Leader for stripers.

[Bruno]

I am headed to MD Friday to try my hand at stripers in the bay. I am going to use an 8/9wt with intermediate sinking line. What leader set up should I use. We are fishing from a friends boat. I am reading a ton of different. Some are using 9ft tapered leader. Other are using a short 4ft piece of 20lb mono. Where do I go?

 

[tomgamber]

My brother in law will be there as well. I just sent him these links.

http://www.chesapeakebayflyfishing.com/blog/

http://www.mdangler.net/upperbay.html

sounds like anything chartreuse and white might catch some small stripers as they are being caught all the way between the bridge/tunnel and the susky flats. There is some leader info in the first one.

 

[scotto]

when I use my intermediate line I use a 3 to 4' section of 15 or 20 lb. fluoro for stripers & other non-toothy fish. If toothy fish are possible I add 6" of a tiable wire via a small o-ring available from feather craft.

 

[David]

If its just stipers, I would just use 7' of 15lb of straight maxima leader and tie the fly right onto that. No frills, but all you need.

 

[gfen]

Gearing up for this as well, was told most people either use 7' of straight mono or will do a couple feet of different amounts and taper it down.

I bought a couple spools of cheap mono from Walmart, 20# and 15#. I'll probably spring for a spool of 12# tippet, though.

I've whipped up a leader with some really stiff 50# stuff I bought to use as a shock leader in spin casting, but I think its just too heavy for use here. I'll find out when I finally get out to do some practice casting in a field.

 

[Fishidiot]

For summer stripers in the bay one doesn't need a sophisticated leader set-up. For an intermediate line I'd suggest about 7 feet - 4' of 40lb; about 2 and a half feet of 14lb for "class tippet"; and about 6-8 inches of 40lb shock tippet.
For a heavy, fast sink line just use 3-4' (don't exceed 4' with a sinking line) of 14lb with a short shocker.

 

[Jeepcreep]

I use about 5 feet of 40 lb leader material, with a 20 lb floro tippet.

if there's blues around, i use a 20lb braided wire for tippet...I get it from the crafts store, it's for making bead necklaces. it's got a nylon coating, and can be tied in knots...works great.

 

[Bruno]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I'll have a picture to share next week.

 

[Fishidiot]

Good luck with your trip Bruno - we're looking forward to the pictures (no pressure, man ).

 

[Acristickid]

Yep- good luck.

The only worth while suggestion I can offer is use SPF 50.

 

[Pittflyguy]

Bruno,

Sorry if this is late for your trip, but depending where on the bay, I also bring along a shooting head like a Teeny 350 or similaras sometimes they are sitting pretty deep in the bay. I agree with most of the comments above as well in that your leader does not have to be anything fancy. I typically used a shock tippet only because I did not want to have to cut and re-tie my fly as often.

(FYI, I used to live i the DC area). Highly recommend a crab colored clouser minnow as well. (olive over white with gold flashbou and bright orange danville flat waxed nylon thread). It is a killer pattern for the area.

PFG