When fly fishing, anglers use leaders to separate the fly line from the fly lure. Most anglers will use leaders made from monofilament materials like nylon and fluorocarbon, a single-strand wire or a multistrand cable. These leaders help anglers catch more fish, as they disguise the fly and make it much for difficult for the fish to sense the fishing line.
Length
In most cases, you will use leaders with a length between 7.5 and 12 feet, or roughly the same length as your rod. You will want to use the shortest leader possible to give you more control over the flight of the fly. The problem, however, remains that trout spook very easily, and using a short leader can cause these trout to stay away from your fly. This tendency holds especially true in clear water on calm days, as the trout will notice everything that goes on around them, including your fly line hitting the water.
Deeper Water
When fishing in water between 4 and 30 feet deep, you will likely use a sinking fly line so that you can reach the depth of the fish. In these cases, you should use a shorter leader of between 2 and 6 feet, since shorter leaders will sink more rapidly because the sinking fly line will pull them down. Since the water become darker at these depths, you will not have to worry about the fish locating your fly line and you can settle at your desired distance much faster.
Good Leaders
Be sure you select a good material, as the leader should not coil and should stay intact. You want your leader to hang limp, but not bend and kink when you cast. For this reason, you should always invest in a high-quality leader to ensure it stands up to a full day of casting, while presenting your fly in an appealing manner.
Advantages of Long Leaders
Some anglers believe that using a longer leader provides benefits, as it helps you avoid getting your fly knot caught up in your spool. These people will generally select leaders with a length twice as long as the fly rod. Opting for this length also allows you to cut the leader line shorter if it frays during the fishing trip so you can reattach a fly without having to replace the entire leader line.
References
- "Basic Fly Fishing: All the Skills and Gear You Need to Get Started"; Lefty Kreh et al.; 2006
- "The L.L. Bean Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing"; Macauley Lord et al.; 2002
- Thundermist Lure Company; How Much Leader Line Should I Tie on to my Main Spool of Line?; Ivo Coia
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