James Leisenring

[Tom Gibbons 0]

Got to thinking about it..., wouldn't leave me alone. So the question is, "does anyone know what rod maker Leisenring preferred?

[mikechell 0]

I don't have the slightest clue who Leisenring is. But there are enough people on this site who know everything, someone should have an answer for you.

[JSzymczyk 0]

If he never mentioned it in his writings, then it probably didn't signify.

[FlaFly 0]

I would say he probably preferred knockwurst.

[Rocco 0]

Now I feel very old. Cut my teeth on his book on tying and fishing wet flies.

 

Rocco

[utyer 0]

In my copy from 1971, chapter 15 is the only chapter that addresses the tackle in any way. There is no mention of a specific rod, but the type of line he preferred is given as the Hardy Carona Silk fly line. The size given was an IFI equivalent to a #3 line in today's terms. Leaders were mentioned as well, with a length of up to 14 feet, but always very light 5X and 6X are mentioned with breaking strengths of 1 and 3/4 pound.

 

I first learned a whip finish from this book, and I built and used may cards of pre-dubbed bodies for my fly tying. These were the wet flies I used up until I read The Soft Hackled Fly by Syl Nemes.

 

 

[troutguy 0]

http://www.si.com/vault/1960/03/28/583828/the-art-of-fishing-with-the-wet-fly

[Bruce Norikane 0]

http://www.si.com/vault/1960/03/28/583828/the-art-of-fishing-with-the-wet-fly

 

Excellent detailed article on Leisenring and his highly developed wet fly techniques.

 

and the Sports Illustrated Vault is fantastic.

 

Thanks Troutguy!

[Tom Gibbons 0]

Dear Flyfishers, always a joy to read such as the above, I appreciated every response. Thanks much and as a matter of fact, " I am old".

[skeet3t 0]

I have used the Leisenring lift many times and it is very effective. I use it mainly on small streams and it is deadly. Be prepared for a hard strike when the wet fly starts to lift like a nymph rising from the bottom. I use either a 6 ft., 2 wt. or a 6-1/2 ft, 4 wt. for small streams. Many times I only have the tipper, leader and a couple of feet of line out. I would highly recommend learning this technique.

Edit: I use the lift and if nothing happens, I let the fly drift a few feet by moving the rod tip downstream and repeating the lift. This presents the fly to more fish. I also add a bit of weight to the fly with a few wraps of copper wire from an old extension cord.

[whatfly 0]

 

http://www.si.com/vault/1960/03/28/583828/the-art-of-fishing-with-the-wet-fly

 

Excellent detailed article on Leisenring and his highly developed wet fly techniques.

 

and the Sports Illustrated Vault is fantastic.

 

Thanks Troutguy!

 

 

Indeed! Was completely unaware that SI covered fly fishing at one time, albeit sporadically. Most of the articles in there are short and lacking in substance but there are some real gems as well such as: http://www.si.com/vault/1957/05/27/602816/the-tying-of-the-flies. Hard to believe SI ever had articles this long or detailed. Thanks.