Last year in mid July, I was flyfishing on the boise river. I was using a 4x leader, and within my first hour, I had lost 3 trout all over 2lbs each. Needless to say I was quite disgusted and went searching through my truck.
The only line I found was some STREN 30lb test mono. At this point I didn't care what it was, I was tired of losing nice fish. I tied it on, and beside the fact that I had always heard that trout can see the line, etc. etc., etc... I continued to catch trout after trout. My father who was using 6lb test was not catching much at all. That day I landed 13 trout, all 15 - 18", and didn't lose another fish.
Don't be scared to use heavier leader..
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I use heavier leader than I used to, but not anywhere near 30 lb. I couldn't even get my flies threaded on to 30lb. [shocked][laugh][laugh]
I have found that especially in fast water the fish are focused on the fly. They don't get much time to check out the leader. In still water or spring creeks that get hit hard a heavier leaded can spook them. I am really good at spooking fish! [blush]
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I've used 20# and 30# mono for leader material before. For pulling silvers out of the surf and dragging up halibut and rockfish. My friends thought I was nutz but we enjoyed numerous 20# chickens on the grill thanks to it.
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I would say 30lb is overkill unless you are after steelhead or salmon. I use 4-6lb tippet normally on small creeks for fish up to 4-5lbs. If on a larger river, I will use 8lb tippet. The leader I use is usually a 2x or 1x depending on the area I am fishing and how I am fishing. 1x for streamers or sinking flies and 2x or 3x for smaller streams with midges or dry flies.
I found 4x is not quite big enough for anything over panfish unless it is small planter trout in small streams or calm lakes.
The biggest problem with large leader is when using small dries with finicky fish. It does not lay right and can spook fish very easily. Large leader will work at times, but other times you will have issues.
The drag on your reel will be the other issue. Loosen it up a little and you will have a better landing rate.
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I use anything from 3x - 6x in fast water. With trout 18 inches and under it is rare to lose any fish due to break off even with 6x. I'm guessing your leader sucked either quality wise or was nicked up pretty bad. I use mirage fluorocarbon from Orvis and only rarely even bother with tippet because the fish don't see it so why bother. It on sale for $5.40 for a 2 pack so I just ordered enough for this year.
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?...t_id=27976
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When streamer fishing for trout, I use a leader of only 2-3ft. with 20# and 10# test. Of course I am using big flies with the anticipation of catching big fish. I always try and see what I can get away with. If 30 # tippet worked, then I will try it too.
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I think a lot people have no idea how much pressure you can put on a fish with 4x, even 5x for that matter. It's quite a bit.
If you're breaking off fish right and left on 4x, it's likely that your tippet is rotten or knots are bad.
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I had friends who used 20 lb + on the south fork of the snake so they could pull their hopper flys off the brush when they would cast in to it.
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[quote kentd71]I had friends who used 20 lb + on the south fork of the snake so they could pull their hopper flys off the brush when they would cast in to it.[/quote]
You should be able to do that with most leader.
But it does get to the reason I don't use 20+ lb leader on even an 8 wt fly rod. It's not the visibility issue at all. I'd much rather break my leader and lose a fly than my rod be the weakest link and snap. I learned that the hard way once.
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I am with you Riverdog. I used 6 lb fluoro on 20 lb Trout and 10 to 12 lb Carp IN grass. I want the leader to be able to break at some point rather than loose $70+ fly line or a rod.
I think 10 lb P-Line is the heaviest I have ever used.
Whatever works, though.
About the only time I have used a 30 lb was in a butt section of a fly line.
I agree on the line being bad. I used some Vanish Fluorocarbon one trip. 6 lb broke off, so I went 8 lb, still broke off, went to 12, still. Switched to 6 lb P-Line and landed every fish after that with smallest fish being 24".
weird thing is, fluorocarbon is not suppose to have a shelf life so I think, bad batch.
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I've actually heard quite a few complaints about Vanish fluoro having really poor knot strength with lots of break offs on the strike.
The heaviest I've used fly fishing is 1x when throwing big poppers around thick weeds for bass. Usually I use 2x for bass, 3x when I fish streamers for trout, 4x fishing dry droppers or nypmhing streams, and 5x or 6x if fish are on small dries or emergers. Most break offs that I've had have been from me being a spaz when I've dropped down to 6x and I've been fishing 4x, and I way over do it on the hook set. That or damaged tippet.
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