How to Use One Leader All Season

Today’s read is a follow up to my previous post concerning the leader loop. I discovered through that post that all you guys change out your leader from time to time during the year. The majority of you change your leader using the loop to loop connector method. I used the loop to loop for a short period of time last year until I discovered that it was wearing the fused loop in my fly line some, so I decided to clinch knot the leader into the loop. By doing this I eliminated the rubbing of the leader loop against the fused loop of the fly line. The constant bending of the two loops caused the wear; the clinched knot solved that problem for me. I never changed my leaders at all last season on any of my fly lines. The tippet ring eliminated changing leaders often during a fishing season.  

This handy little gem has not only solved interchanging leaders, but it has also saved me money. I can purchase 20 tippet rings 2mm for 5.00 that will last me for 5 years or more. The following paragraph will explain the one leader per fly line theory.



 

My new 9 ft. leader is used until I snip off at least 7 to 8 inches of tippet due to changing flies. Once the leader is less than 8 ½ ft. I snip 2 ft. from the leader and tie in my tippet ring to the remaining leader and connect 3 ft. of tippet to the ring. I have found that 30 yards of tippet will go a long way during a fishing season. I use this leader for the rest of the season, only changing out tippet as needed. The leader is changed if abrasive places show up in the leader, which didn’t happen this past year. I have been experimenting with these rings for a couple of years and found that the best size is the 2mm. It is ever so tiny; you will need to leave the ring on the pin until you thread the leader through the ring. Once you have the leader end through the ring remove the ring from the pin and tie the leader to the ring; then simply tie the tippet into the ring and you have your leader. The ring doesn’t affect the action of the leader or the presentation of fly. It is so tiny that it becomes fused into the two lines. Guys you might want to give this set-up a try this season it has worked well for me.
 

The Leader Loop a Handy Little Gadget

Over the years I have used various ways to connect my leader to the fly line; my first method was using a simple clinch knot to connect both lines. This was years ago when I was using a heavy 5 weight fly rod with a cumbersome South Bend automatic fly reel. One could get quite a workout when paired with this combo all day. The knot was satisfactory as long as I kept it clear of the tip guide, where it would usually hang up.

 

My next method was the fly line pin, which was a booger bear to insert into the end of the fly line. My Dad wouldn’t use anything but the pin. He liked the pin because it would run through the guides with ease; I would always get him to pin my fly line.

 

I eventually moved from the line pin to what I would call a combo connector, that Scientific Angler introduced which included the connector and the leader in one package. Scientific Angler had all the leader sizes from 7X to 3X. My only complaint was the hang up that resulted with the connector and tip guide. This leader connector combo has been discontented. I finally moved on to my next connector.

My next adventure with the connector was the loop that is manufactured by numerous companies. I have two complaints with this connector; one is the sinking of the loop after it becomes water logged. The other is the loop itself not being flexible enough to close. This connector can be very difficult to connect to your fly line. I tried this connector less than a year. The loop has a tendency to disconnect from the fly line.

My present connector is the fused leader loop into the fly line, which I consider the best I have found for me. I will never buy another fly line unless it has the loop built in the fly line. The loop is found in most fly lines priced above 40.00. Cabela has some line in the 30.00 range with the loop, if you don’t mind the bright orange color. The only color fly line I use is olive or green. What is you connector preference and why?

 

 

 



 

 

Check Out These Awesome Links Concerning Fly Fishing

As most of you know I like anything dealing with fly fishing. I recently came across the following sites that has a world of information dealing with fly fishing for trout and super size bluegill. I think you might want to bookmark some of the following sites for future use:

I was drawn to site because I was looking for some decals to place on my Pelican boat. I was surprised to find an assortment of items here dealing with fishing.

If you love bluegill fishing with the fly rod, then this is the site for you. If you want to see some super size bluegills, check this site out!!

Flyfisher is a site similar to the bluegill site but much more detail when it comes to fly fishing for trout. This place has an insane amount of information for the avid fly fisherman.

Eastern Fly Fishing is a subscription magazine published six times a year with some fantastic articles on fishing the eastern part of the United States. They are presently running a 90 day free trial.

Perfect Fly Fishing Journal is actually a free publication that I get free, even more information concerning fly fishing.

 Hope everyone finds something useful scanning through these sites that will be beneficial for you come spring.

What's Your Time Limit For a Day's Fishing

You know we all learn something every time we venture out to one of our favorite streams or lakes. The learning curve has really increased for me over the last few of years; especially when it deals with the length of time I spend on the water. When I was younger it was a given for me to stay on the water all day regardless of the conditions, but as I get older that is not in my game plan anymore. A half day on the water is usually my trip. Research has shown that the most active feeding periods for most warm water species are early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Anything in between is an added bonus. The feeding periods for cold water species such as trout, can be somewhat different. A hatch on a given stream or tailrace could cause a feeding frenzy anytime of the day. I have seen trout feeding on mayflies at a frantic pace at 1 PM on our Sipsey Tailrace. This is why I love trout fishing so much, because I can make a two or three hour trip into something special anytime of the day. Being retired has afforded me the opportunity to tailor my fishing trips during the most active time of the day. When I was working five days a week I was only able to fish on weekends, with an occasional trip during the afternoon, holidays or summer months. Now if the barometer is high, with cloudless skies, wrong wind direction and extreme heat or cold I stay home. One thing I have learned about fishing over the years, one can’t make a fish hit if it’s not feeding. I know we all have different variables that determine how much time we spend on the water during a day’s fishing trip; is it the bite, weather conditions, time of day, or just the enjoyment of being outdoors?

The Orvis Battenkill I Large Arbor Reel Made in England

Guys I just wanted to share a couple of my finds as I replace my fly fishing equipment. I was lucky to find both of these Orvis reels for 75.00 bucks while scanning the net for the past couple of weeks.

The Battenkill BBS II is loaded with 4 wt. line and the Battenkill I Large Arbor is loaded with 5 wt. line. I bought the BBS II for 50.00 buck on a clearance sale. I couldn’t believe I got the Battenkill Large Arbor I for 25.00. This reel was used and had one tiny chip on the rim, but other than that it is in excellent condition. What really impressed me about the reel is the fact it was made in England. I sense from reading some of the fly fishing forums that this is really a quality reel. Do any of you guys know anything about the England made reels?

 

Blessed to Have Awesome Blogging Buddies

Alan at Small Stream Reflection sent me a care package today in the form of some awesome streamers, dries, and wet flies. Thanks to Alan my fly box is back to normal now and ready for some cold water fishing on the tailrace. I haven’t been able to get back on the water due to constant generation and not having fly fishing equipment to fish with.

Well as of today I can report that I have replaced most all the fly rods with the exception of one 7 ½ ft. Redington and one Gloomis fly reel. In fact I found most of the reels and rods cheaper than the original price. Even with that accomplishment, it stills leaves me with a sick feeling knowing the value of what I lost. I do have insurance now on all my fishing equipment and hopefully I will never have to use it. Thanks to Alan and the rest of my blogging buddies for all the positive comments and helping me restock my fly boxes. Now its time to hit the water.!!

Alan does an exceptional job at the tying bench. I can’t wait to get on the water and land some nice rainbows using these flies. I am especially anxious to use those streamers. The trout here seldom see these streamers patterns, so I am expecting some savage takes. I hope to have a report soon.

 

 

Slowly Replacing Stolen Fly Fishing Equipment

Well I am slowly replacing some of the equipment and flies that I had stolen from me a couple of weeks ago. I still can’t believe someone walked into my garage in broad daylight; then left with four fly fishing combos, flies, lures and accessories that took me years to collect. The police told me that it left Jasper the same day it was stolen. In other words I will never see any of it again. It just goes to show all of us we don’t live in Mayberry RFD anymore.

  I am still looking for a Gloomis Venture 3 Fly Reel, I had three stolen. I haven’t been able to find the 3 version. I would appreciate any help you guys can give me in finding one of these reels. These reels are the only items I can’t replace and they were my most prized pieces. There are no new ones left. I would be happy with a used Venture.

Kevin at Feather Chucker told me after the incident that he wanted to help resupply my fly box. He made good on his promise the other day when all these flies arrived in the mail. I am glad he tied some more of the bead head soft hackles, because I lost one of my best trout this past year using that fly. The wooly bugger pattern and big green popper will attract some nice spots on the lake come spring. Thanks to Kevin the fly box restocking has started.  

 

Update on Tiger Bass/Coppernose Bluegill Stocking 14 Months Ago

I did a post back in February 2012 concerning the Tiger Bass. I was reporting on the stocking of a 30 acre lake near our home. I had the opportunity to see the stocking of the bluegill and the red fin shad which was around 2” in length at that time and in late August of that same year I was present when the Game and Fish Department out of Montgomery stock the 3” Tiger Bass. I was invited to fish the lake back in October of this year just to check the grow rate of the copper nose and regular bluegill that were stocked back in February of 2012. When we arrived that day we notice all the automatic feeders were on and spraying tiny pellets of feed across the water surface. The Coppernose and regular bluegill were in a feeding frenzy going after the pellets. All the feeders on the lake are timed to engage at the same time so we witnessed quite a spectacle. The feeding program and of course the removing of certain pounds of bluegill and bass after the first three years is the key to having a fantastic fishery here. I landed numerous bluegills that day in the 6 to 7 oz size using a small brown colored nymph resembling the pellet. I am sorry I didn’t have images for that trip because I forgot the camera. The Coppernose was a little larger than the regular bluegill. Both species should be quite the fighter on the fly come summer. I am very fortunate to be able to fish this place in the coming years. The fly rod will be my main weapon here when spring rolls around.

 

I landed this healthy 14” Tiger Bass in November this past year. I couldn’t believe the size of this fish considering its only 14 months old. It was released as a small 3” fingering; the shad in the lake is what increases the growth rate along with the genetics that the Tiger Bass possesses. I wasn’t using the fly rod that day because of depth, all the fish were concentrated in the deepest part of the lake feeding on the shad. This bass was taken on a white shad grub fishing about 20 ft. deep. I stayed for about an hour and landed fish consistently throughout the hour. I didn’t fish at all for bluegill on this trip because I wanted to see how fast the bass had grown since stocking. You can bet I will be back in the spring to tap into the bluegill population.