Furled Leaders?

[Buzz]

I have tried the store bought (basic) leaders and have yet to see any advantage. Honestly, I think they suck. I have been looking at furled leaders, but they are somewhat expensive. I am the ultimate cheap donkey, so I would like to know from all of the guys on this forum if they use them and if they are worth the expense.It seems to me that they might be worth it in the long run.

My first time polling, so bear with with me, I know it's a short list.

Any suggestions are welcome. I mostly fish for trout at R.R and the local white ribbon areas.

Buzz

[Ham]

You need to tweak your poll by adding Yes and No options to the questions. I think it will let you edit it.

Yes, I've used furled leaders. They offer some advantages. I would suggest you get ones that have the steel ring to tie to OR tie a knot to keep the 3 part loop intact.

I has a untimely failure with a home made one a friend gave me which cost me a clouser minnow and a BIG White bass.

Other than the start up cost, I didn't have any complaints.

[Ill Trout Bum]

I've been using braided leaders for several years now. Orvis makes a very good one for around $10. They usually will last for a couple of seasons under the right conditions. I also like that they are made in both a floating and sinking model. Just be sure to check them occasionally to make sure there are no signifigant nicks or fraying of the material.

[fishinwrench]

I love the way they turn over, but their use for me is only for floating bass bugs.

The reason is: if you have weight on the leader, or a heavily weighted fly, when you put tension on the leader it begins to untwist and spin the fly during the retrieve or drift.

I first noticed this on clouser minnows and at first I thought I was tying my clousers wrong. But if you grab the leader and pull on it you'll notice how it untwists as you pull. I don't want my fly spinning through the water.

They do turn over bass bugs like nothing else though, so I still use one if I know I'm going to be fishing poppers or hair bugs all day.

[jjtroutbum]

Yes

I have and do.

[Buzz]

Ok, I went back and fixed the poll. I apreciate all of the info. Thanks.

[Danoinark]

I also like the mono furled leaders.

Catman, where do you find red mucilin? Can't seem to find it anymore.

Dano

[drew03cmc]

I put a furled leader on EVERY line I own. I won't fish without one unless I absolutely have to. My favorite ones are from http://dffurledleaders.com/. He sold me a few leaders before he went public with them, and I still use one of them (other is too heavy). I have a thread furled leader that I am going to try out this week from him as well, but they are amazing. I can throw any fly in my box on a 1wt, and it turns over and lands delicately. Also, when you hook a large fish, the furled leader acts as a shock absorber preventing shock damage to your tippet and therefore saving fish.

BlueSky makes decent leaders and will take care of you as a customer. I had one break on me at the loop for tippet attachment, and I let Jim know, in three days, I had a new leader in the mail. They get an A+++++ from me for customer service. I am still using the broken leader though. I cut it off, and used a perfection loop in the end, sealed with super glue and it works just as well if not better now than it did before.

You owe it to yourself as a fly fisherman to try a furled leader...well, I say try, but you will never go back.

Try one from DF Furled Leaders! Dane is a good guy, and can make about any leader you want.

[Buzz]

Yes, I've used furled leaders. They offer some advantages. I would suggest you get ones that have the steel ring to tie to OR tie a knot to keep the 3 part loop intact.

Other than the start up cost, I didn't have any complaints.

The only furled leaders that I have found that have the steel ring are from Feather Craft. The mono prices are about even with what the others that I've found cost. The Flourocarbon are about $5.00 more than some. I do like the idea of the steel ring though.

I love the way they turn over, but their use for me is only for floating bass bugs.

The reason is: if you have weight on the leader, or a heavily weighted fly, when you put tension on the leader it begins to untwist and spin the fly during the retrieve or drift.

I first noticed this on clouser minnows and at first I thought I was tying my clousers wrong. But if you grab the leader and pull on it you'll notice how it untwists as you pull. I don't want my fly spinning through the water.

They do turn over bass bugs like nothing else though, so I still use one if I know I'm going to be fishing poppers or hair bugs all day.

Is the untwisting problem a characteristic to all furled leaders? I like to fish nymphs, streamers and dries. I am just wondering if I would have to change or remove it if I wanted to throw a heavy streamer?

I use 6/0 dark olive uni thread & they are a 5 step taper very small comparied to most of the ones you see made from mono line material, they are 5' long for most of my fishing. Some are made 7-1/2' for bigger water and longer sticks. I get about a 2 years use out of each one. I do put some red mucilin on mine the night before. Then I just tie on 4' of 5x,6x or 7x. they work great and if you do get a knot in it it very easy to get out. Turn over is perfect.

Catman, do you buy yours or make them yourself?

After checking out Drews post I noticed that dffurledleaders sells furled thread leaders at a very reasonable price. How well do they work on the bigger bugs?

I put a furled leader on EVERY line I own. I won't fish without one unless I absolutely have to. My favorite ones are from http://dffurledleaders.com/. He sold me a few leaders before he went public with them, and I still use one of them (other is too heavy). I have a thread furled leader that I am going to try out this week from him as well, but they are amazing. I can throw any fly in my box on a 1wt, and it turns over and lands delicately. Also, when you hook a large fish, the furled leader acts as a shock absorber preventing shock damage to your tippet and therefore saving fish.

BlueSky makes decent leaders and will take care of you as a customer. I had one break on me at the loop for tippet attachment, and I let Jim know, in three days, I had a new leader in the mail. They get an A+++++ from me for customer service. I am still using the broken leader though. I cut it off, and used a perfection loop in the end, sealed with super glue and it works just as well if not better now than it did before.

You owe it to yourself as a fly fisherman to try a furled leader...well, I say try, but you will never go back.

Try one from DF Furled Leaders! Dane is a good guy, and can make about any leader you want.

I looked at dffurledleaders.com. The prices are pretty good, especially on the flourocarbon. My only worry is the loop to loop for the tippet. I'm pretty careful but I'm sort of afraid I might get a little carried away and nic the leader. I'm not sure if it would be easy enough to tie another loop and carry on. Df is having a pretty good sale right now, buy two, get one free.

I will be be using a furled leader soon. I just have to decide which one I will go with.

Thanks again for all of the good input.

Buzz

[grizwilson]

I am expermenting with them but build my own, pretty easy.

http://freestateflyfishers.org/?page_id=844