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Full Version: Dry fly leaders?
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So for most of my fishing career I have always been told to use a lighter mono leader and tippet when fishing dries, mainly 6x or 7x. Although watching ksl outdoors however, on the fish tech report mickey showed us how the mono can just sit on the water and look totally visible, and now that i think about it mine looks like that a lot and I'm guessing that's why I'm not picking many up on top. So he said use fleuro tippets and leaders because the fish cant see it. But doesn't fluero sink? will it pull your fly under water? I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are here...
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There some debate about whether it matters if your leaders float or sink. In my opinion as long as your fly floats its all good. For a while there I would run my furled or tapered leader thorugh mucilin, gink even frogs fanny but gets to be a pain you got repeat the process every 10 or 15 minutes and floatant isn't cheap.
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Fluoro is all I use and always have. I have said this several times in past posts. I use a furled leader of choice (mono or thread), add floatant to the leader, then use 3' to 5' of fluoro tippet. I fish #32's, no they do not sink. Fluoro is not a sink tip. Sure it will sink but very slowly.
Great thing about fluoro is the light refraction thing, it rides sub surface so no shadow, it is smaller diameter for stronger material. I can use a 6X on a #30.

Great minds think alike I guess[laugh][laugh]
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I am willing to bet that's why I'm not getting many hits on top. Interesting! Ill have to try it out! Thanks and I can't even imagine fishing #32s that's crazy!
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It is MUCH more likely you're not getting hits on top due to presentation, not the leader. Yes, a finer leader helps, but I fish 3x and 4x with 14's through 18's all summer and get eaten up. Flouro. works fine with dries. So does mono. Flouro. lasts longer, so I use that these days (recent convert a few years back due to abrasion, NOT visibility). With most of my presentations, the fish sees my fly before any leader drifts through the lane. And even with a straight-upstream cast, the leader directly over the fish before the fly, the fish still eat the fly with a good drift, whether its with 3x or 6x. I match the tippet to the fly, not the fish.
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Absolutely.
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Oh I'm sure my presentation needs work! Most definatly. However I will say its come a long way and I can still pick up fish on top, I'm just curious how fleuro will effect it. I also think the way mono just sits on top of the water like that the fish can follow it right to the fly. Just thinking out loud here
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It really does make a difference but it is only part of the puzzle.

The more actively feeding they are the less impact the leader is going to have on them.

If you're not getting hits go one step smaller fly and one step lighter leader. It was real hard for me to get my mind around using 7x given the size of the fish but it works and back then I had never heard of florocarbon. Now it's all I fish and it seems to help but it's far from mandatory.
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I have a hard time with anything smaller than a #20 unless its easy to see like an elk hair. I can't see my presentation to well that way. I have tried 7x but it just kept snapping. What kind do you use?
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All things equal there may be some merit to what Micky Anderson said. However I questiona anyones advice where I sing a song in my head to their name. M.I.C.... K.E.Y [Wink]

Tyler, rather than spending money on Fluro leader and tippet, spend some time learning how to mend. THAT is where most of us fall short. That being said, I use 6x leaders and tie direct to the leader. After I swap out I add some tippet. Mostly I use 5x. I catch plenty of fish. But, on waters where the fishies see everything including the kitchen sink a lighter 7x may be a better choice.

IMHO, there are no magic beans. Time, practice and development of skills is the only true road to success. That and Tony Robbins.
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You wont find yourself needing 7X with anything under 22 and I use umpqua floro when it comes down to that small.

With that said I haven't fished anything less than 5X since I started fishing stillwaters.
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I have used 2lb Fluoro on DRYS ONLY, but loose fish[Smile] I don't use smaller than 6X now
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Well these are all great points.. I have always had a hard time mending with dry flies. I'm used to fishing weighted nymph rigs that are easy to mend. Need to work on being a little more delicate for sure. I'm thinking fleuro can only help me here... Layne, sounds like we need to hit the river so I can pick your brain!
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