Furled Leaders

[harelug]

How many of you guys use or have even heard of furled leaders? I tried them a few years ago, wasn't too happy with the connections to flyline and leader so gave up on them. Then a guy called Skip Shorb invented the shorb loop. I've recently started using them again. They allow endless permutations of  taper, various materials can be encorporated to enhance stiffness, visibility, floating or sinking speed. I could go on at length but here's a few sites to start you off.

http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/henk/henk1.htm
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/freaner/furling/furled.htm
http://www.furledleaders.co.uk/home.htm
http://furledleaders.proboards26.com
http://www.furledleaders.co.uk/pdf/how-to-shorb-loop.pdf

[Wildfisher]

Some swear by them Sandfly  gave me one last year to try and I have to admit, to my ultimate shame, it is still in my bag and I have not tried it yet.   :oops: I can be a lazy bugger at times -  - I have just started using tippet rings and Allan has been on at me for years about them. They are great!

[haresear]

Harelug gave me one to try and I have to admit I haven't attached it to a line yet.

One day, when we were setting up our rods in a fresh wind, I tried hand-casting the leader into the wind and it straightened perfectly. You couldn't have done that with a factory mono leader.

On the other hand, we were using practically identical set-ups one recent windy day and Harelug remarked that I seemed to be getting turnover than he.

If we get out fishing this windy weekend, We'll swap rods and post our findings.

Alex

[Ptinid]

If anybody would to send me one, I'll try it with alacrity and elan  :gay4

[haresear]

I'll try it with alacrity and elan 

Maybe just a dash of verve too?

Alex

[gordy66m]

In case anyone doesn't know (I didn't) Mike Bario sells these furled leaders at ?5 a go. Bought two last week and he even nail knotted them onto my fly lines for me. Top lad.

Gordy

[haresear]

I've been using one that Harelug made for a couple of weeks now. It is the thinnest one he has made and I thought I'd give it a try on a DT4 line.

It is incredibly supple and should in theory give a better chance of a drag free drift on a river. To be honest however, I don't like the turnover and find that the slightest breeze blows it off course. I'm pretty sure I can cast more accurately with a standard Leeda Selectacast or similar.

That said, remember that this is by far the thinnest and lightest of the furled leaders he has made. I'll get a shot of his standard one and let you know what I think. I'm sure these will perform better as John certainly seems happy with them.

Alex

[haresear]

Can someone tell me how long a tippet you add to the leader

I had about 8 feet added on to a furled job aroung 6 feet long I think. I think Harelug does much the same.

Alex

[harelug]

Yep, I add at least 8ft of mono.

[haresear]

I don't use the ring during summer, when I might want to add a longer tippet than during winter. The reason is that when netting a fish, the ring can end up well within the tip ring and when the fish takes off on a run, this could jam (it hasn't yet, but it is a most unpleasant feeling). It could also damage your rod rings.

I tend to switch to a tippet ring during the winter, when I'll be nymphing with heavier nymphs for grayling using an indicator. As long as I'm fishing the water blind and not casting to rises or sighted fish, I don't find I need as long a leader, plus a shorter one turns over the weighted nymphs better. An added benefit is that I can avoid a direct mono to fluoro connection, which I am not keen on.

Back to your question BD. No, I don't find a metal tippet ring puts fish off, but then I'm usually fishing them on the river, rather than loch style. I know some of the NZ guides use them too and they as a breed are paranoid about using gear that scares the fish (and they can see the reaction of the fish much of the time).

Alex