Doug, first of all, are you just fishing for fun or are you looking for any
line class records. If you look for records, expect a lot of rules, that
leader tippet concoction being one of them. Depends on what you're fishing
for, too. From your last post, you're headed for dorado, so you must decide
if you are record fishing or not, first.
Rule 1. Leader can be any length. The hard mason butt section is very
durable and nick resistant.
2. The 'class tippet' can be no shorter than 12" end of knot to end of knot
(clear length).
Class tippet must have a maximum breaking strength of the class
strength. *
3. The shock tippet can be no longer than 12" INCLUDING knots, any test.
There are more do's and don'ts, but you get the point. These rules were
written when tarpon was the biggest quarry sought for on fly rods. I called
Lefty Kreh (he's on the IGFA Flyfishing Rules Board) and bitched to him big
time that the shock tippets weren't long enough to avoid the bills of
sailfish and marlin. His answer was "those are the rules". I wanted to
shield the class tippet with clear larva-lace. No go either. What if...
Uh-Uh!
Besides that, there are a few rules about casting you need to know too.
Now if you are not after records, relax and just have some fun! Build your
own leaders, make up your own knots, have 10' 300# shock tippets to drag his
butt in, tie on swivels, snaps, do anyting you want. Just make sure your
class tippet is at least 5# lighter than your backing, or you may kiss a
$100 fly line goodbye. I have 30# backing and use 22-25# class tippets and
have landed billfish up to 130lbs with it.
That being said, there are some advantages to the things that come on IGFA
leaders.
Hard mason is one. The bimini twists are another. Bimini twists are like
little shock absorbers and are 100% line strength. I salvage all of them
and just incorporate them into my leaders. Note- careful with barrel
swivels- they can snap and slingshot back at you and take out an eye or dent
you pretty good. This year, on non-IGFA fishing leaders, I will slip a
piece of larva-lace over the class tippet to protect it from bill abrasion.
I lost a giant sailfish last year when he billed the class tippet.
*Ande tournament line is an example. The test strength is the MAXIMUM it
will test out at, NOT the minimum. Most lines will test out OVER their
stated test- thus nullifying your record.
DonO
----- Original Message -----
From: Doug Calvert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 2:51 PM
Subject: [VFB] Saltwater Leader
> For all you Saltwater types:
>
> What is the "best" leader system for salt? My local fly shop set me up
with
> a hard mason butt section looped to a class tippet (I think 20lb) with a
> bimini twist, then looped to a 50lb shock tippet. Complicated.
Especially
> for this trout fisherman. Can I use just a simple factory tapered leader
or
> do I need to learn this setup to be most effective? I'd like to learn the
> best method, but time is also a factor.
>
> Thanks
> Doug
>
>
