Leaders are an important part of your tackle. They join your fly line and the fly. Leaders should have some elasticity, convey energy efficiently, be aero dynamic, provide a drag free drift and obscure your presence from the fish.
For most situations, I recommend leaders made of monofilament. Furled and braided leaders provide no elasticity, don’t convey energy efficiently, aren’t aero dynamic and form an elbow.
All monofilament is not the same. Some is hard and stiff,(Maxima) some is soft and supple. (Varivas)
Hard stiff monofilament provides elasticity, conveys energy efficiently, is aero dynamic, and doesn’t form an elbow, but it drags as soon as it hits the water.
Soft supple monofilament doesn’t convey energy efficiently and isn’t’ aero dynamic but it drifts beautifully.
Anytime you buy a leader off the rack your buying a compromise. It either isn’t stiff and hard enough or it’s too soft and supple. That’s why I build leaders. I want the advantages of both.
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