The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I know these were mentioned here many years ago. I finally tried one for the first time today. For those who don't know hand twisted leaders are similar to furled leaders except that you twist or "furl" them by hand. No drills or jigs are needed. If you Youtube hand twisted leaders or Google Kansas fly Fishing you will find and excellent video on how to make them. They are really quite easy to make. The one I tried today was for a 4wt. line. I tied it out of 6lb. Berkley Triline XL. The twisted part was 6-1/2 ft long, and I attatched a 2-1/2ft long 4X floro tippet. I was casting a #10 beadhead nymph to smallmouth in the local stream. The leader casts great. It has some shock absorbsion from the twisting, but is still quite sensitive. If you've got an extra 10 minutes or so, tie one up and give it a try. I think you'll like them. Mike Borba

I always used large grasshoppers to twist my leaders.



Paul

Tried them Mike and like them but I usually use such long leaders that they're really not practical for me. I used some in Mexico for tarpon and they held up and cast pretty well though.

Really glad to see you here again and posting. Perhaps the board isn't so dead.

Hey Charlie,
I haven't posted much lately because I haven't been out. My wife has been going through some health issues that have kept me close to home. I think the worst is over. Can't get too excited about stuff when she's not well. I've been able to sneak away for an hour or so to Upper Putah for smallmouth. I can get there in 5 minutes. That's kept me sane. Thanks for posting about your trips. They help when I can't get out. Mike Borba

Thanks for the tip, Mike.

I twisted a few up using 4 and 8 lb. mono. A little trickier than they make it look in the video, but quite simple once you get the hang of it. Takes about 5 minutes per leader. A little time saver: I just make the first twist an inch or so longer than I want the finished leader to be, then make the butt loop and continue with the second twist. Finished leader looks pretty much identical to the ones I made using the full first twist.

chuck o.