The Uni-Thread Leader-Quite a Find!!
Rain, sleet, and a light
dusting of snow have kept me inside most of the week with the exception of my
gym time a couple of mornings. This time of year I am on the computer a lot
watching fly fishing videos and doing some research involving fly fishing equipment
and accessories. One of the accessories that got my attention this week was the
Uni-Thread Furled Leader. It’s not that I had never heard of a furled leader
but I wanted to learn more about this leader before I purchased a
couple. The main reason I want to try a furled leader is drag problems I
encounter at times fishing the mono leader especially on downstream drifts. I hope
this leader will aid in eliminating some of the drag I experience when fishing
a dry. What’s your take on the furled leader?
I've used furled leaders extensively in the past. I've more or less returned to normal nylon leaders for the bulk of my fishing. Furled leaders are great for dry fly fishing - they are supple, stretchier than even a fine nylon leader, and they're a pleasure to cast especially on light weight rods. I used to make my own furled leaders - either from fine monofilament line or from uni thread.
ReplyDeleteThe drawbacks to furled leaders come when you decide you want to switch to say, indicator nymphing. That requires changing the leader to a nylon leader (I won't risk damaging a furled leader by trying to attach a thingamabobber to it) which is a bit of a hassle, especially if you start seeing fish rise and want to switch back to dries.
The other comes when you snag them - furled leaders become a hellish nightmare if you snag them in the brush. They get knotted and kinked very easily in such scenarios and you either spend half an hour untangling them and trying to not damage the leader, or you wind up cutting it. Sometimes both. Nylon leaders are cheaper and don't require changing out between techniques.
If I was exclusively fishing dry flies, soft hackles, or never fished with indicators, furled leaders would be great, despite their desire to become birds nest when your cast unexpectedly meets the tree behind you, because they do offer advantages in more finesse presentation.
It's worth a try to see how you like them. Buy one, or build one - they're not that hard to do, just takes a long board, some hooks or pegs, and a power drill unless you don't mind furling by hand. Lots of good info on how to build your jig and how to make the leaders if you want to give it a go. Or buy a $7 or 8 off the shelf leader and give it a go.
I don't know how the furled leaders help with drag. My only experience with a leader of this type is my 3 wt for bluegill and bass around my local lakes. I like that I don't have to have a super long leader section and can tie on 2 feet of 6 or 8lb mono to the end of the furled leader and fish.
ReplyDeleteI love them for fishing small streams. They turn over really well and they don't kink or have the memory of mono. They are really easy to make your own after you build a jig.
ReplyDeleteMark McKenzie
ReplyDeleteI may purchase and one and use it for dry flies. I want to try it on a downstream drift. Thanks for all the information
Justin
ReplyDeleteWhat really got me interested in this leader is what Jonathan Barnes does with it on downstream drifts---he gets very little drag when using the Uni Furled leader with dries. Take a look at the link with him fishing the furled leader downstream. Thanks for the comment
P.S. this is his blog I recently did a post about how informative his videos are
click on the link Dry Fly Fishing
http://www.onstream-guide.com/
Mark
ReplyDeleteI like the fact one doesn't have to deal with memory when fishing this leader, didn't know this is the type leader you use on small streams---another plus--thanks for the comment
Lester
ReplyDeleteI've found some Uni-Leaders on Ebay for 6.50 and will order a couple and give them a try. If I like the results, then I will try tying my own. There are good videos on Utube showing you how its done. thanks for the comment
Something I've not tried yet.
ReplyDeleteMark
ReplyDeleteI decided I will give the furled leader a try simply because of less drag, when fishing the dry fly. I'll will do a review when I get back on the tailrace. Thanks for the comment
Bill I have been using furled leaders for some time and I can't find a bad thing to say about them.
ReplyDeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteI plan on using this leader mainly with dries, nymph fishing will continue with the mono. Thanks for the comment
I use furled leaders occasionally and enjoy them more than mono. But I get lazy and usually forget to tie one on when I rig up.
ReplyDeleteHoward
ReplyDeleteI'm going to give them a try and see if they live up to the news. Thanks for the comment
I first became acquainted with furled leaders by winning some in a TU raffle. Liked the concept, but not those particular leaders.
ReplyDeleteSo after a bit of research, I made a jig, and started furling my own. Love them. Fish them on big water, tiny water, still water, and very fast water.
I fish them with dries, nymphs, and streamers. By varying the lengths, butt sections, and overall formulas, I can make them for 1 to 12 weight.
They are strong, I have never had one break on a fish, or tree, or whatever. Have occasionally worn out the skinny end where the tippet ring lives, but simply tie in a perfection loop, attach tippet, and am fishing.
The memory thing is huge- none! Knots can appear daunting, but I have never had one that cannot be teased out, usually quickly. And actually they work great with indicators. Certain brands/types, that is.
And they last like crazy. Fished the same one every day for three weeks in all sorts of water in Vermont this past summer.
Boulders, rocks, very thick brush. I always make and carry extras, but these things last and last. And I catch as many , if not more fish than people around me with poly/fluoro leaders
I use "Coats Trilobal Polyester" thread to make mine.
Just another opinion, but I haven't bought leaders in over a year and a half. And I fish a lot.
Daveo
ReplyDeleteThe furled leader is all new to me as I indicated in my post. I wanted to try it out last Friday but I was doing so well landing trout with the Copper John I just didn’t take the time to give it a try. I was also thinking I could only fish this type leader with a dry, but now I find out it can it can use with all types of patterns. Are you using mono to make your leaders? The leader I purchased is not mono, it is braded leader. Can you email me an image of one of your leaders you use to fish with a 5X and 6X tippet? I am fishing nothing but tailraces. My email is btloydtruss13@gmail.com
Thanks for all the info.
One quick point... my leaders are "furled", not braided. Furling is similar construction to that used to make a spiral rope.
ReplyDeleteBut they are furled and tapered as opposed to ropes which are uniform thickness.
I can make them out of any thread, including mono, but have found the "tribal poly" to be best for my purposes.
Daveo
ReplyDeleteSorry about the misrepresentation of the leader, but when I removed it from it's pack I immediately thought braid. I will be doing a post on the leader as soon I as I can get back on the tailrace. Lots of rain here will keep me off the water for at least a week. Can't wait to give it try. I am sure I will be ordering more. Thanks for getting back to me.