Leader theory and construction

As always your answer gives great information, and also gets us thinking. We often think of fluorocarbon as being stiff, this is not always the case, also the same goes for mono, Mason (mono) is in some cases stiffer then many of the fluorocarbons manufactured. Fluorocarbon has some unique qualities, as you mentioned, it sinks faster (on average) them mono and has less visibilities then mono. So building a leader, these would certainly come into play. The transitional factor is very important, the turn over from the distal end of the fly line to the butt end of the leader (soft vs stiff, with diameter being a factor) this you mentioned. The knot's failure is always important when dealing with joining different materials.

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In answer to your question on different formulae, I'll simply say that we alter the, "basic leader formula" of 60, 20,20 ( a generic leader made up of 60% butt section, 20 % tapered section and 20% tippet section) with most of our salt water leaders, especially those made up for big game. We get closer to that formula with our bonefish leaders and leaders used for smaller fish such as snappers, ladyfish (chiro), sea trout and many others

Many of our tarpon and billfish leaders have no tapered section at all, and the tippet section is compounded by the addition of a, "bite tippet" of either heavy nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon. (Gary Borger has said that this probably should be called an, "abrasion tippet". Many call it the, "shock tippet".

Large mouth bass fishermen will often use a leader with no segments at all ... for a violent splash-down rather than a smooth turnover and gentle landing of the fly.

When fishing deep for striped bass at Montauk, or for deep running species in the Florida Keys .... such as cobia, groupers and snappers, I'll often elect a very short (say 2.5' to 3') leader with two sections ..... half butt section and half class tippet. With deep running tuna or king mackerel, I'll add a, "bite tippet" of heavier mono or wire.

For King salmon (Chinooks) in Alaska, I often used a similar short leader with only two segments, no, "bite tippet" and no tapered section.

In fishing for trout, our generic, 60, 20, 20 formula is a starting place. One might even add a generic length as "the length of the rod". Most of us modify it to attain a specific goal of presentation .... very different for fishing dry flies on moving water than for nymph fishing in pocket water. Sometimes even fishing complex / compound leaders to present two flies of different wt.s and sizes with dropper systems.

Some look at the so-called Harvey leader as predominantly if not, "all" tapered section.

I have even been given the answer on an MCCI exam that a good basic leader formula was 60, 30, 20 (!) (THAT demanded some explanation. )

Rather than leave any of you confused, I'll suggest that you go back to books you have probably already read .... this time to study the words of the authors on leader theory and construction:

FLY FISHING FOR TROUT, vol. ONE - SPECIAL TECHNIQUES by Lefty Kreh (Part of the Left's Little Library of Fly Fishing) pp. 48 - 55.

FLYCASTING SYSTEMS by Bill Nash (If you have the old edition, you may wish to send for the latest (2006) one.)

As you do this, consider their similarities as perhaps more important than their differences.

Again: Let me emphasize my own take on leaders. They must be constucted with these things in mind:

1. The presentation 2. The size and weight of the fly 3. The fishing conditions 4. The fish.

Consideration of all the details pertaining to these four things, will often demand leader modification or reconstruction at any given time while fishing.