Hand Furled Leaders - Questions and Answers   

An honest Q&A with Jim Hauer, Owner of BlueSky Hand Furled Leaders

The furled leader has been around for generations and was invented sometime in the 1700's. They were originally woven by hand from silk or horse hair. However, cheaper materials and faster leader production methods all but eliminated their availability and use. However because of it's many important advantages, the furled leader is enjoying a rebirth of it's use, especially amongst dry fly fishermen.

For “top water” dry fly fishing, a furled leader will cast amazingly long tippets and delicately settle on the water's surface. The wonderful casting characteristics, along with the fact they have very little drag (unlike a braided leader, see below) allows even "non expert" fly casters to greatly improve the presentation of their fly. Many experts acknowledge that presentation comprises about 80% of the factors that determine success. And recently, many tournament fly casters have adopted these for their unique accuracy.

How is a furled leader different from a tapered mono leader?

When assessing a fly leader, it's all about “turnover”, that is, the ability of the leader to finish the cast and gently lay the fly on the water. Mono leaders often do not turn over" the tippet and fly efficiently, and particularly when casting into a head wind. And if you have had the experience of casting into a side wind with a mono leader, you will understand even more what we are talking about! Hand furled tapered leaders provide a beautiful balance of mass to length, thus driving the fly to the target with authority. And that is what “turn over” is about!

Hand furled tapered leaders have such an efficient transfer of power, it can cast very long tippets and is effective turning over large or small flies. Furled leaders are much easier to use and more economical than mono leaders.

How is a furled leader different from a braided leader?

Hand furled tapered leaders are not "braided" leaders. Conventional braided leaders have a hollow center that tends to pick up and hold water which in turn makes the leader heavier and effects casting performance. When cast, a braided leader also has a tendency to 'splat' the surface of the water and spray the small droplets contained in it's core. These negative characteristics put down or "spook" fish. Hand furled leaders have a solid core and do not have these negative characteristics. Additionally, most braided leaders are too limp to fully turn over the tippet and fly.

How do I attach the furled leader to the fly line?

These leaders use a “loop to loop” method to connect to the fly line. There are several methods and each works well and has merits of it's own. Many fly lines are now being manufacturer with an end loop built in at end of the line. You may also use “loop connectors” and attache these to the end of the fly line which is by far one of the easiest and most often used methods. If you wish to build a loop into your own line, here are step-by-step photos to add a loop to your fly line.

How do I attach the tippet to the furled leader?

Notice that the leader has a very small loop at its tip end. We recommend tying a 6-8 inch extender onto the tip loop using a clinch knot. Then tie a loop onto the other end. Attach your tippet to this loop. This extender allows the user to add and remove tippets quickly, protecting the furled leader loop. This eliminates the possibility of snipping off the tiny leader loop when changing tippets. Recommended extender material: Ultralight 3X, Light 2X, Medium 0X, Heavy 20 lb. test.

How long will a furled leader last?

Quality hand furled tapered leaders are tough and very durable. The typical life of a BlueSky furled leader, the product that we recommend and use ourselves, is generally measured in seasons as opposed to days or even hours for an ordinary mono leader. This feature of durability makes the furled leader an economical option and will save the owner considerable expense. As with all fly fishing gear, proper care and handling will add to life to your leader and only requires normal care. Use tippet material of a diameter recommended on the package. Here are a few quick tips on how to make these leaders last:

Do not jerk or excessively stretch the leaders.
Do not false cast without a piece of tippet attached.
Clean the leader with mild soap and water if it discolors
Use of the furled leader in below freezing weather is not recommended due to the probability of ice build-up.

If excessive pressure on a furled leader causes the furling to unravel, the leader can be "reloaded" by simply grasping the leader at both ends and gently stretching.

Can I roll cast using a furled leader?

With distance, accuracy, presentation and ease of use as given benefits of this type of leader, you will find that the furled leader is simply incredible to roll cast! The secret to the roll cast is taking advantage of the "surface tension" of the leader and tippet as the cast is drawn toward the angler. The natural weave of the furled leaders allows for slightly more tension resulting in beautiful roll casts, even at short distances. The taper and balance of these leaders provide a smooth continuation of the fly line. This means the furled leader will turn over and deliver the fly to the target.

Is there a difference between a these types of leaders?

The answer to this in an unequivocal yes! Just as with most products, there is quality and then there is everything else. For this very reason we are quite proud to be the exclusive dealer for BlueSky hand furled leaders in Australia and New Zealand. Here are just a few reason why...

These leaders are made from premium nylon rather than fly tying thread, which can fray easily, wear out quickly and is simply either too stiff or too limp (see below).

These leaders are available in five expertly woven tapers. Others cut corners by weaving only one to two tapers and trying to convince you that there is no need for specialty tapers. Thus, the leaders are available in correct sizes to match the line weight you are using.

Forget any leader with a metal ring on the tip loop. This is clumsy attempt to protect the tip and why add pointless weight and bulk of iron hardware to a leader whose goal is to be light and delicate? Metal rings also cause "hinging" at the critical leader/tippet connection. Woven tip loops, with recommended extender attached, perform flawlessly.

And this is clincher...a quality furled leader will have butt and tip loops woven seamlessly into the leader. Period. Some leaders are “whip tied” at the butt and/or tip, and have a distinctive unfinished look to them, let alone the frequency of catching your tippet. The beautiful woven loops of a BlueSky leader are smooth and clean.

Why use nylon instead of fly tying thread to make furled leaders?

BlueSky has tried every conceivable material for making furled leaders. Whatever their claimed advantages, furled leaders made of tying thread have some serious disadvantages:

Fly tying thread is not suitable to be a fishing line. All the characteristics necessary for a fine furled leader are absent with fly tying thread -- such as suppleness, durability, transparency and elasticity. Thread-made leaders are far less durable than leaders made with nylon. Nylon is also more abrasion resistant.

Furled leaders are like a spring, storing their energy and releasing it quickly, and thus nylon does a far better job. Quality furled leaders offer a 10-15% stretch for shock absorbency. Tying thread, on the other hand, offers none of the elasticity that is an important feature of a premium quality furled leader. Good luck to you if you try to pull a thread leader off a snag.

Fly tying thread, regardless of its color, is an opaque material. When woven into a leader, this opacity is an immediate disadvantage, rendering the leader visible from below. Enough said.

And don't forget, thread is just that, thread! Leaders made from thread will have a tendency to mildew and deteriorate unlike nylon, especially if put away wet. Too, as thread, they are more difficult to keep clean.

Thread leaders have a tendency to be too stiff or too limber, depending on the thread used. BlueSky furled leaders have been very carefully designed and woven with high quality nylon fibers of the correct diameters and proven taper formulae to ensure performance, casting and presentation.

Does the furled leader float or sink?

A quality furled leader that is is woven with premium nylon has a neutral buoyancy. This type of nylon is chosen so anglers who were fishing "wet" would be able to get the leader and fly down to the chosen depth.

On the other hand, a furled leader will float beautifully for dry fly fishing by applying a light coating of silicone floatant to the entire length of the leader when it is dry. Occasional re-application may be necessary, just as it is for your fly.

What about tippet size and length?

As we recommend BlueSky Furled Leaders, we will talk about them here. These leaders are about 5' 9" long. Normally, tippet lengths will be 3 - 6 feet long, resulting in an overall leader length of about

8-12 feet (or longer if you choose!). This length can quickly be adjusted according to conditions and preferences. Suggested tippet material:

• UltraLight Size Leaders we suggest 4X and finer material

• For the Light Size Leaders we suggest 3X and finer material

• Medium Leaders, a piece of 0X and down

• The Heavy Leaders have a built in extender of 20 lb. nylon to attach any size tippet desired.

Don't forget to first tie on a 6 to 8 inch extender to help protect the tip loop. Recommended extender material: Ultralight 3X, Light 2X, Medium 1X, Heavy leader has extender tied on.

One does not have to cut back, rebuild or even put on a new leader when fishing conditions change. Simply tie on a different length or size tippet as the only leader adjustment required.

What happens if the tip loop breaks?

Fear not. Occasionally, due to excessive strain or long use, a tip loop can break. Simply gather the leader strands together and secure them with your hemostat or tying vice. You can whip-finish the strands and trim if you wish. Now, tie on a mono extender using a nail knot. Then tie a perfection loop to the tag end to make a 4 to 8 inch extender. Dab knot with super glue or "Knot Sense." Your leader is now as good as new.  See photos and instructions on tip repair

Why not use fluorocarbon or Kevlar® to weave a furled leader?

Fluorocarbon, Kevlar® and the assorted exotic fishing lines are not suitable materials for furled leaders. We have tried them all! They lack the characteristics required, such as suppleness, durability, transparency and elasticity. Even if they were suitable materials, the cost might make the price of a furled leader prohibitive.

A note from Derek McKenzie Outdoors

We have been using furled leaders for a number of years and yes, have tried most types mentioned here from silk to thread and back again. We have also experimented with other mono furled leaders and to make a long story short, they just did not measure up.  We are 100% confident in both the BlueSky Hand Furled Leaders as well as Jim Hauer and his company. We strive to provide you with “world class” products and believe that these leaders are the finest made in the world today.

If they were not of this calibre, we simply would not offer them to you!