#1 Question of '06

[Scotch-on]

well here it is lets answer it now before our gracious season starts..........ok the infamous four foot leader rule!....at the end of your fly line or running line is it okay to have a 10ft leader/mono to your fly, or do you need a break point at 4 ft with the split attached before the split shot........why is it i see guys with 10 ft leaders with no weight (yes DSR) am i missing something........or at the end of your fly line/run line you put a high visible, foot long peice of mono with a loop at the end to attach a 5ft peice of mono 15lb with a swivel and a split before the swivel than at the other end of the swivel a 4ft peice of 10lb test with the hook or fly...............Please tell me the correct way i never get in trouble with it at dsr, but is there a way that would increase my hook ups, or a more profesional approach...only been using fly rod setup for 3 years....you help would be valuable and inspirational.

[JeffL]

The law is you cannot have added weight more than 4 feet from your hook/ fly... DSR has regs to itself. You need to have a swivel/ break in you line from leader to tippet. Tippet still not longer than 4 feet.
I think there is also a total leader law length of no more than 15 ft. Leader & Tippet combined. Hope that anwers your question.

[Ditchrat]

I think there is also a total leader law length of no more than 15 ft. Leader & Tippet combined. Hope that anwers your question.

I believe this is only in the fly sections. I dont know about the DSR.

My traditional set up is a 9ft leader that tapers down to 15lb, then a small swivel then 2-4' of 12lb flourocarbon. If its bright out I may drop to 10lb and sometime 8 when i think there is enough steel around to focus on them buy still manage the occasional salmon

[TOPGUN]

At the end of my running line I usually have a 1ft section of 15lb Amnesia tied to 6-9ft of 10/12lb leader, a small swivel (I add a swivel clip as well if fishing deeper runs to get down faster w/ a slinky..chuck&duck) then 2-4ft of 8/10lb.

[flyman23]

I know its the normal set up to use a swivel, but why, I was just going to use a triple surgeons knot to connect my tippet.

[Ditchrat]

I know its the normal set up to use a swivel, but why, I was just going to use a triple surgeons knot to connect my tippet.

Because its force of habit for many of us. The swivel lets you hand a split shot of the tag end of a knot or as a seperate piece of mono. Then you hang the shot on it. If it get snagged the shot comes off instead of lossing everything you just get away with lossing a shot. Second back in the day your leader had to be 36"s or more. The swivel kept the shot from sliding too close to the hook, then people figured out the shot thing.

[JStreamside]

Last I knew, total leader length (butt + tippet) can't be any more than 14 ft. To be "safe" anywhere on the river, I've always used this...7-9 ft butt section (mono or floro depending on conditions) tied to a barrel swivel on the front end.

I leave a tag end on my knot of about 4" to which I attach my split shot. The tippet is then attached to the other end of the swivel...this creates the "break" in the leader required by DSR. I generally use 10 or 12 lb floro for salmon and 4 - 8 lb floro for steelhead. Tippet sections are anywhere from 20-inches to 42-inches. I know I could use up to 4 ft here, but have never found a need to do so...kind of an "insurance policy" if you will as I've yet to have an ECO ask to "inspect" my gear in 26 seasons on the SR.

I have also seen the set-up TOPGUN uses in action first hand and it is extremely effective, too.

Hope this helps...tight lines.

[Tiogafishaddict]

wow guys, thanks im learning alot here... about the leader etc on the fly line..

[WillyG]

what ever works, works! you know wht i mean

[Ditchrat]

Last I knew, total leader length (butt + tippet) can't be any more than 14 ft. .

Thats only in the fly sections, otherwise mono on a fly rod would be illegal.

[stackmend]

That's only in the zones and if on this low water you choose to fish with no added weight you could have as long a leader as you felt like. I think this is true even in DSR.

[trout 4u]

I know its the normal set up to use a swivel, but why, I was just going to use a triple surgeons knot to connect my tippet.

A swivel also keeps your line from twisting when you get one of those slammers who like to Jump, Fly, and Leap, then take off like a Harley from the Dinosaur BBQ. It also lets you have a long tag line (don't trim your knot) to attach your weight, and when you get hung up, it pulls the weight off instead of breaking everything. I use a straight 10-12lb mono leader, usually the length of my rod 9'-10' then attach a #12 barrel swivel. Tippet 6-10lb. fluro...short for fast water... up to 4' in the slower deeper pools. Don't waist the fluro on the leader. Keep your rod high, and the fly line "OUT" of the water. I hope this helps.