I've got thousands of spools of mono and it makes sense to me to tie my own tapered leaders.
I've got everything from thick 15lbs down to tiny 2lbs and I'm fishing nymphs and drys on small streams so don't need to be casting more than 30ft or so.
And thoughts on how many stages I should step down the mono from line to fly?

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You can only fish for so long before you have to throw a stick of dynamite in the river.

Take a look at Phils link, flyfishwithme, he rolls his own and has the indredients for doing it.
Just one thing, make sure your mono is not rotten with age, especially the lighter stuff. 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 do exactly the same...Bulk spools of: 30lbs 20lbs 18lbs 15lbs 12lbs 10lbs 8lbs 5lbs.. all stiff clear mono.. I use a 2 turn water knot to attach them together.. depending on if I'm on reservoir or river... say 3ft lengths to a 2 or 3ft tippet... 9ft minimum on rivers

The leader I use is the Uni leader.
Take the time to understand how it works.


Fish, Flies & Water [blog] Blog Archive Trout Leader Re-Post


Gary.

Nicho Bamboo Rod Co

This might help
Leader set ups for the cape streams - Page 4 - Fly Talk Forum

well when your done with the spools Steven (mrtrout) will have them

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with 'home-made' tapered leaders

However, you must make sure that the 'mono' used has been stored in dark, cool conditions.

If it has been exposed to U.V. light ( sunlight) in a warm atmosphere, then the plasticiser may have leeched out of the polymer, causing micro-cracking and grossly reducing the breaking-strain.

Keep it dark and cool and it will keep indefinitely.

Brownie

see this previous thread

manufactured tapered leaders or make up your own