension. But when grayling and trout and dace are taking smuts then your in business.
Also the use of a lighter rod #3 or #4 for delicate presentation will help reduce tippet breakage as the fly is cast or set when the fish takes its all about balance.
The micro nymphs are not as difficult to fish as long as you are using slim enough diameter tippet tied in a way that they can articulate a little in the current then again these can be deadly. A little tungsten putty or sacrificial nymph on the line to get them down to the bottom. Also A simple painted hook will also produce on still waters when fishing the bung

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I do a bit of grayling fishing is Slovenia and in my opinion you must use the lighter equpment with smaller flies and you will not have problems with small diamtetr tippet. You cant use # 7 rod and flies in sizes #18-24. If you use #4 AFTMA or lover rod, small flies and fine tippet you will have no problems. I think the equipment must be in harmony and you can catch even bigger fish with a light wquipment.

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graylinghunter

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"The nice thing about getting old, is that you realize what a madhouse it all is. Instead of a young person's view, which is that the world must be sane, with occasional pockets of insanity, you come around to my position, in which the world seems to be a complete madhouse - with occasional pockets of sanity" (John Cleese 1988)
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We fished down to 26 this year for rainbows at a local small stillwater and did extremely well, we caught when no one else could touch a thing. We used #2 & #4 rods with a tapered copolymer leader with a 6x Orvis mirage tippet, that's about 3.5lb BS. Just go easy on the fish and lift into it gently rather tha strike hard, I would stick to Co polymer for the main section of the leader as it has more stretch for fluorocarbon. We got very few breakages on 6x but 7w was simply too fine, it broke. Fish were average about 3lb and we landed fish of over 7lb.

Cheers

Ben

That's really useful - one question. Does the action of the rod matter ? For example I have a refurbished 9ft split cane rod with a really soft action which casts a 4wt line well. Is that going to work with smaller flies better than a mid tip or tip action?

I think it will help, My partner didn't break off once and landed some big fish, he was fishing a 2wt with a mid tip action. I got broken a few times using a TCR 5 but very rarley using a Zero G 4wt, the Zero G is much more of a mid tip action and bends into the middle of the rod with a fish on. Using a slightly stretchy nylon for the main part of the leader really helps.

Cheers

Ben

That is nice to know - I'll give it a try again come Caenis time! I christened it with a 2lb Brownie last season - a black gnat fished on the top and compared with modern fibre rod could hardly feel the fish - and it wasn't because it wasn't pulling but I think the rod was absorbing far more of the run.

I was planning on using an 8' #4 rated line for this style - getting one for the new season. The orvis sounds and looks a nice rod but may be a bit expensive for me new, i was thinking of a greys streamflex as many people on here have recommended it to me.

I am going to use this for rainbows at some local fisheries to try and tempt those fish that are used to the usual offerings. As far as leader strength goes, would it be safe to use a heavier main length of leader with lighter tipets attached?

I am conscious that rainbows may break the smaller / lighter tippet and am not wanting to annoy the fishery owners by getting broken all the time (its also not obviously good for the fish either!)

I would use a 9' tapered copolymer leader tapered down to 5x or 6x and then add 18" - 2' of your favourite fluorocarbon in 5x, 6x, or 7x by loop to looping onto the tapered leader, make sure your knots form perfectly. 5x to start with, if this is making the fly look un-natural then go down to 6x and again to 7x. I have successfully caught using 5x with flies down to 22, smaller than that (or in very flat calm conditions) I go to 6x, keep the rod tip up at all times, let the fish run when it wants and don't try to bully it in and you should get very few breakages. I'd say a streamflex would be ideal for the job, I've not cast the one you mentioned but have cast a few others and all seem nice with a good through action. My experience is that you can pick up fish at very short range, certainly true on the smallwaters I fish, no more than about two rod lengths of line on the water, wait for a fish to swim along with its mouth open, throw the fliy a foot or two in front of it.

Cheers

Ben