20 lb test leader, no taper, is that okay?

[RegDunlop]

I am still learning. I read Tabory's book and was tying leaders with 4 sections of different lb test to create a taper, but my casting is so bad I dont think I need to worry about a leader, s o I switched to a straight length of 20 lb test no taber, just the 20 lb tied to the fly line and the fly.

 

 

If I get lucky or some fish, any fish, is dumb enough to eat one of my poorly presented poorly tied flies, will my 20 lb leader be my downfall?

 

Why are multi lb test leaders required anyway? shock absorbency? all those knots, to me goes against my KISS fishing style, and seems like it would create weak spots.

[Fischerman21]

When blues are around I usually just go with a straight shot of mono. Tapered leaders are meant to help the fly turn over properly when you finished with your cast. Some people are real particular with their leader others are not. I usually tie a bunch during the winter with the right lengths per a specific formula. When I run out during the year I usually get to lazy to tie more and end up just adding tippet or going with a straight shot. Its not a bad idea to do say a 3' section of 40lb to a 3' of 30lb to a 2.5'-3' tippet section

[Gilbey]

Leaders are a personal preference. Everyone will have an opinion. Search the forum here with key words like "leader" and you will find volumes of info.

 

But to answer your question I generally use a 6-7' piece of 20# flouro as my leader affixed to an 18" butt section of 40#. It works just fine in most NE saltwater applications. You will be fine. Just get out there and fish.

 

With experience and time on the water you might choose to change your leader construction down the road, and there's nothing wrong with that .

 

Alna

[PEC54]

I am still learning. I read Tabory's book and was tying leaders with 4 sections of different lb test to create a taper, but my casting is so bad I dont think I need to worry about a leader, s o I switched to a straight length of 20 lb test no taber, just the 20 lb tied to the fly line and the fly.

 

 

If I get lucky or some fish, any fish, is dumb enough to eat one of my poorly presented poorly tied flies, will my 20 lb leader be my downfall?

 

Why are multi lb test leaders required anyway? shock absorbency? all those knots, to me goes against my KISS fishing style, and seems like it would create weak spots.

 

 

The type of leader depends on the type of line, floating or sinking. Sinking line; 3-5 ft of straight mono should be fine,when using a floating line I generally use a leader roughly the same length as the rod . I use 2 handers exclusively where I'm throwing large flies which require a stiff butt section to add in turning the leader and fly over. My typical set up for a 13 ft. rod is 7 ft of 60 lb mono ,3 ft of 40 lb to 3 ft of 20 or 30 lb. The last section is depended upon where I'm fishing,if it's an open beach with no hang up structure I'll use the 20 lb,if there's a lot of weed or eel grass around I stick with 30lb to help when the line gets anchored down by collecting weed. If there is a lot of rocks as in the cape cod canal or dock structure I'll go 60 lb butt to 40 lb "tippet". Just about every good size fish caught in the canal requires me to change the leader ,the first 4-5 ft are frayed and chewed up by the rocks if I had used any lighter than 40 lb I'm sure the fish never would be brought to hand.

[karmical]

 

Why are multi lb test leaders required anyway? shock absorbency? all those knots, to me goes against my KISS fishing style, and seems like it would create weak spots.

 

Straight #20 is as simple as it gets the job done. I even used a straight shot of #4lb last yr when I ran out of trout tippets - kept trying to reach the one spot under overhanging tree branches (which were full of leaders w/flies & spinners etc), and was not reachable from our side of the river + not worth going all the way around (until the end of the trip to gather in all those flies +spinners & all).

 

Needless to say I did just a well with that straight #4 than I did with any of those tippets, I use straight #2 for sunfish on my 3wt, never had any problems whatsoever.

[Aquacide]

straight 9ft 15lb on the beach/flats, and straight 9ft 20lb on the rocks does me just fine.

 

when fishing deep with a fast sinker I just cut 2-3 feet off.

[flytyingguy1]

Like stated above a tapered leader helps throwing differt flies in different conditions.

But many a time I will use straght 20,30 & 40 lb leaders. Especially when the Boo fish are around!

[Jgoding]

Was going to ask what type of set up you're using. Like everyone says, tapered leaders are generally to help turn a fly over but if you're using a sinking shooting head or something it's not that important so a straight shot of whatevery # test you want to use is fine.

 

Furled leaders are becoming very popular here as well to turn over big flies for most set ups as well.

[IanCT]

Nothing wrong with straight 20 lb mono, works for me most of the time, the rest I use knotless tapered flouro, or straight flouro depending on the conditions.

[Chigger]

i hope straight 20lb is ok, or I've been doin it wrong.

 

I try to keep it really simple also.

 

I will be trying higher lb test line periodically this year, but 20 has done fine for me so far.

 

Good luck and have fun

[thaistick]

had lots of success 20 to 40lbs straight shot keep it simple it's more fun

[RegDunlop]

Thanks for all the great answers, now that I read some of the answers here, I do remeber reading somewhere that the taper is to allow the fly to present properly and roll out nicely.

 

The way I cast and the flies I fish ( the ones I tie) Im not gonna worry about it, I'll continue to keep it simple with 20 - 40 lb mono/floro.

 

thanks

[wjc]

Here's a great quote from Teedee in a thread above about leaders.

 

I don't think leaders turn over Clousers. Clousers turn over leaders.

 

Cheers,

Jim

[crunch]

Most saltwater streamers are heavy when compared to wind resistance they create and therefore do not require tapered leader.

 

You who use 40lbs leader haven't you broke or loose any fly lines when fly hooks to wood or stone etc. and you try to break it free?

 

I use fluorocarbon when there are a lot of rocks because it does not wear so bad than mono.

[Fergal]

People spend way too much time worry about tapered leaders for NE flyfishing. The simply are not needed (maybe with the exception of sight casting to bass in shallow, clear water and even then I doubt they make any difference). My leader system consists of ~6' of 30lb mono for 9wt and under and 40 for 10wt and above. Loop in both ends and then loop tippets to the end of the butt.

 

Straight 20 is fine too, I know many guys that use that and do very well with it.