Hand tied leaders

[Tim_T]

Anybody still build their own? If so, what formula do you use? I normally just buy the pre-madde tapered leaders and add tippet as needed, but was wondering if it might be cheaper to buy large spools of line and build your own.

[colonelmeyer]

If you're going to do fluro I think it would be much cheaper. Keep in mind that it sinks faster and doesn't have as much give. Either way you should save a little dough. I've heard some folks build their way down from 14 or 16 lb test with mono. One of those things I don't like to do unless I have to. The taper leaders are just too convenient.

[flyfish]

I tie the leaders on my sinktip lines because I only use 3-4 feet of leader. For that I use a 1.5-2 feet of 12lb flouro and then 8lb flouro. It turns over just fine. Plus if you're fishing it right you're going to get hung up an break some off, or your going to change flies and keep cutting down the "tippet"

As for floating lines, I use a mix of store bought and hand made. In either case you should be able to use a single leader all year, and just change the tippets out as you use them. I use mono leaders, and then change the tippet from mono to flouro depending on if I'm nymphing or dry fly fishing.

My tip, find the end of the taper of the leader, cut it, and put a perfection loop in. Then you can use a perfection loop on your first tippet size, and go down from there.