Furled Leaders?

[drew03cmc]

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.

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?

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 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

Buzz, I haven't had a problem with any leaders untwisting, but I had a Blue Sky twist shut the loop for the tippet. The way DF does his tippet loop, it never closes or twists shut. The shorb loop he uses is great. I am not a fan of the metal ring personally, but that is just me.

[fishinwrench]

Buzz, I haven't had a problem with any leaders untwisting, but I had a Blue Sky twist shut the loop for the tippet. The way DF does his tippet loop, it never closes or twists shut. The shorb loop he uses is great. I am not a fan of the metal ring personally, but that is just me.

I don't mean to imply that the leaders come untwisted. What i am talking about is the way the leaders are designed when tension is applied to them they "spin". Just grab one in your hands and stretch it a little, you'll see what I mean. It is enough to cause clousers or heavily weighted flys to spin around every time you give it a strip. Drives me crazy and I can't live with it, but I do like the way they turn a bass bug or bushy dryfly over.

[Buzz]

I don't mean to imply that the leaders come untwisted. What i am talking about is the way the leaders are designed when tension is applied to them they "spin". Just grab one in your hands and stretch it a little, you'll see what I mean. It is enough to cause clousers or heavily weighted flys to spin around every time you give it a strip. Drives me crazy and I can't live with it, but I do like the way they turn a bass bug or bushy dryfly over.

Sorry fishinwrench, I misunderstood. I see what you are talking about now.

[Buzz]

Thanks for all of the great information everyone. I really appreciate and respect each and every opinion.

The poll votes show that about 73% of voters use furled leaders of one type or another and 80% would recommend them to other fishermen.

I think I'll be placing an order this week. I am really looking forward to using it the next time I get down to Roaring River.

[flyfishmaster]

Buzz,

I got a few furlred leaders from Feather-Craft in STL. I got there house brand because of the metal ring and it like that better than the loop connection.

I have used the leaders for two years with out any damage and withh use them for a third season as well.

Even thought i do like them, I do not use them all teh time. Here are my reasons:

- I don't like use them with if I have to place an indicator where the furled leader is. I just do not get my drift I like when the indicator is attached on the leader itself.

- If and when I get catch on a bark fish and I have to snap the line, hte furled leader comes back a "mess".

- 5' or longer leaders do not work well on a 7 1/2' fly rod. Since you have to add a bout 4' of standard tippet to the end, the furled leader makes one helava noise in the eyelets when trying to land a fish.

But is you use a streamer or dry fly I really like using the furled leader.

Later,

FFM

[drew03cmc]

I have not experienced the problem with flies spinning, however, I have noticed that when you point your rod tip at the fly to break it off in a snag, it does recoil. It shows the shock absorbency of the leader.

[fishinwrench]

I have not experienced the problem with flies spinning, however, I have noticed that when you point your rod tip at the fly to break it off in a snag, it does recoil. It shows the shock absorbency of the leader.

Yeah that's another "issue" I have with them, when you put tension on it and the fly can't spin (like when you're hung up...or have a big fish on) it will put about 50 twists in your tippet, the harder you pull the more it spins...and that bugs me. Twisted mono or flouro is gonna loose alot of strength, no?

If it wassn't for that little glitch I'd use them way more, cuz they do roll over better than anything else I've used. When bass bugging with furled leaders I can look at a spot and lay the bug right on it (or close enough), with regular leaders you shoot and pray.

[LB DRY FLY]

I have used furled leaders for about 3 years. They do cast nice. I am sometimes a little suspect of the size (diameter) of the leaders and wonder if they are easier for the fish to see. I used them on the Frying Pan and its hard to tell if the fish were leader shy or it was my casting.

The leaders from Feather Craft are large but they are wound tight and perform great. Anyone know how the leaders from http://dffurledleaders.com/ compare to Feather Craft.

Any opinions or experience in using them on Colorado streams or the fishes ability to see them vs. normal leaders?

[Buzz]

Buzz,

I got a few furlred leaders from Feather-Craft in STL. I got there house brand because of the metal ring and it like that better than the loop connection.

I have used the leaders for two years with out any damage and withh use them for a third season as well.

Even thought i do like them, I do not use them all teh time. Here are my reasons:

- I don't like use them with if I have to place an indicator where the furled leader is. I just do not get my drift I like when the indicator is attached on the leader itself.

- If and when I get catch on a bark fish and I have to snap the line, hte furled leader comes back a "mess".

- 5' or longer leaders do not work well on a 7 1/2' fly rod. Since you have to add a bout 4' of standard tippet to the end, the furled leader makes one helava noise in the eyelets when trying to land a fish.

But is you use a streamer or dry fly I really like using the furled leader.

Later,

FFM

FFM,

I can see that I will have to do some experimenting to find out the best ways for me use them. I throw a lot of dries and streamers along with several nymphs and midges. I'm looking forward to using it though.

I was thinking about a 6' leader since I normally use a 9', I would only have to add about 3 or 4 feet of tippet material. Not too sure about strike indicators yet, I'll have to try it and see.

Buzz

[drew03cmc]

I have used furled leaders for about 3 years. They do cast nice. I am sometimes a little suspect of the size (diameter) of the leaders and wonder if they are easier for the fish to see. I used them on the Frying Pan and its hard to tell if the fish were leader shy or it was my casting.

The leaders from Feather Craft are large but they are wound tight and perform great. Anyone know how the leaders from http://dffurledleaders.com/ compare to Feather Craft.

Any opinions or experience in using them on Colorado streams or the fishes ability to see them vs. normal leaders?

I have used one of Dane's (DF) 3'10" shortie Light leaders for two plus years now and have had no issues with it at all. They roll over better than the comparable BlueSky leader. I will only use furled leaders. Never going back to a knotless leader again if I can help it.