Choosing Fly Fishing Leaders

Choosing Fly Fishing Leaders

Fly fishing leaders are the final connection from the fly line to the fly. Leaders range in length from 4 to 15 feet, have different degrees of taper, and have different test rating, so how do you choose the right ones?

The fly fishing leader serves three purposes. It provides the energy needed to turn the fly over during a cast, present the fly naturally, and the strength to reel in your fish.

The tapered leader, which is used for fly fishing, is made up of three different sections.

Butt Section - This is the thickest and heaviest portion of the leader and is attached to the end of the fly line. It is also the longest portion of the leader and covers nearly 60% of the entire leader.

Mid-Section – The middle of the leader that provides the taper to the tippet portion.

Tippet – This is the thinnest and lightest portion of the leader. This is where you attach your fly. This section has to be nearly invisible to the fish and allow the fly to drift naturally, but strong enough not to break when you are reeling a fish in.

Now that you have a better understanding of the terminology used for a tapered leader lets get into specifics.

Diameter

When you hear other fly fisherman talk about the leaders they use they often mention a number followed by an “X”, such as 6X. What they are talking about is the thickness or diameter of the tippet on their leader.

“X” is a measure of the diameter of the leader minus .011. So the 6X leader they were talking about has the diameter of .005. A 3X would be about .008.

Still confused? Okay, just remember this. The larger the number before the X, the thinner the tippet. That’s the easiest way to look at it.

The reason diameter is an import factor to keep in mind is it will determine the size fly you can tie on. If the diameter is too large it won’t allow a fly to drift naturally and remain less visible to the fish. A smaller diameter may be required in clearer water or when fishing for easily spooked fish.

Length

Deciding the length of fly fishing leader to use requires a couple of different factors.

The major factor is how easily the fish you’re going after spooks. A fish in shallow water will spook easier, so a longer leader is needed, say 9 to 12 feet. This length should suffice for fishing with nymphs and streamers.

When fishing with bass bugs using a leader this long can make it hard to turn the fly over when casting. For that purpose a shorter leader may be necessary. A shorter leader also makes it easier to fight a bass when he makes a run for the weeds. I would suggest a 7 1/2 to 9 foot leader for most topwater bass fishing.

For sinking line you can use shorter leaders because the line will be less noticeable to the fish at greater depths. This also helps lightly weighted flies sink better by keeping the line closer to the fly. A longer fly fishing leader can be used for heavier weighted flies as they will properly sink on their own.

Test Rating

The test rating of a fly fishing leader is the pounds of force it takes before the tippet will break. 8 pound test will break when 8 pounds of pressure is applied to it.

That is not to say a 10 or 12 pound fish cannot be caught with it, it just requires some more finesse. On the other side of that it would be safe to say a 6 pound fish could possibly snap your leader if he used enough force.

Choosing the right pound test requires that you know the type and size of fish you are going to be fishing for. Also keep in mind where you will be fishing. Fishing for bass in a weedy pond may require a more durable fly fishing leader to pull the fish out of different structures.

Extra Tippet

A fly fishing leader should last for a few outings if maintained properly. Changing flies and losing fish will inevitably result in you tippet becoming shorter and shorter.

Extra tippet material is sold in spools and can be added to your leader using a double surgeon’s knot. This will help extend the life of your leader.

It’s a good idea to keep several fly fishing leaders and extra spools of tippet in various sizes in your vest for when different fishing conditions arise.

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