Leaders by Pat Fowler and Keith Breuker "The function of a leader is to dissipate the energy of the cast and allow a natural presentation of your fly to the fish." The function of a leader is to dissipate the energy of the cast and allow a natural presentation of your fly to the fish. Its limpness and transparency disguise the fact that the fly is connected to your line. Line diameter, however, is less likely to scare fish than stiffness. To prove that, Vince Marinaro inserted progressively larger diameters of monofilament pieces into floating beetles and dropped them onto the water without any observable effect on fish feeding behavior. Since the fish ate all the beetles regardless of the line diameter, he concluded that a natural drift was the key (see In the Ring of the Rise by V. Marinaro). Generally, smaller flies require smaller-diameter leaders, while heavier flies cast better with stouter leaders. Dry-Fly Leaders Most anglers agree that a dry fly is presented most effectively with a drag-free float -- that is, when the fly floats "naturally," free of the drag caused by the current pulling against the tippet. To prevent drag as long as possible, the leader should have plenty of S-curves when it lands. Since the fly floats on the surface, a taut leader is not required because you can immediately see the fish take, which allows you to set the hook in time. You will know if your leader is right for a particular fly when you cast it and observe how it lands on the water. Wet-Fly Leaders Wet-fly leaders, on the other hand, should be designed so that nymphs or streamers drift near the bottom like the food being imitated. With a taut or nearly taut leader, the hook can be set when the take is felt. A quick set is important because trout will know almost immediately that a fly is not food and will spit it out. Also, underwater presentation of a streamer requires a short and taut leader to enable the angler to move the fly in a lifelike manner. Taking the time to adjust or change your leader for each situation will increase your success. Lengths For most situations, a 7-1/2- to 9-foot tapered leader will catch fish. For extreme situations, leaders as short as 1 foot or as long as 15 feet are sometimes used. Shorter leaders are needed when fishing nymphs or streamers with a sink-tip line. They help get the fly down to the fish quickly in deep, fast water and are good for casting in tight situations. Extremely long leaders sacrifice accuracy but can improve dry-fly success in deep or clear water. In deeper water, fish have a wider field of vision at the surface and are more likely to see a nearby fly line. Mono or Braided There are two types of commercial tapered leaders, mono and braided, which means that the butt section of the leader -- the end that attaches to the fly line -- is composed of either monofilament or a braided material. Braided leaders are more supple than their mono counterparts and therefore turn over very nicely. They're also very porous, which allows you to dress them to float or sink. On the other hand, they absorb water -- which sprays the surface on a false cast -- and dirt -- which may make them sink when you want them to float. Mono leaders are not porous, and are generally more popular than braided leaders. The following discussion refers to mono leaders, which we recommend. Tippet Size Be cautious of charts or formulas that define required tippet size for a given hook size. While these can guide you in your initial selection, you must cast the fly and observe the results to determine if your choice was a good one. Wind resistance against the fly and tippet length are key factors. The following chart shows the suggested range of fly sizes for each given tippet diameter. Notice the overlap. Notice also that if you add the tippet diameter to the corresponding x size you should always come up with the number 11. Remember this as the "Rule of 11." TIPPET SIZE CHART Tippet Diameter X Size # Test Hook Size .001" 0X 6.5 4-2/0 .010" 1X 5.5 2-8 .009" 2X 4.5 6-10 .008" 3X 3.8 8-14 .007" 4X 3.1 10-16 .006" 5X 2.4 12-16 .005" 6X 1.4 14-22 .004" 7X 1.1 18-28 .003" 8X .75 18 & up Commercial Leaders Though you can purchase quality commercially made tapered leaders through any fly-fishing shop or catalog, commercial leaders are limited to general-purpose use. You may find that building your own leaders will fit your fishing strategies better than commercial leaders. Modifying commercial leaders by adding butt sections or different tippets can also help. Custom Leaders Though sometimes an alteration in the casting stroke can compensate for a leader's deficiencies, it's easier to put the fly where you want it if you have the proper leader. The following chart will help you understand the requirements of leader building, which you can do yourself by tying together various lengths of different-diameter monofilament. Small length changes in leader formulas can usually be made by keeping the same proportions and changing the length of each piece. George Harvey developed his first set of leader formulas based on the principle that many S curves are needed to prevent drag on the fly (see Techniques of Trout Fishing and Fly Tying by George W. Harvey). Note that the transition between hard and soft mono occurs between 2x (.009-inch diameter) and 3x (.008-inch diameter). GEORGE HARVEY LEADER FORUMLAS Hard Mono Dry Fly 10'6" (4x) Dry Fly 11' (5X) Wet Fly 9' (4X) Brush 7'6" (4X) 10" 10" 12" 10" .017" 20" 20" 20" 14" .015" 20" 20" -- 14" .013" 0X 20" 20" 20" 10" .011" Soft Mono 2X 12" 12" 22" 10" .009" 3X 18" 12" 22" 12" .008" 4X 22-28" 18" 22" 16-20" .007" 5X -- 22-30" -- -- .006" 6X -- -- -- -- .005" X Size Diameter Leader Troubleshooting Fish Refuses Fly Lengthen leader Use finer tippet Dry-fly Leader Sinks Clean leader and apply floatant Check if leader construction matches fly Dry-fly Leader Straightens Lengthen tippet or use smaller size Check leader construction Use larger fly Leader Collapses At End of Cast Shorten or stiffen tippet Check leader construction Use a smaller fly Wet-fly Leader Will Not Sink Add small split shot Add sinking stuff to coat leader Leader Breaks On A Large Fish Check leader for wear Check knot procedure Use larger tippet This material in Fly Fisher's Notebook originated in a book called The Complete Pocket Guide to Fly Fishing, which was published through Countrysport Press. If you are interested in having the entire book in the convenient pocket-size form that you can carry in your vest, contact Countrysport Press for a copy. Copyright © 1996 by Pat Fowler and Keith Breuker. Illustrations Copyright © 1996 by Jenny Leggett.