salt water fly leaders

[ghost]

I have been experimenting with very simple leaders made of a single piece of mono 20# right off the fly line to the fly or to a tipit, no more taper and the knots that go along with it. It is simpler and i have not noticed any difference in fly turn over.
Any comments? Is the taper really needed?

[dunfly]

I read this same suggestion on another forum. I tried it and is seemed to work fine. I do use a 18" to 24" of 12# flourocarbon tippet on the end of about five to six feet of 20# mono leader. I'm going to keep trying his for a time. If it continues to work with a variety of flies and wind condition, I probably will stay with it. I sure beats tying tapered leaders.

[DougAnderson]

How long is your section of 20# leader? Also, what is the largest size fly that you can turn over? It seems strange that you can turn over 3/0 striper flies with a leader stiffness that is used for trout fly butt sections. I believe that Ray Bondarew uses 20# single section (Big Game) leaders.
Doug Anderson

[chrisfish]

I guide out of Jamestown so quality and inexpensive leader is important. I tie Maxima 40 lb with albright to the flyline. About 3 1/2 feet. Then I use either Maxima 15 lb or Stren High Impact 15 lb as leader 4-5 feet. It us perfect unless I need a wire for blues (american fishing wire 18 ib.) or a shock for tuna (20 lb flourocarbon) Buying leaders is a waste as they are all too supple. Stren high impact is nice & stiff.

[spook]

The length of required leader depends on -floating or sinking line. A simple leader as you describe is fine on a sinking line, not so fine on a floating line where you want something longer.
I come off the line with a butt of 30-40-50lb( 3-4ft) depending on the line size and go directly to a tippet.

[spook]

In re to leaders "turning over". The mass of the leader is more important than stiffness. Thats why a "trout" leader can turn a saltwater fly- it just has to be a certain density.