Switching between different fly types

[Copper_John]

With the warmer weather yesterday I decided to fish an eastern PA stream for some wild Browns. After unsuccessfully nymphing for ~2 hours I decided to swing a small wooly bugger, a technique I rarely use, through a deep hole that I knew had to hold a fish. To my surprise, I actually hooked into and landed a big brown trout on the fourth of fifth cast.

My question is, do you normally change your leader setup when switching from nymphs/dries to bigger flies like wooly buggers or smaller streamers? In my case I just kept my 9 ft 5x leader which I was using for nymphing to attach my wooly bugger. The casting was a bit awkward but it did get the job done.

 

[troutbert]

"The big one that got away" are some of the most memorable times in fishing.

So, if you want to build up those types of memories, leave the tippet at 5x when switching to a streamer.

If you'd prefer to land and see big trout and maybe get a photo, switch to 3x leader.

 

[Bamboozle]

I'm a bit lazier than Troutbert so I will only switch leaders/tippets if I am committed to spending a minimum amount of time with the "different fly type."

In other words, if I come up on a honey hole I always do a few prospecting casts with the leader I have and see what happens before I'll go through the hassle of changing leaders.

FWIW - I like a much shorter/heavier leader for streamers.

 

[Tabasco-Joe]

I'd cut about 3 feet off the leader and use it for streamers. If I go back to nymphing or dries I add 3 to 4 feet of tippet.

I also keep older 9th leaders that have been "worn" down a few feet for streamers. If you have loop to loop connections, it's easy to change. Just bring an empty tippet spool to store the replaced leader.

 

[Swattie87]

Agree with the above. I don’t change out the whole leader, but I do change the tippet section at the end. Usually from 4x or 5x with nymphs or standard sized dries, to 2x or so for streamers. Exception being when I’m just dapping micro streamers for Brookies. 4x or 5x is fine then. (I almost always exclusively use 4x for Brookie fishing, best balance of giving you a little bit of strength to get your fly out of the trees, but not overkill.) But for normal Trout sized streamers, yeah, you’ll want some heavier tippet.

 

[The_Sasquatch]

I never change the leaders. I just try to have a versatile enough set-up that I can go between nymphs, dries, and "streamers' (rarely anything more than a typical bugger). But I'm pretty basic.

If I want to switch to like, swinging wet flies, at that point, I'd walk back to my car and switch out my entire rod/reel. Faster than trying to switch out leaders on the stream, I feel.

 

[Tabasco-Joe]

I never change the leaders. I just try to have a versatile enough set-up that I can go between nymphs, dries, and "streamers' (rarely anything more than a typical bugger). But I'm pretty basic.

If I want to switch to like, swinging wet flies, at that point, I'd walk back to my car and switch out my entire rod/reel. Faster than trying to switch out leaders on the stream, I feel.

Sometimes when I expect to have to switch, I carry a spare spool for the reel.
I don't buy extra spools for the CNC machined reels, but I've got some Ross reels with extra spools.

 

[jifigz]

I pretty much never change anything. I choose my leader and leader lengths based on the streams I am fishing, and I will try to basically fish everything and anything with the same leader. Yep, I am pretty lazy. I will add tippet if I need a longer leader, or a lighter tippet section if fish are super spooky or something, but I am not swapping out tippet lengths, diameters, etc each time I come up to certain types of water or each time I change flies. No way!

 

[wildtrout2]

I never change the leaders. I just try to have a versatile enough set-up that I can go between nymphs, dries, and "streamers' (rarely anything more than a typical bugger). But I'm pretty basic.

If I want to switch to like, swinging wet flies, at that point, I'd walk back to my car and switch out my entire rod/reel. Faster than trying to switch out leaders on the stream, I feel.

Same for me, except going back to my truck isn't an option, unless I'm leaving for the day.

 

[falcon]

Fishing a bugger like a nymph (dead drifting) 5x is probably OK but on the light side, If you fish it agressively, swinging or stripping it streamer style you probably would need to go heavier.

 

[TimMurphy]

With the warmer weather yesterday I decided to fish an eastern PA stream for some wild Browns. After unsuccessfully nymphing for ~2 hours I decided to swing a small wooly bugger, a technique I rarely use, through a deep hole that I knew had to hold a fish. To my surprise, I actually hooked into and landed a big brown trout on the fourth of fifth cast.

My question is, do you normally change your leader setup when switching from nymphs/dries to bigger flies like wooly buggers or smaller streamers? In my case I just kept my 9 ft 5x leader which I was using for nymphing to attach my wooly bugger. The casting was a bit awkward but it did get the job done.

Dear Copper John,

What prevented you from starting out with 7 1/2 ft leader of 3X or 4X and adding 2 feet of 5X tippet to it to nymph? If you want to fish streamers just cut off the tippet you added.

Honestly, I think overly long leaders with improperly sized flies are literally the greatest impediments to most novice to intermediate fly fishermen. Use the right tool to start.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Copper_John]

Dear Copper John,

What prevented you from starting out with 7 1/2 ft leader of 3X or 4X and adding 2 feet of 5X tippet to it to nymph? If you want to fish streamers just cut off the tippet you added.

Honestly, I think overly long leaders with improperly sized flies are literally the greatest impediments to most novice to intermediate fly fishermen. Use the right tool to start.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

About 99% of the fishing I do is with nymphs and dry flies so I really didn't expect to be fishing a larger fly. Typically I just buy a standard 9 ft 5x tapered leader. If I end up fishing dries Ill usually add a couple feet of tippet but if Im using nymphs I typically stick with the 9 ft. The exception is when Im fishing a small brook trout stream Ill use a shorter leader.

After catching that fish yesterday on a wooly bugger I've been re-thinking my system so that I can be more efficient on the water when switching flies. Its been interesting to hear how everyone handles similar situations and I like your idea of starting out with a shorter leader and adding to it when needed.

 

[The_Sasquatch]

Same for me, except going back to my truck isn't an option, unless I'm leaving for the day.

depends how far I am into the day. If, within an hour, I can tell that I'm trying to bottle air, then I'll do it. Otherwise, I stick it out and work on figuring it out w/ what I got.

 

[TimMurphy]

About 99% of the fishing I do is with nymphs and dry flies so I really didn't expect to be fishing a larger fly. Typically I just buy a standard 9 ft 5x tapered leader. If I end up fishing dries Ill usually add a couple feet of tippet but if Im using nymphs I typically stick with the 9 ft. The exception is when Im fishing a small brook trout stream Ill use a shorter leader.

After catching that fish yesterday on a wooly bugger I've been re-thinking my system so that I can be more efficient on the water when switching flies. Its been interesting to hear how everyone handles similar situations and I like your idea of starting out with a shorter leader and adding to it when needed.

Dear Copper John,

Honestly, you would probably be better off starting out with a shorter leader of a heavier tippet diameter and adding lighter tippet than you ever will be trying to convert a 9' 5X to a streamer leader. You could add a tippet ring to a 7 1/2-foot 4X leader and fish for an entire season with it. If you want a 12-foot or longer leader just add 2 sections of tippet. If you want to fish streamers or larger flies just cut the tippet ring off and tie directly to the leader.

I'm too lazy and far too old to have to keep fiddling with knots when fishing! Just tying on a fly smaller than a size 12 is a struggle for my old eyes! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[hooker-of-men]

I'll change leaders if I'm fishing a new prefab extruded, tapered leader. I'm far too cheap to cut back a $7 5x leader to chuck a bugger.

Luckily though, I often blow up those leaders within an hour of putting them on, especially if I'm bobber doggin. Once I chop and retie the factory model, I'm happy to shorten or lengthen the Frankenleader at will.

On big rivers like the Delaware, I'm generally not cutting back a 12' leader to switch techniques. If I'm wading, I'll go get another rod.

 

[wildtrout2]

Dear Copper John,

You could add a tippet ring to a 7 1/2-foot 4X leader and fish for an entire season with it.

That's exactly what I do, except I use a 7 1/2-foot 5X. I love the simplicity of it.

 

[JeffP]

Buggers didn't do anything on Penns.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

Fishing a bugger like a nymph (dead drifting) 5x is probably OK but on the light side, If you fish it agressively, swinging or stripping it streamer style you probably would need to go heavier.

This would work for smaller buggers, but anything on a #8 or larger and you're going to get way more break-offs that you would if you went to 3x or heavier. The finer tippet tied to the larger hook eye is a recipe for failure, especially if you catch a larger, spirited fish. You also may break off if your casting is not on point.

 

[Oregon_OwlII]

"The big one that got away" are some of the most memorable times in fishing.

So, if you want to build up those types of memories, leave the tippet at 5x when switching to a streamer.

If you'd prefer to land and see big trout and maybe get a photo, switch to 3x leader.

I would have at least moved to 4X with a small bugger. In fact, while nymphing, I would not go as small as 5X in most situations.

 

[tomb]

I would have at least moved to 4X with a small bugger. In fact, while nymphing, I would not go as small as 5X in most situations.

I agree 100 per cent, All the more reason to use a tippet ring on a 4 x leader. Finer can easily be added for more delicate type fishing