French leaders?

[Cormo_rant]

Hi guys
Ive done some czech nymphing and would like to try out the french method.A google search reveals a number of different french leader recipes.
Id like to know what you guys use successfully on our streams/rivers and give me a basic construction.
I realise the leaders are generally 18+ ft long and only the leader is cast through the guides.

Some advice pls?

[Andre]

18 feet is very short for a French leader if you are going to do Eropean style nymphing. I use my own recipes of 30 and 45 feet leaders, with a tippet section of about 6 to 10 feet, depending on the flies Im fishing.
I have used the Rio factory built French leader to good effect.

[saflyfish]

Andre do the Rio leaders come in those lengths?I cant find a Rio french leader on their website...they only have a 11ft euro nymph leader?
Where do you buy these leaders?

[Andre]

Sorry, could have been Airflo. They have a Euro nymphing line, which is very good, its very light, light enough to high stick the entire length, no streach, and very visible. They work with all suitable rods from 2wt to 6wt....The mono leaders are the same, and come in various lengths up to about 45 feet.
Give Upstream a call, they have them.
I need to ask what rod you will be fishing it with, they don't work very well with certain rod actions.

Andre do the Rio leaders come in those lengths?I cant find a Rio french leader on their website...they only have a 11ft euro nymph leader?
Where do you buy these leaders?

[Cormo_rant]

Im a bit confused by what you have said.Are you saying airflo have the french leaders in the 30ft plus range?Who has the euro nymph line?Rio?Airflo?

[Andre]

http://www.airflofishing.com/buy.cfm...5/no%20/119182

Here it is. You attach it directly to your backing. use it like a fly line, with the ability to lift it off the water with high sticking at distance.
Step the tippet down with 3feet of 4 X, the 2 feet of 5X, and then anything from 2 feet to 6 feet of 6 or 7 X, and it will adequately handle two lightly weighted nymphs. If you are casting in a moderate breeze, then use the following tippet selection...2 feet of 4X, the 2 feet of 2 or 3 X, then as much 6 X as you think you may need.

[Andre]

They are from Airflo. The Euro nymphing line does exactly what the Euro nymphing leader does. You can either make your own long leaders out of mono, or you can buy a Euro nymphing line. I realise that the discussion about lines and leaders is confusing, but think of the Euro Nymphing Line as just another long leader.

Im a bit confused by what you have said.Are you saying airflo have the french leaders in the 30ft plus range?Who has the euro nymph line?Rio?Airflo?

[Cormo_rant]

Thanks for the help Andre.
I think for now ill try the mono leader route as it will be a cheaper more cost effective option.
Can you give me your basic leader formula that will turn over nicely (18 - 45ft option) on a 3wt 10ft rod?

[Andre]

No problem. Let me know what rod you will be using (brand and model). The leaders I use have been quite significantly changed over time, so you need to find a good combination that works for you. Some will work better in wind, others not, and depending on the mono that you use, you might have to boil some of the sections. These leaders are not an exact science, and you will need to experiment a lot. It took me years to get to the ones I was comfortable with.

Heres a starting point. This is a progressive taper for fishing with no wind, or with the wind. For windy conditions or into the wind, you can swop some sections around to make a degressive taper. You going to have to play around a bit to see what works for you.

10 feet of 30 pound attached to the flyline. If you are using a shorter rod, or a faster action rod, then extend this section. You can make this section about 6 instead of 10, feet and add in a section of 25 pound if it helps, but I don't bother though
6 feet of 20 p0und.
6 feet of 15 pound
4 feet of12 pound
2 feet 10 0r 8 pound.
place your sighter or coiled indicator section here.
1foot 2x tippet
2 feet 4x tippet
then step down to 6 and 6x with sections as long as you can get away with.

http://flyfishingreporter.com/how-to...mphing-leader/ this site might also help you

Thanks for the help Andre.
I think for now ill try the mono leader route as it will be a cheaper more cost effective option.
Can you give me your basic leader formula that will turn over nicely (18 - 45ft option) on a 3wt 10ft rod?

[Cormo_rant]

Thanks again
I see in the link youve posted the leader is more simplified and shorter.For the mono id use maxima ultragreen.
When fishing these leaders you basically cast the leader as the fly line stays on the reel?Is that a correct assumption?