Custom Leaders - My next adventure

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driftless
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by driftless » Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:05 am

Bob, do you use this same setup when you are fishing here in cheese country?

Frankly, I'm thinking of returning to hand-tied leaders, since I'm not happy with the commercial tapered leaders.

Paul
joaniebo
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by joaniebo » Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:28 am

Paul

Whether I’m fishing in Cheese Country, Michigan or at local pond, I use the Oliver Kite leaders. If I want a lighter leader I go down a little and end up with the last length being 3lbs.

Bob
driftless
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by driftless » Sat Jun 01, 2019 12:49 pm

Thanks, Bob.

I used to tie a leader that used both Maxima Chameleon & regular tippet, but the ultra-green setup sounds like it would be fairly limp, which is good.

I'll give it a try.

Paul
driftless
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by driftless » Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:57 pm

John,

What are you using for tippet?

I've used Rio & Orvis super strong, both of which I'm liking less & less. I've heard good things about every brand of tippet there is, though :?
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letumgo
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by letumgo » Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:26 pm

Image

I spent this afternoon tying up a set of the North Country Spider leaders. Here are some photos (roughly) showing the process (It is really difficult to shoot photos of this, since it it such a hands-on process).

Anyway, here are some pics I took along the way.

Tools: Tape measure, stainless rod, nail clippers, scissors
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Magnifying visor:
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Forming and trimming of blood knot:
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After snugging up the blood knot (tag ends should form 90 deg angle to main line and protrude in opposite directions).
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Appearance of blood knot after trimming with nail clippers
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Early in the process, I discovered that the notch in the corner of the leader box became a useful staging area for the leaders. I'd slide the first knot in the butt section into the notch, and it would hold the leaders between steps.
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When measuring the leader sections, I would add two inches (2") to the desired length to compensate for the tag ends that get trimmed off after forming the blood knot.
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Boiling the butt sections for five minutes, to make them more supple:
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Finished Leaders:
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narcodog
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by narcodog » Sat Jun 01, 2019 6:50 pm

ForumGhillie wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:54 pm
driftless wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:57 pm John,

What are you using for tippet?

I've used Rio & Orvis super strong, both of which I'm liking less & less. I've heard good things about every brand of tippet there is, though :?
Paul,

I really like Trout Hunter's tippet material and I have used it for years.

Out West in the Fall on the Henry's Fork I use Cortland 5x fluorocarbon to keep the big trout's heads out of the weeds while using small soft hackle fly patterns (size #18), I do not use fluoro when fishing a bamboo fly rod or when fishing larger flies.

Personally, I do not like fluoro, but it is only tippet materials I know that has worked for me with big. powerful fish and weeds. Plus, I do not like to play the trout any longer than I have too.
You only use Cortland because someone gave it to you.
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letumgo
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by letumgo » Sun Jun 02, 2019 9:33 am

This morning I made up a set of Dana Reed's dropper loop leaders.

Image

Next on my list was a copy of the Oliver Kite leaders that Bob (joaniebo) mentioned earlier.

Oliver Kite's Leader Formula (10 Feet/4X):
54" (20 lbs / 0.017" Maxima Chameleon)
10" (12 lbs / 0.013" Maxima Chameleon)
10" (6 lbs / 0.009" Maxima Chameleon)
O <----- Insert 2 mm Tippet Ring Here
10" (5 lbs / 0.008" Maxima Chameleon)
O <----- Insert 2 mm Tippet Ring Here
36" (5 lbs / 0.007"/4X Cabela's Prestige Co-Polymer tippet)

Image

Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to testing out the Kite leader and will let you know how I like it (eventually).
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joaniebo
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by joaniebo » Sun Jun 02, 2019 2:09 pm

Ray

The only Maxim Chameleon mono I ever used has been the 4 lb and I always thought the Chameleon felt softer / more flexible that Maxima Ultragreen. Thus, I wonder how your Oliver Kite leaders will perform, well, hopefully.

Bob
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by letumgo » Sun Jun 02, 2019 3:02 pm

Bob,

One of the things that surprised me by this Kite leader formula is how dramatically the taper changes. I will be interested in seeing how the leader compares with other more gradual tapers.

On a side note, I changed up the last 36" (4x) section to nylon tippet from Cabela's. The material is very supple (limp), yet has good strength and a bit of stretch providing a bit of protection from break-offs.

I like the flexibility the two tippet rings provides. Great idea guys.
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tjd
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Re: Custom Leaders - My next adventure

Post by tjd » Sun Jun 02, 2019 7:52 pm

Hi Ray,

I think I've given you some of my hand tied leaders in the past.
Here are a couple of things that I've learned along the way, feel free to experiment:

I tie my blood knots with 3 turns, then wet them in a small plastic dish before drawing them tight. Lubrication, good...fiction, bad. Eliminates some twists and curls.

After I trim the excess "stems" from the blood knots, I dress the knots with Loc-Tite super glue. I've never had a knot that was dressed like this (even when tied with 3 turns) fail.

Dressing the knots with Loc-Tite is also helpful when joining two different brands of leader/tippet material, especially fluorocarbon.

Best,

Tim
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