Braided leaders?

Anyone ever try making a leader out of spectra? Why? All the Reds I have been catching have been in 6 to 12 inches of water and in tight to the oyster beds. They destroyed the mono on my spinning outfit so I went to braid. I know my mono leaders wont stand a chance… Even my power pro has such bad oyster rash that after every fish I have to cut off six feet of line and retie. So I was thinking braid leader? Furled leader with a braid tippet… has it been done? like to hear anyone’s thoughts or personal experience with this idea. tight lines TD

Horrible idea. That leader will be in so many knots that the people on the beach will hear you cussing.

I’d be interested in hearing how it works out. I don’t think it will turn over well, but hey, it could if the fly weighs enough.

There is no normal life, there’s just life.

Tarpon 140

Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing LLC

Not a good idea… the lack of stretch, lack of knot tying ability, and high visibility will all lead you to less fish, pulled hooks, and just generally a bad time…

We get it done every day with mono and fluoro… it works. When you start flyfishing you just have to realize and accept that there are some places that you just can’t throw the fly. No need to try and move heaven and earth to make it work, just find some fish in an area that will allow you to throw a fly at them…

Mad Mike

"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "

that sounds like good advice… I suppose if the braided leaders could work that some one would have done it by now. It was just a thought… I have just had so much fun in the beds I really wanted to get in there with the fly.

I am not a fly fisherman, so I’m speaking from ignorance here, but if you can use regular spool mono for your leader, just give it the best you can— either go with the dedicated “leader” material (I find the fluorocarbon leader to be the most abrasion resistant) or get some Trilene XT or Momoi Diamond.

I have to agree with the others though— the small amount of fly fishing I’ve done before tells me that the extra-limp nature of braid will give you crazy wind knots.



“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza

I switched exclusively furled leaders in the mountains. I think that’s the best bet to try braid as tippet (might work), but you will still have the knot and visibility issues Mad Mike mentioned.