Robin - or anyone else,

My father-in-law and I are planning our 1st attempt to try making some leaders this weekend. We've scanned the internet and have a pretty good idea of what we need to do. Any tips that can save us some anguish? The loop tying at the end seems the most complicated to me.

JR

I suggest you start with heavier mono (less strands overall) too get the hang of how the process works and work your way down to what you want. The loop on the ends is tricky the first couple of times until you see what it is then it's cake...

The Shorb Loop (here) is pretty easy if you'll go to Joann's or some similar place (Hobby Lobby, Michael's etc.) for one of the tiny latch hooks. Be sure to get the itty bitty one as well as some sort of magnification is nice. I depend upon my "hat eyes" to make the small work simpler.

How did your leaders turn out by the way?

We messed around too much in the morning (fishing and at BPS) and got too late a start to complete any leaders. We did get the jig completed and I think we will actually try to make some leaders sometime this week. My father in law is a perfectionist when it comes to carpentry and the jig took way more time than it should have. He was finishing it out like it was going to be a piece of furniture.

I'll let you know how they turn out.

JR

We completed leader #1 last night. We used 4# test monofilament and ended up with a leader that is about 6.5 ft long and a little thick for my taste. It will probably work just fine on my 8 weight. Any suggestions on how to thin it down? Lighter line? Less loops (we used 5 around the 1st section)?

JR

John
Here is the peg setup that I use, or pretty darned close

You can get a perfectly workable taper with these pegs, I've not found it necessary to add in all those extra pegs. That's just me.

Also, try some #2 mono and some Uni 3/0 to get some lighter leaders. it doesn't take nearly so much or as heavy a material as one might first suppose. Kinda like dubbing.

How many loops/wraps were you using on the lower sections?

Robin,

As best I can tell, your setup has one continuous line vs. the two separate ones that our setup has. Is that correct? Do you still twist Peg A and B separately? I would assume so. Does the top hook keep both lines separate as you twist each one? We had three sections and used two loops (5 stands each) on the 2nd section and 1.5 (three strands each)on the last section. I like your setup much more than ours, thanks for the help.

I knew I should have quit fishing at the Fly Texas Event in Athens and went to your exhibition, but I tend to have trouble quiting fishing. "Just one more fish" tends to get me in trouble.

JR

Yes sir, all one long piece of thread.

Yep, the top hook does keep the two legs separate./ But you have to pay attention. No day dreaming whilst furling leaders

For most standard freshwater leaders I use two complete loops on bottom legs with the continuation on to the next peg giving five strands. The upper section I go from 2 to 1 around the top hook and back around the hook and on down to peg B (this is all assuming a start from peg A) for a total of three strands on each side of the hook, six total. Hence 10/8/6.

This is all from Darrell Martin's book Micropatterns:Tying and Fishing Small Flies

Robin,

Thanks for your help with the diagram. We cranked out some pretty good looking leaders on Saturday using the 4# test. The shorb loob took a couple tries, but got easier as we went.


Thanks
JR

You need to send some to me for extensive field testing

Just sign up to be an official field tester. there is a nominal fee for shipping and handling and processing the membership.....

Badass and others, the seriously good thing about Robin's (have never used anyone eles's) is how LONG they last. I lost one due to a break off at the Devils that was over 2 years old. I remove them, re wrap and store them in the bag they came in each time. They just work forever and therefore save money. Ya just tie a bit of tippet on and go. I saves money and you do not get to river, creek, stream, pond, lake or ocean w/o leaders this way.

I am a firm believer in furled leaders. I love them.

i bought a couple of robins leaders earlier this year & i really like them, i guess i'm already field tester, in that case i highly recommended them

Your field tester badge will be on the way as soon as the design team gets them worked up and OKed by senior management LOL

awesome, I'll wear it to my field test in the amazon for peacock bass, btw I need to submit my expense account to senior management, I'll accept cash to help reduce paperwork

I love this place......