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Reduced Tangles Through a Better
Line-leader Connection
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Beginners are
barraged with information these days. Friends, co-workers, the local fly shop and
catalogs all suggesting rods, reels, lines
and other equipment a beginner should use.
Only someone who’s waded this plethora of
information can help reduce the Pandora’s
affect.
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Since my
beginnings in fly fishing I’ve looked for
ways to simplify the sport and maximize my
time fishing. As any beginner soon realizes,
there’s a multitude of concepts and
skill-sets necessary to learn. Therefore,
tricks go a long way in shortening the
learning curve. One of these tricks is
leader choice and its connection to the
line. A better line-leader connection can
reduce tangles, frustrations and increase
fishing enjoyment.
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The Background -
Currently there are four major choices of
leaders, knotted, tapered mono, braided and
furled leaders.
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Knotted leaders
were one of the first leaders used by fly
fishermen and include the advantage of
adjusting specific segments based on fly or
fishing situation. While the knots provide
greater flexibility they also provide
excellent tangle points and debris-catchers. If not properly straightened, memory, an
inherent property of monofilament increase
the chances of tangles. Additionally, as
flies are changed, tippet is consumed. This
eventually leads to re-tying of tippet,
which shortens the next segment up from the
tippet. Should this leader break,
reconstruction is time intensive. This
leader is normally connected to the line via
a bulky loop-to-loop connection on a short
butt section nail-knotted or Albrighted to
the line, again a tangle-catcher. Barring
the disadvantages, many anglers prefer the
flexibility and comfort in knowing they’re
fishing a more traditional leader. Knotted
leaders are available commercially but in
reduced quantities.
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Tapered leaders
developed as manufacturing processes
improved. With the reduction in knots came a
reduction in tangles however the
characteristics of monofilament and memory
still remained. Like knotted leaders tippet
is also consumed with fly changes. This
eventually leads to a thicker and thicker
connection to the fly. To reduce this, a
perfection loop can be added to the end of
the leader to facilitate tippet changes.
Tapered leaders can also be attached to the
line via a bulky nail-knot, Albright or
loop-to-loop connection. These knots all add
catching points for potential tangles. A
Zap-A-Gap knot can be used to reduce
bulkiness. This knot is constructed by
piercing the first inch of the fly line. The
leader is then fished through the center of
the fly line until an inch of the leader
remains. Glue is added to the butt of the
leader, which is then snugged within the fly
line. This is a low-profile connection that
reduces tangles but also relies solely on
the glue as your connection to the fish. Because there is no physical knot, there is
an increased risk of popping the leader to
large fish. Tapered monofilament leaders are
probably the most available of all leader
choices.
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Braided leaders
are constructed of nylon tightly woven
together in a tapering fashion. The use of
nylon reduces memory as seen with
monofilament leaders. Additionally some
braids are impregnated with floatants to
facilitate buoyancy. As with the
aforementioned leaders, braided leaders can
also be attached to the line via a bulky
loop-to-loop connection on a short butt
section nail-knotted or Albrighted to the
line. However, the woven characteristic of
the braid can be exploited and
Chinese-fingered over the line. This
connection naturally continues the already
inherit nylon braid of most fly lines while
providing a desirable low profile and strong
line-leader connection. This will be
explained below in more detail. Leaders
usually last the lifetime of a fly line and
rarely if ever break. Tippets of 4X or
thinner are wise to use to prevent damage to
the leaders end loop. A Perfection loop is
made in the tippet and connected to the
leader via a loop-to-loop connection. Leaders are available through Orvis and
Airflow.
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Furled leaders
like braided leaders are also constructed
from nylon and share the characteristics of
being more supple then mono with little or
no memory. Because of their construction
they differ from braided leaders by not
having a hollow core. Due to this difference
their connections to the fly line are
limited to bulky loop-to-loop connections of
a short butt section nail-knotted or Albrighted to the line. Much like braided
leaders, furled leaders can last several
seasons. One note to add about furled
leaders is that some anglers have expressed
that the leaders retain less water than
braided leaders once lifted off the water. The thought is since these leaders lack a
hollow core (as found on braided leaders)
they retain less water and therefore are
less likely to spook fish from aberrant
water drops. Leaders are available through BlueSky Flyfishers.
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The Choice - By
now you know knots equal tangles. Reduce
knots and you reduce tangles. Reduce tangles
and you fish more. Fish more……you’re happier
and catch more fish, enough said! I’ve used
the following combination with success for
years. I’ve even rigged other fly
fishermen’s lines. Benefits are simple; most
tangles can be worked free just by placing
in the water and letting the current
straighten the leader and tippet. Without
knots the tangle is free to slide down the
line and leader. Of course, undo any wind
knots when possible. Follow the following
steps and you’ll be on your way to less
tangles and more fishing.
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Materials:
9ft Original
Orvis Non-floating Braided Leader (sized to
match fly line)
Loon Outdoors
Knot Sense
Fluorescent pink
thread or other desired color
Fly line of
choice up to 7wt.
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Step 1 - Begin
by angle cutting the fly line. This aids in
feeding through the leader. Skipping this
step will cause headaches.
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Step 2 - Cut the
loop off the thicker end of the braided
leader. Make sure you cut below the end of
the splice.
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Step 3 -
Chinese-finger the line through the leader
roughly 4 to 5 inches. Enough line should be
fed into the leader to be able to steadily
pull on the leader strongly without any
movement, even without tying-off the frayed
ends. Trim the frayed ends of the braided
leader. Step 3 takes less than five minutes.
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Step 4 - Secure
the leader end in a vise. Paper or cloth may
be used for protection. Grasp the line just
before the frayed leader-ends and attach the
thread using a bobbin a 1/2" before the
frays. Wind the thread away from the vise
and over the frays by another 1/2". In
total, the thread wraps should cover
approximately 1" (1/2" on either side of the
leader's end). Lay a looped piece of thread
of equal or larger size over the thread
wraps with the closed-end of the loop facing
the vise. Gently wrap over the loop back
towards the vise (Hint - Keep this looped
thread as parallel to the line as possible,
i.e. don't let it curl around the line). Cut
the thread and pass through the loop's eye.
Pull the tag ends of the loop away from the
vise slowly. This will tuck the tag-end of
the thread wrap under its previous wraps. Tighten and cut all tag ends. Apply two
coats of Knot Sense. Step 4 takes less than
20 minutes. Wrapping the thread takes the
most time. A little finesse is required with
this step, but once mastered you'll have a
very strong near knotless leader connection.
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Step 5 - You're
finished. Pictured left to right: grey
braided leader, braided leader covering
olive fly line, pink thread securing the
leader, remaining untouched fly line. Note,
no knots to create tangles or catch debris. Pink thread can be used as a strike
indicator.
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