Stupid Question About Nymph Leaders

[ptflashback]

So here might be the stupid question of the day: Why is a special or tapered leader necessary for czech or basic "high stick" nymphing?

As I sit and think about it, is there anything that prevents one from nail knotting some WalMart 4x mono to a fly line, attaching a tippet ring at the end, and finishing with the "poor man's leader with the appropriate tippet?

I'm sure that there are volumes written on complicated leader formulas, but aside from the memory issues with some mono, I can't see why this wouldn't work for a simple nymph rig. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Bernard]

As I sit and think about it, is there anything that prevents one from nail knotting some WalMart 4x mono to a fly line, attaching a tippet ring at the end, and finishing with the "poor man's leader with the appropriate tippet?

I'm not stopping you and stand guilty of similar "crimes".

B

[Papasequoia]

I have used Berkeley's Vanish for just that purpose in the past.

[KRoberts1]

You don't! As Papa suggested, Vanish 4# will do just fine. AND you can use the Vanish 2# for the droppers off the bend, if you so desire. Or just sure a short butt section off the fly line then 15" or so of neon backing material for a sighter, then the Vanish. OR.....

keith

[ptflashback]

I don't know why I never considered this before. Is the Rio mafia going to have me killed now?

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.

[planettrout]

Like this guy says, "it's been around a long time."...

http://www.headhuntersflyshop.com/wp/archives/44

PT/TB

[Eric]

No reason at all for you to buy tapered leaders for nymph fishing. Just a waste of money.
Eric

[Flyjunkie]

High stick Nymphing or Czech nymphing does not require a tapered leader, in fact a tapered leader will actually * you up when you are fishing any of the various "deep Nymphing" methods.. Here's why:

The thickest part of a tapered leader is in the Butt section.. when you are deep nymphing, that thick section will be up in the surface area,where most of the fastest currents will be.. What ends up happening is the Currents catch the broader cross section of the tapered leader and Pushes it along at a faster speed then down along the bottom where the current speed is very slow.
Czech Nymphing and most of the other European nymphing styles insist the angler use a straight length of leader material, not a tapered leader, because it will help you keep the Nymph(s) down along the bottom at the slower speeds found there. it doesn't look pretty when you cast it, but it doesn't matter, your deep nymphing, not fishing a dryfly...

Now if you are swimming Nymphs shallow or in the surface film, then a tapered leader serves a useful purpose, but for bottom bouncing/ Deep nymphing a tapered leader is a handicap.

[KRoberts1]

Yea, what Dean says! But a caveat to that is the French or Spanish versions of nymphing, using Loonnnggg leaders (15'-25'), but the idea here is basically the same, The part of the leader in the water (tippet) is still small diameter, invisible stuff. Of course, this can get REAL technical and outta hand if you let it Best solution, do what makes you comfortable. OR...spend a day with someone like Mr. D'Beaupre and glean all ya can from him.

keith

[briansII]

I don't know why I never considered this before. Is the Rio mafia going to have me killed now?

Yes. You now sleep with da fishes.

My whole problem with using one piece of line for a leader is. I'm high sticking a run and I look down at the tailout. There are fish rising. I could just add a couple sections of lighter tippet, but just my luck, there is a upstream breeze.

briansII