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Constructing long leaders

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Freshwater Fission
Forum Description: The place to discuss all matters related to freshwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=100191
Printed Date: 02 Aug 2026 at 5:07pm


Topic: Constructing long leaders
Posted By: ThomasW
Subject: Constructing long leaders
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 9:34pm
I have always used fairly short leaders/tippets, probably 10-12ft.  Today, because the fish were so flighty I experimented with a leader/tippet closer to 20ft.  It was much easier to cast then I imagined, resulted in no lost flies, I normally lose a few and only a couple of tangles with the vegetation behind... the last two might have just been luck, but I have gained confidence that it helped me trick a few extra wary trout.  For some reason I never really comprehended the advice to use long leaders on spooky fish until today.... 

So my question...

What is a good ratio between leader and tippet....  My current leader probably started its life at 9ft, I shorted it a bit, extended it maybe a foot or two with heavier nylon, tied on a micro ring and historically 2-3 feet of tippet.  

Now I am probably tying 10+ feet of tippet to the micro ring and was wondering wither its out of balance.. Should I use a longer tapered leader or is it okay to have 10ft of tippet tied to the end?

So what is a good ratio to be using?  


Replies:
Posted By: Rainbow
Date Posted: 07 Apr 2014 at 11:49pm
There is no "one" answer.   In fact there are so many fishing situations  that the best way to start is to ask yourself what do you want to achieve with your leader set up?    Then construct a leader that will do that?  
Rainbow  


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