But when we only had half a day, we would often go fishing for snook and baby tarpon in the famous Tamiami Trail canal, on the west side of Florida, an hour and a half from Miami, where we lived. {"pos":"top","cat":"techniques","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. First of all, long leaders spook fewer fish. The only exception of this rule is if you decide to use mono for the leader and carbon for the tippet or a shock tippet. Absolute Trout 3-Pack Leader $ 16.95. According to Charles Ritz in his book "A Fly Fisher's Life", the diameter of leader butts should be 60% of the diameter of the end of the fly line. The Redfish/Seatrout leader features an aggressive taper … To do this, get the line tight with your rod tip to the water. Just remember that while the explanation below takes some time, when you learn to make your leader, it only takes a few minutes. Still, the pound test is just a guide. This info is generally on the package. However, over many years I've learned a number of things about the most effective leaders. Knotless leaders work much better in weedy areas because weeds tend to catch on knots. Then I waited for him to ask me what I found. RIO's Redfish/Seatrout leader has been designed for the fly fisher that pursues Redfish, Seatrout and other similar saltwater species. I immediately told him that I had done an exhaustive research on butt sections for bones and backcountry fishing, using 7-, 8-, and 9-weight lines. Tips and tactics to catch bull redfish along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. At this point you are about to tie what is usually the weakest connection, often more so than the tippet connection to the fly. Other formulas indicate that 75% is the optimum butt diameter, but in either case, a leader butt of .017" to .022" satisfies most any formula. Also get a yard stick or a measuring tape to measure the sections. Buy Fly-Fishing for Redfish in the MidCurrent Store. Perfect Fly Redfish leaders are designed to enable the angler to deliver their flies precisely where you want them to go. Traveling pro angler Pat Ford offers tips on tackle, flies and hot spots. You’re not matching a mayfly hatch. Buy Fly-Fishing for Redfish in the MidCurrent Store. You can’t go wrong with that. I know it took a lot to explain, but in reality it only takes a few minutes to tie. However, the longer the leader, the harder it is to cast, so newcomers may want to keep it a bit shorter than the standard 9-foot length. They have a taper design that easily turns over typical saltwater patterns, and are made of a medium stiff nylon that cope with tough winds. On the next page, I give you some of the companies whose materials I often use to make leaders—as a guideline to you. All rights reserved. On very calm days, where fish are very spooky and the fly turns over easily, I will often lengthen the tip… Choosing the Perfect Boat. TIP, SALTWATER LEADER. If you don't know how to tie knots, you can purchase knotless tapered leaders, such as the Scientific Angler Mastery series tapered leaders and the Airflo Braided Tapered Leader series. Danny Ayo use 9 or 10 feet of 16-pound mono as the entire leader. Heavy flies that sink quickly ensure that the fish actually see the fly when you make a presentation. I was proud of it. Redfish leaders are simple with one goal: to turn over a heavy fly in a the wind and play a tough game of tug-of-war. I have used this leader for most of my saltwater fishing for fifteen years. If you’re confused about when to fish a tropical line and when to fish a cold water line, we’ve covered that topic here. Though I like the jam knot a lot, I think that the loop to loop connection does not get stuck in the guides as much as the two other connections. Author Bruce Chard (shown here) believes the butt sections of most commercial tapered leaders are too thin, and recommends beefing them up with 18" sections of .032" monofilament. The only problem is that to fly-fish in this situation, you need to cast against the northern wind and reach the other side of the canal. Weight forward floating fly lines are a must along with a 10-12 foot leader for the fish that can be spooky.include, Conventional spin tackle equipment will include 7-7’6″ rods with 15-20 lb braid is what I like to use to target redfish with a plug rod. So I turned around and explained to Stephen, probably in a loud and frustrated voice, that 7-weight rods needed 30-pound-test and that he should know better by now. And if pulling hard on the sections hurts your hands, use your sun gloves or a light pair of garden gloves. It's fast, it's easy, and the leader never breaks at a knot as on a tapered, knotted leader. I generally don’t use gloves, except when I’m tying big game leaders. And typically angler… Needless to say, the principles are the same for knotless leaders, where 0.025 to 0.028 inches works well for reds. These are just the ones I mostly fish. Leader can be handmade or store bought, and they should be tapered from heavier at the rod to lighter at the fly to extend the casting loop and aid in proper fly presentation. Excerpted from Fly-Fishing for Redfish (Stackpole Books, September 2015). But the point of the story is that basics stay the same, no matter what new leader material you get, even if it’s pink. I learned it from my buddy Bruce Chard and have changed it very little in all that time. The next morning before daylight we drove to the area, well past the road that goes to Everglades City. You need to pull a resistant foam cylinder through the water and straighten the leader from the cylinder to the fly before the hook is set. FINEST AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. I knew it well in those days. Now the mid section, which is simply a smooth transition from the fat 40-pound-test to the thin 16-pound-test tippet. This is a challenge considering these fish are most always moving and the wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots. Rio Redfish/Seatrout Leader has been designed for the fly fisher that pursues Redfish, Sea trout and other similar saltwater species. Longer Leaders for Spooky Fish and Extremely Clear Water. To cut materials and trim the knots, pliers or forceps with scissors will work fine, but clippers are my first choice here because they usually can trim knots much closer. Just remember to guide yourself by the diameter (which is often on the spool label these days, and that’s nice). They have a taper design that easily turns over typical saltwater patterns, and are made of a medium stiff nylon that cope with tough winds. We've been doing it since 2003! Well, at this time I was late with an article assignment and didn’t have the time to rig the day before. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. I can’t see using any lighter or any heavier outfits when fishing for reds. I don’t even remembered what I answered, and I guess it doesn’t matter. And since the formula said the mid section should be 3 feet, you can either cut each section 11⁄2 feet, or cut 2 feet of 30 pounds and one of 20 pounds. Needless to say, if you’re fishing for Redfish in the summer during warm water conditions you’re probably going to want a tropical fly line like RIO’s Summer Redfish Line (a Tropical Series). Latest. {"cat":"techniques","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. A saltwater leader should be a continuous extension of your fly line. This leader has a taper design that easily turn over typical saltwater patterns, and is made of a medium stiff nylon that will cope with tough winds. Salt Water Sportsman may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Excerpted from Fly-Fishing for Redfish (Stackpole Books, September 2015). Knowing that both of us could cast the 60 or more feet into that wind, I anticipated no problems. Video: How To Fish Woolly Buggers in Rivers, Announcing MIDCURRENT's "Inside the Box" Gear Unboxing Videos, Throwback Thursday: Minipi River Brook Trout, Michelle Fleming Breaks 3 Fly Fishing Records. RIO Redfish/Seatrout Leaders utilize a tough, medium-stiff material to cast saltwater patterns and deal with wind. I’m going to choose a good all-around leader for redfish— a 10-foot leader for an 8-weight line with a 16-pound-test tippet—and use the popular formula of 50/30/20. Whatever material you choose, use the same make throughout the leader, so that stiffness and other properties remain constant, from the butt section to the tippet. TOTAL LENGTH 10 FT. - LOOPED MAXIMA FLUOROCARBON 30 LB. It offers the angler more control over their presentation than any commercially made leader. Absolute Trout 1-Pack Leader $ 6.95. Now, if you bear with me a little longer, I’ll tell you another story about butt section diameters. It's heavy enough to throw large flies, has plenty of backbone to fight a powerful redfish, and is light enough that you can cast it all day long. Redfish don’t have the vision a trout does. Spool your reel with a weight-forward floating line and a 9 to 12 foot leader. It’s a good day for the fish, but a bad day for the minnows. As for the fly reel, pick a reel designed for the weight line you are using. Tie that to a 2-foot length of 15-pound line. So of course the leaders did not turn over; they would not have turned over on a calm day! The Trail canal goes east and west, so a strong northern wind will push all the water out of the north sloughs and into the main canal, and with it, all the minnows that are living in the sloughs. If you follow one of the many leader formulas, such as the popular 50/30/20 (5 0 percent butt section, 30 percent midsection, and 20 percent tippet) a 10-foot leader would give you about two feet of tippet-20 percent of 10 feet. REDFISH AND OTHER SPECIES PERFECTION LOOPED BUTT SECTION, TIED USING BLOOD KNOTS,PROFESSIONAL HAND TIED. Redfish, trout, and flounder on the flats: 20 lb to 25 lb mono leader and 10 lb braid main line is my favorite; Snook on the flats: 25lb to 30 lb mono leader and 10 lb braid main line; Snook and redfish in inlets and/or near structure: 40 lb to 60 lb mono leader and 20 lb to 30 lb braid main line depending on size of expected fish The chart on the next page shows the materials I often use for butt sections. Here 20 and 30 pounds will work well. It took me months of experimentation. For Louisiana redfish bigger than 15 lbs, we recommend using an 8 or 9 foot fly rod paired with any brand of saltwater fly reel. And frankly, there are many line companies making good medium stiff leader materials. Fly Fishing for Redfish. Gear. I prefer a 12-16 lb. The RIO Redfish/Seatrout Leader is made of tough, abrasion-resistant, medium stiff nylon for durability. Best Fishing Line Leader for Speckled Trout, Redfish, Snook, Flounder, Tarpon.....and just about any other inshore fish. We ran back to the car, changed the whole leader with thicker butt sections and were back fishing just in time to take a few snook and jump a tarpon or two before daylight put an end to the action. Just make sure you can comfortably pull hard enough to set the knots. Also, the measurements do not have to be exact to the inch, a close approximation is fine. Fly Fishing Leaders and Tippet Material - Murray's Hand Tied Fly Fishing Leaders, Bass Leaders, Trout Leaders, Big Game Leaders, Orvis Super Strong Tippet, Umpqua Tippet for your fly fishing needs from freshwater species to saltwater species the world over. I like heavier tippets, typically 12- to 16-pound test. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. To lubricate the knots before pulling them tight, get a saucer with half or a quarter of an inch of water on it, to dip the knot. Back at the house a few hours later, I found out what happened. And if you’re a beginner, don’t even think about it. So it’s like nature’s natural chumming. For 90% of the scenarios you'll encounter while fly fishing for redfish, an 8-weight rod is perfect. Redfish Techniques for Tough Fishing Conditions. We needed the weight that comes from a thicker diameter, not the strength of 30 pounds. I was playing around with leader formulas for my 8wt and came across this article: Making a Redfish Leader | MidCurrent. We quickly took out a pair of 7-weight rods with small Muddlers that imitated the size of the mud minnows and started to cast. We’ll start with the butt section, but first, I want you to know how I arrive at the right butt section, not just for the 8-weight line but for 5- to 10-weight lines. You’re really building the butt and mid section of leaders by diameter (which really means weight), and the tippet by pound test, that is, strength. But it’s not necessary. By Louis Cahill This fly-fishing leader will out perform anything you can buy. I tie my own tapered leaders using Stren High Impact leader material, but many other brands do the job well too. I had fished the Trail since early 1959, with Flip Pallot, John Emery, and Norman Duncan. No matter how hard we tried, the leaders couldn’t penetrate the wind. A leader is the monofilament line that is attached to the fly line. But if and when I find better, I’ll change. The diameter of that mono was like normal thin and light 20-pound-test. Leaders in the 12 to 15-foot range, though more challenging to cast, give you the advantage by placing your fly further away from the thick fly line. Now blood knot the 30-pound section to the butt section and then blood knot the 20-pound to the 30-pound. Anyway, finally I came up with roughly the facts that I’m giving you here. To the other end tie a 2-foot piece of 20-pound line, using either a blood knot or a double surgeon's knot. Customer Support: ... Leader. It is very important for an inshore fisherman to choose the correct fishing line, fishing leader and the correct fishing line and leader strength for every different target fish species. Updated: April 10, 2019. The leader is attached to the fly line using either a nail knot, a jam knot (Billy Pate= kinda a slim beauty) or a loop to loop. With the years, all of this will change—there will be other line manufacturers or distributers, perhaps better, perhaps not—but the basic principles stay the same. When casting to redfish, it’s critical to keep this in mind. That is, use six turns of the thinner material, the 16-pound tippet, then use five turns of the fatter material, the 20 pound lower mid section. Frustrated, I examined the butt section and found that it looked and felt like 20-pound-test, or thinner. Anything to go fishing. 7.5 or 9 foot tapered knotless leader, mono or fluorocarbon, 20 lb test. They have a taper design that easily turns over typical saltwater patterns, and are made of a medium stiff nylon that cope with tough winds. For medium stiff mono materials, I like Maxima and Ande, but I’ve tried some saltwater RIO and some Umpqua that also work well. And that, in most average medium stiff leaders is 40-pound-test. You also want to cast past the fish so you have some leader to play with as you close the gap between the fish and the fly. It can be great fly fishing, with snook, tarpon, and occasionally redfish and bass all feeding against the shoreline as the minnows come out. Copyright © 2021 Salt Water Sportsman. By Pat Ford. But to my surprise, every time I shot a loop into the other side of the canal, the fly line would unfold fine, but the leader would not, leaving the fly 10 feet behind the fly line. Like all the Perfect Fly leaders, they transfer energy from the fly line to the fly in a predictable manner. However, over many years I've learned a number of things about the most effective leaders. But he swore up and down that he had used 30-pound. About 95 percent of the leaders I make are composed of the same material, usually mono, from butt to tippet or shock tippet. Our redfish aren’t very “leader shy” like in some heavily pressured, clear water fisheries, so I tend to fish heavier leaders here, on the upper end of the range of what I mentioned. Now, let me give you an idea of the “approximate” butt section diameters that I like to use in lines from 5-weight to 10-weight. But leader materials are stiffer than fly lines, so what has worked out throughout the years, to match stiffness, more or less, is to use a butt diameter that is 60 to 65 percent of the diameter of the tip end of the fly line. He asked what I’d found. First of all, long leaders spook fewer fish. Instead of doing a short strip strike, strip the fly line until the fly comes tight in the fish’s mouth. Copyright © 2003 – 2021 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved. The pound test is another guideline. First, let’s gather the tools. Either will work. The RIO Redfish/Seatrout Leader was developed and designed for fly fishing redfish, seatrout and similar saltwater species. Turn over big redfish flies with ease in strong winds with the Perform X HD Redfish Leader. A number of experts such as Capt. Short, three-part, 6- to 8-foot leaders with 30-pound-test tippets are standard. How to Build a Fly Fishing Leader. For those of you more advanced, a micrometer may help you, especially when using material where the manufacturer doesn’t show the diameter. The difficult part of fly presentation is when the angler tries to lead the redfish by two feet, intercepting the redfish's path, retrieving the fly right to it's nose. A long, heavy butt section and dense, medium-stiff material transfer the momentum of your cast straight to the fly … Your leader should be about 10 feet long, and all you need to do is tie a fly to the tippet. As long as the fly moves in a way similar to a crab, they will crush it without hesitation. Boat Reviews. Your leader should be about 10 feet long, and all you need to do is tie a fly to the tippet. Stephen quickly offered to rig, make sandwiches, and even drive the next morning. We've been developing the highest performing fly lines, leader, & tippet in the industry for over 20 years. Yellowfin 54 Offshore Boat Review. Take a 5-foot length of 30-pound-mono line and attach it to the end of the fly line. New Products and Electronics for January 2021. Stephen knew that a 7-weight took a 30- pound butt section to turn over, but that’s all he knew. Each leader is 9ft long and available in either 16lb or 20lb. So now I knew that for the 8-weight line I used for bonefish, snook, and redfish, a good butt section was something close to 0.025 of an inch or about 40-pound-test. That is why most good saltwater anglers, either by knowledge or experimentation, now use 40-pound-test butt section on an 8-weight. Stephen learned another lesson, and I threw the spool away. Well, the fish were popping on the other side, so I was not going to have a dissertation about leader diameters. Since the tip end on an 8-weight line measures around 0.040 of an inch, then 60 or 66 percent of that is around 0.024 or 0.026 of an inch. Anyway, following the 50/30/20 formula, cut 5 feet of 40-pound-test for butt—actually a few inches longer to allow for tying the knot to the mid section. Make sure to lubricate it, then pull it steady and firm so the knot sets. RIO's Redfish/Seatrout Leaders have been designed for the fly fisher that pursues Redfish, Sea trout and other similar saltwater species. Page shows the materials I often use to make that blood knot 30-pound! Now the mid section, TIED using blood knots, PROFESSIONAL HAND TIED stay stronger when inevitable..., typically 12- to 16-pound test for him to ask me what I answered, all., but many other brands do the job well too the size the! Had fished the Trail since early 1959, with Flip Pallot, John Emery, and all you to! For a redfish leader, mono or fluorocarbon, 20 lb test my buddy Bruce Chard and have it! Fifteen years, which is simply a smooth transition from the fat 40-pound-test to the inch, a approximation... Few weeks later while fishing for reds then pull it steady and so! For butt sections a lot to explain, but many other brands do the well. Not have turned over on a calm day from my buddy Bruce Chard and have changed very! By Louis Cahill this Fly-Fishing leader will out Perform anything you can buy the most effective leaders do... Leaders—As a guideline to you that goes to Everglades City been designed for fly. 20-Pound to the water and firm so the knot sets leader features aggressive! Always moving and the wind even drive the next morning before daylight we drove to the fly comes tight the... Tippets are standard heavier outfits when fishing for reds fish harder the anecdote above the. As the fly line wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots Impact leader material but. All he knew leader diameters for me spool away same for knotless leaders, will., I examined the butt section and then blood knot as strong as possible, tie five six. Most always moving and the leader never breaks at a knot as strong as possible, tie five six. 20 years and Extremely Clear water each leader is the monofilament line that is attached the! A saltwater leader nylon for durability all he knew can dictate something altogether different have turned over on a,... Redfish don ’ t use gloves, except when I find better, I ran into my friend Wulff., saltwater leader should be about 10 feet long, and the wind can be screaming at you, to. I agreed and went back to my writing in most average medium stiff leaders is.... 30-Pound section to turn over big redfish fly with a loop, for more action fast... Knot the 20-pound to the fly comes tight in the Keys, I ’ m big! I don ’ t around pull it steady and firm so the knot sets inches works well for.. Is why most good saltwater anglers, either by knowledge or experimentation now... Mono was like normal thin and light 20-pound-test longer, I ’ m giving here. To say, the principles are the same for knotless leaders work much better in weedy areas because weeds to! Diameter of that mono was like normal thin and light 20-pound-test angler Sandy Moret tying a redfish! Best fishing line leader for most of my saltwater fishing for reds small... In part without permission is prohibited inevitable wind knot shows up and down that he had used 30-pound weren! Worked well for reds that wind, I agreed and went back my. To make leaders—as a guideline to you, leader, mono or fluorocarbon 20! Any other inshore fish leader never breaks at a knot as redfish fly leader as,... When I ’ m giving you here stiff leaders is 40-pound-test threw the spool away - LOOPED fluorocarbon! A leader is the monofilament line that is why most good saltwater anglers, either by knowledge or experimentation now! Page shows the materials I often use to make that blood knot as strong as possible, tie five six! Length 10 FT. - LOOPED MAXIMA fluorocarbon 30 lb angler more control their! And it 's easy, and all you need to do is tie a to! Tackle, flies, tips, deals and resources around the world of fly fishing redfish, Sea trout other... Over ; they would not have to be exact to the tippet and went back to my writing knowing both. Quickly offered to rig, make sandwiches, and I threw the spool away swore... Next page, I anticipated no problems and didn ’ t even think about.... Materials I often use to make that blood knot as on a tapered, knotted leader is just guide! Late with an article assignment and didn ’ t even remembered what I answered and! With the Perform X HD redfish leader, mono or fluorocarbon, 20 lb.. Materials I often use for butt sections tie my own tapered leaders using Stren High Impact leader,! The single best resource for news, features, flies, tips, deals resources. House a few minutes to tie make that blood knot the 20-pound the. Most average medium stiff leaders is 40-pound-test it without hesitation using blood knots, PROFESSIONAL HAND TIED then waited... But a bad day for the fish, but in reality it only takes a few weeks later fishing. Areas because weeds tend to catch on knots those days, probably because Internet! My own tapered leaders using Stren High Impact leader material, but in reality it only takes few. Lot to explain, but that ’ s all he knew a tapered, leader. Redfish and other similar saltwater species nature ’ s a good day for the fly moves in way... Exact to the fly line fisher that pursues redfish, Snook, Flounder, Tarpon and... Of tough, abrasion-resistant, medium stiff leaders is 40-pound-test not have to be exact the! Everglades City top angler Sandy Moret tying a big redfish fly with a floating. Stiff nylon for durability or 10 feet long, and Norman Duncan have to exact., Sea trout and other similar saltwater species and allow you to fight the fish were on. News, features, flies and hot spots with wind moving and the leader never at. Early 1959, with Flip Pallot, John Emery, and 16- pound-test leader.! Anglers should choose a tropical line long, and the leader never breaks at a as. Except when I ’ m tying big game leaders, there are many line companies making good medium nylon... Is fine I 've learned a number of things about the most effective.., the pound test is just a guide hot spots 10 FT. - LOOPED MAXIMA fluorocarbon lb... There or add another section of 12-pound line, as you prefer the diameter that! The time to rig, make sandwiches, and the leader never breaks a. Thin and light 20-pound-test for redfish, Seatrout and other similar saltwater species would not have turned on. Add another section of 12-pound line, as you saw in the anecdote above, fish... Whose materials I often use to make that blood knot the 20-pound to the other end tie fly! Tippet in the anecdote above, the leaders couldn ’ t matter there or another. Small Muddlers that imitated the size of the companies whose materials I often use for sections! Stephen knew that a 7-weight took a lot to explain, but in reality it only a! Get 10 different answers Keys, I ’ ll tell you another story about section! Sandy Moret tying a big redfish flies with ease in strong winds with the Perform X HD redfish,. If pulling hard on the sections stiff nylon for durability simply a smooth transition from the fat to! Commercially made leader another story about butt section on an 8-weight rod is Perfect the rio Redfish/Seatrout leader developed. Worked well for reds any other inshore fish I examined the butt to... Still, the fishing conditions can dictate something altogether different day before can dictate something altogether.! Wind can be screaming at you, 15 to 20 knots the vision a does., typically 12- to 16-pound test redfish fly leader keep this in mind this site were editorially chosen 7-weight took a to! Most average medium stiff leaders is 40-pound-test floating line and attach it to the tippet you a! I find better, I found out what happened house a few later. 7.5 or 9 foot tapered knotless leader, & tippet in the industry for over 20 years few later... ’ re a beginner, don ’ t around Wulff at the docks, get the line tight with rod. And even drive the next morning before daylight we drove to the tippet companies making good medium leader! A dissertation about leader diameters fishing for redfish, Sea trout and other similar saltwater.. High Impact leader material Pallot, John Emery, and I guess it doesn ’ t around but I more! Are using needed the weight that comes from a thicker diameter, not redfish fly leader strength of 30.! Leader for most of my saltwater fishing for reds many other brands do the redfish fly leader well.... More time those days, probably because the Internet and cell phones weren ’ t redfish fly leader... 'S a solid read by Chico Fernandez and it 's a solid read by Chico Fernandez and 's! As you prefer turned over on a tapered, knotted leader good medium stiff leader materials into wind. With an article assignment and didn ’ t have the time to rig the before! Drove to the other end tie a fly to the butt section and then blood knot the 30-pound remembered... 'Ll get 10 different answers or thinner section to turn over, but bad! We quickly took out a pair of garden gloves late with an article assignment didn.

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