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Piker20

Those throwing articulated streamers for trout

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For those of you throwing articulated flies for trout,

  1. what diameter tippets are you using?
  2. level or tapered: self made taper or purchased?
  3. average length of your leader in clear waters.

Finally making it out for my first cast this season on a loch with a decent head of 3lb+ fish and planning to go all out streamer. Hopefully wet some swap flies that have been neglected for a too long.

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Typically when trout or any fish hit a big streamer, they are so focused on the fly that you can fish a very short/heavy leader.

 

With a sink tip line, I will fish a 2-3' section of 10lb floro.

 

When I fish a floating line, I build a 9' leader that will taper down to 6lb and fish weighted flies.

 

The water I fish is usually moving fast, I would change it up in slow or still water that is clear.

 

Best of luck! Big flies are fun.

 

-Karl

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I run a 7-9 ft leader like 2.5-3 ft of each material 20lb mason, 20 pound maxima, 2x tippet. Works well for me if I need something finer on the end I just add another section of tippet. I usually fish a floating line or use a section of versa leader of I use versa leader I shorten it, if I use a full dinking line I keep it the same.

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In the past I have built short tapered leaders for use with sinking leaders or sink-tip lines. They typically consisted of 24" of 20 lb., 12" each of 15 lb. and 12 lb., and 18-24" of 10 lb., all Maxima Ultragreen.

 

This year I think I'm going to just try 48" of 10 lb. fluorocarbon and be done with it. I don't really see the need for a tapered leader when throwing big heavy and/or wind-reisistant flies that are just going to be slapped on the water anyway.

 

On floating lines I would go with a 6' - 7.5' knotless mono leader tapered down to 2X or 3X for bass; for trout, I'll start with that, but if I don't get strikes after the first half hour or so I would switch to a 9' 2X or 3X.

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I'm planning to go with 10lb maxima too. Its due to be windy and may step up to some orvis super strong in 16lb which is stiffer.

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Straight 10lb to 12lb maxima about 2ft long is all I use with big streamers on a sink tip. The fish will attack from behind when you are actively stripping streamers so no worries about line shy fish when fished that way.

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I'm with most others on this, I use 2-3 feet of straight tippet, 2X or sometimes 10 lb Maxima. I use sink tips or sinking poly leaders almost exclusively, no mono leaders, and I fish some extremely clear spring fed rivers with no worries about my tips or tippets scaring any fish.

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Well if you would like my $.02 I use a 3 to 5' leader. I have used both knotted and straight. I do like knotted better. Either 25/15/10 or 30/20/15. The main thing I watch is the line diameter. Not to drop to far pat .o3. I use a large look in the end for easy changes.

 

Kevin

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Hi Kev, you simply thread loop through eye, over fly and pull tight?

I will have some stiffer material with me if the wind makes turnover difficult and will make up a tapered leader but hoping to keep it all simple and level.

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Hi Kev, you simply thread loop through eye, over fly and pull tight?

I will have some stiffer material with me if the wind makes turnover difficult and will make up a tapered leader but hoping to keep it all simple and level.

Yes that's the plan. Streamers are my thing so I have tried many different leaders.

 

Kevin

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Hi Kev, you simply thread loop through eye, over fly and pull tight?

I will have some stiffer material with me if the wind makes turnover difficult and will make up a tapered leader but hoping to keep it all simple and level.

Yes that's the plan. Streamers are my thing so I have tried many different leaders.

 

Kevin

Do you find having the loop that bit larger works similar to a rapala knot and helps with wiggle?

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Even a big streamer really does not require a taper to turn over a fly. While a straight leader works, I tend to use still upper section of 12# Maxima, and a tippet of something appropriate for the target species, anywhere from 6# to 10#. If I need heavier, I tend to just use straight fluorocarbon, but I don't often fish heavier than 10# tippet. First 4' are 12#, last 2' are lighter fluorocarbon, and I find loop knots to be helpful, but have not found that the size of the loop matters much.

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