Do you love big bluegill?

Furled leaders?

Anybody using, or tried, furled leaders?

Those who are selling them talk them up so much you'd think they're the greatest thing since the invention of the fly rod - or maybe even the evolution of the bluegill :-) Not unnatural - they've got to make a living, after all - but if you've tried or are using them, how good are they in comparison to a standard tapered leader? If you like them, do they also work well on small rods like 2-weights, or is a 2WF line not heavy enough to turn over a furled leader well?

Thinking of getting some, but wanted to get opinions from my number one source of fishing info first :-)

Thanks,

Jonathan

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tim C. Homesley on April 7, 2013 at 2:46pm

Love them for dry flies and flies fished a foot or so deep, I sell em and that is what I tell
my customers, I have made a few from fluorocarbon and they sink a bit better, the fact
that they turn over very nice and will last a whole season or 2 makes them desirable to many.
I have a guy who makes them for me and I have thrown his 9' leaders on my 1 wt, and my 2 wt,
both rods cast the furled leaders well, I made one out of some fusion line, it looked good, but was a bit soft for my taste, but it should last several seasons.

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on April 7, 2013 at 3:46pm

I think Leo has had some experience with them. I'm willing to try one since they say they cut down on wind knots so the claim is. Haven't tried any yet but seriously thinking about it. Guess there suppose to be easy to make and I don't know that either. Guess you can go from dollars to pennies if you make you own.

Permalink Reply by Mark Stine on April 7, 2013 at 4:46pm

I use the twisted mono and love it. here is a link on how to do it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbcVaEe3RIs

always hated the cost of the tapered leaders. I use only loop to loop connections, quick and easy and I don't have to try and tie a nail knot in the boat or on the bank.

Permalink Reply by JBplusThuy on April 7, 2013 at 11:50pm

That's pretty cool, the video makes it look so easy! I bet I'd have a little more trouble with it :)

Is that the same way commercial furled leaders are made?

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on April 7, 2013 at 5:16pm

Thanks Mark for the video and education.

Permalink Reply by Chris Barclay on April 7, 2013 at 6:36pm

I use them exclusively for any type of fishing on rods from 1-8 wts (though I mainly fish 3wt rods with 5wt being a distance second). I like how well they turn over flies and how easy they are to use. It keeps the whole line-leader-tippet connection very simple and easy. That way I spend more time fishing.
I have used furled leaders from many different brands, materials and companies. I discovered that I do not like any that made from thread. You typically have to treat them with a flotant. If they get caught on a thorn or sharp snag, they unfurl and they tend to be too limp. I prefer the ones made with mono. Specifically the ones from Feather-Craft here in St. Louis. They are tightly furled, durable and turn over flies better than anything I've tried. Durable too. The fluorocarbon ones act like a mini sink tip which is nice when needed.
For a two weight rod, you would order their 0-2wt leader in whatever length you want. I typically use the 3-4wt leader in the 5' length.

Permalink Reply by klrbaer on April 7, 2013 at 7:15pm

I have been making my own furled leaders for about 3 years now. I built a jig to make them that is totally adjustable. I make alot of 5-7 foot leaders, but I can also make them 15 feet long for my tenkara rod. I've made them from nylon, mono, flouro, and tying thread ( 70 and 140 denier). I pesonally like the thread ones, but that's just me. I fish them on my 3,5, and 7 weight rods. I like that I can make them as limp or stiff as I want to, I like to add a orange strike indicator on some of them.

Last month I taught a group in Bloomington how to make them at the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance central fly tying meeting.

Drop me a line if any of you have any questions.

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on April 7, 2013 at 7:57pm

Thank you kind sir. I think I'm going to attempt one so thanks you for the offer.

Permalink Reply by Allen Morgan on April 8, 2013 at 4:44am

Would you be willing to post pics of your furling setup? I'm thinking of making a furling board myself.

Permalink Reply by JBplusThuy on April 8, 2013 at 12:54pm

I looked up some furled leader jigs, they sound interesting. If you have a sketch handy, I'd love to know how you made yours, especially how it's totally adjustable. Plans I've seen online so far seem to require re-screwing dowels in different locations to vary the length of the legs.

What do you do to add a strike indicator? That sounds very useful!

Thanks,

Jonathan

Permalink Reply by Leo Nguyen on April 8, 2013 at 2:19pm

Made quite a few using hand-rolled method, without the needs for the fancy boards and designs. Unless you're making a massive quantity, spend a good 15 minutes, and you'll be able to make 2 to 3, depending on your dexterity. While I watch my shows with my wife, I was able to make 7 at my leisure. I don't even need that many, but practices make perfect.

Permalink Reply by JBplusThuy on April 8, 2013 at 2:49pm

If it depends on dexterity, I'll be happy if I can make one in fifteen minutes :-)

I'm pretty sure I've got some 4-pound Trilene XL left around here, I'll give the hand-rolled method a try. If I like them, I may move up to a jig, but where on earth am I going to store an 8-foot board? :p