Leader Diameters

[Steve Sawyer]

After seeing Alain's diameter measurments of his Hends leader, I was interested in measuring a few of the leaders I had.  I measured the length and incremental diameter of two different tapered leaders.  The first leader examined was a Maxima 9’ 0x knotless, tapered leader.  It has a Maxima Chameleon butt section and tapers to a Maxima Ultragreen Tippet section (pictured below).
 
The second leader measured was a Hends Camou French Leader in the 900 cm version, which is also a knotless, tapered leader (pictured below).

The overall length of the Maxima was first obtained.  It is advertised as being 9 ft. in length, but I measured an overall length of 8 ft. and 10.5 inches.  After tying a nail knot (or clinch knot on a tippet ring), you are down 8.5 ft. and that is assuming you tie a perfect knot the first time.  

In order to obtain as accurate diameter measurement as I could, I used a metal micrometer that was calibrated just before being used.

Table 1 contains the various diameter measurements I made versus the length of the leader for the Maxima 9 ft. 0x tapered leader.


TABLE 1 - Maxima 9' 0x Leader

Dis. from Butt Section (ft.)   Leader Dia. - Raw Data (in.)    Leader Dia. - Rounded (in.)
               0                            0.0243                                 0.024
              0.5                           0.0242                                0.024
               1                            0.0242                                0.024
              1.5                           0.0242                                0.024
               2                            0.0241                                0.024
              2.5                           0.0241                                0.024
               3                            0.0240                                0.024
              3.5                           0.0198                                0.020
               4                            0.0161                                0.016
              4.5                           0.0142                                0.014
               5                            0.0133                                0.013
              5.5                           0.0124                                0.012
               6                            0.0117                                0.012
              6.5                           0.0113                                0.011
               7                             0.011                                 0.011
             7.5                            0.011                                 0.011
              8                              0.011                                 0.011
             8.5                            0.011                                 0.011
            8.875                          0.011                                 0.011


To graphically illustrate the data in Table 1, a line chart was created (pictured below).

It is apparent that the butt section of the leader is approximately 3 ft. long with an aggressive taper for 1.5 ft. then a more gradual taper for another 2.5 ft. and then has approximately 2 ft. of tippet.  It should be noted that around 74.5 inches (6.21 ft) from the end of the butt section the leader transitions from the Chameleon to the Ultragreen material.

After all the data was gathered for the Maxima Tapered leader, the Hends Camou French Leader was then examined.  This particular leader being measured was the 900 cm version (as opposed to the 450 cm version).  Interestingly enough, the leader actually measured 944.9 centimeters (31’ 0”) in length as opposed to the advertised 900 cm (29’ 6”).  It was good to see the extra length, which I wish the Maxima included.  
 
The same metal micrometer was used to obtain these diameter measurements as was used for the Maxima Leader measurements.

Table 2 contains the various diameter measurements I made versus the length of the leader for the Hends Camou French tapered leader.


TABLE 2 - Hends Camou French Leader

Dis.from Butt Section (ft.)   Leader Dia. - Raw Data (in.)    Leader Dia. - Rounded (in.)
               0                             0.0216                               0.022
              0.5                            0.0211                               0.021
               1                             0.0216                               0.022
              1.5                            0.0220                               0.022
               2                             0.0227                               0.023
              2.5                            0.0223                               0.022
               3                             0.0219                               0.022
              3.5                            0.0212                               0.021
               4                             0.0210                               0.021
              4.5                            0.0213                               0.021
               5                             0.0211                               0.021
              5.5                            0.0212                               0.021
               6                             0.0205                               0.021
              6.5                            0.0209                               0.021
               7                             0.0218                               0.022
              7.5                             0.022                               0.022
               8                             0.0219                               0.022
              8.5                            0.0213                               0.021
               9                             0.0211                               0.021
              9.5                            0.0215                               0.022
              10                             0.0215                               0.022
             10.5                            0.0208                               0.021
              11                             0.0208                               0.021
             11.5                            0.0211                               0.021
              12                             0.0212                               0.021
             12.5                            0.0215                               0.022
              13                             0.0216                               0.022
             13.5                            0.0221                               0.022
              14                              0.022                               0.022
             14.5                            0.0217                               0.022
              15                             0.0215                               0.022
             15.5                            0.0212                               0.021
              16                             0.0211                               0.021
             16.5                            0.0211                               0.021
              17                             0.0214                               0.021
             17.5                            0.0216                               0.022
              18                             0.0216                               0.022
             18.5                            0.0218                               0.022
              19                             0.0217                               0.022
             19.5                            0.0219                               0.022
              20                             0.0216                               0.022
             20.5                            0.0212                               0.021
              21                             0.0215                               0.022
             21.5                            0.0218                               0.022
              22                             0.0217                               0.022
             22.5                            0.0205                               0.021
              23                             0.0198                               0.020
             23.5                            0.0181                               0.018
              24                             0.0172                               0.017
             24.5                            0.0164                               0.016
              25                             0.0142                               0.014
             25.5                            0.0119                               0.012
              26                             0.0105                               0.011
             26.5                            0.0098                               0.010
              27                             0.0091                               0.009
             27.5                            0.0089                               0.009
              28                             0.0087                               0.009
             28.5                            0.0087                               0.009
              29                             0.0088                               0.009
             29.5                            0.0089                               0.009
              30                             0.0091                               0.009
             30.5                            0.0094                               0.009
              31                             0.0096                               0.010


To graphically illustrate the data in Table 2, a line chart was created (pictured below).

It is apparent that the butt section of the leader is approximately 22 ft. long with a consistent taper for about 5 ft. then has approximately 4 ft. of tippet.  As can be seen in the data table and the line graph, there was a lot of variability in the diameter measurements.  Even in the tippet itself, there is no level of consistency in diameter.  One would expect some level of uniformity in the diameters of this leader, especially at the price Hends commands.

[Steve Sawyer]

Hmmm...I can't seem to post the pictures or graphs.  It says the upload folder is full.  If someone can help me out with that, I would apprceiate it.  Thanks!

[Pat Weiss]

Wow Steve, thats some great info!

Wouldnt that Hends (technically) be illegal for comps since it tapers back up somewhat?

[Alain Barthelemy]

Guys, good post, but it is impossible to measure a soft material like mono down to a ten-thousandth of an inch!  Even measuring to a mil (1/1000th in) is hard.

I am sure the Hends leader does not really reverse taper; that is just measurement error.

[Steve Sawyer]

Guys, good post, but it is impossible to measure a soft material like mono down to a ten-thousandth of an inch!  Even measuring to a mil (1/1000th in) is hard.

I am sure the Hends leader does not really reverse taper; that is just measurement error.

I agree, there is inherent errors in any measurements taken.  Therefore, I have taken ten measurements in each location along to the tippet, and the standard deviation for each of those sets of ten is very low (the min. value in the range of ten at the end is higher than the max. value in the range of ten for various measurements taken in other locations along the tippet).  If there is a large  error in the overall measurements taken for each set of ten, then I am one consistently erroneous measurer...haha. 

[Clyde Olson]

Hends "Camou French Leader" 15' leader measurements: Using Fishpond tippet-leader gage; one leader measured; 2-3 measurements/entry; one observer; no peer revue; scientific value=0; general interest value=should be relatively high, giving us some indication of what the Hends people believe a French 15' leader taper should be.
Butt end     0.025"
@ 1'           0.021
    2              "
    3              "
    4              "
    5              "
    6           0.019
    7           0.015
    8           0.013
    9           0.011
   10            1X
   11             "
   12            2X
   13            3X
   14             "
   15             "
   15.5         3X

Well, the Hends people gave me more than the 15' leader they advertised, but it never did reach the "4X" terminal taper they promised. . . no big deal.  I guess you could look at the Hends 30' leader as a "9' to 2X" leader . . . with a 22' butt extension of the same diameter(0.022")

[Timothy Grey]

I still tie my own leaders, but I think there are a lot of guys on here who still use the Hends Camou leaders, right? 

Looks to me like there's some inconsistency in the product.  I don't think you can compare the accuracy of a leader gauge with the accuracy of a good micrometer, but even Clyde's measurements indicate that the leader ends at 3x instead of 4x?  What's up with that?

Alaine, your point about the difficulty in accurately taking measurements on mono is fair.  But did you fail to notice that the variability in the measurements for the Maxima leader were minimal?

Steve, have you measured any other Hends leaders? 

Anybody else with a micrometer and a Hends leader willing to do the measurements to see what you've got?  My curiosity is peaked.

[Steve Sawyer]

Tim,

Unfortunately, I did not measure any other Hends leaders (I only purchased one and after seeing all the inconsistencies with it, I doubt I will be buying another).  I would be very interested in seeing the results from other individuals who may have one and are willing to measure it.  I would like to know if I just happen to have purchased a faulty one or if the quality control at the location where these leaders are manufactured needs an adjustment.  The micrometer I used is one we use at work to measure machined parts (where small scale accuracy is of the utmost importance) and we calibrate it regularly.  I know it is not a devise many people will have access to, but even what Clyde did does show some flaw in the leader and maybe I am asking too much, but for the price that leader commands, one would expect a little more quality of a product.

Disclaimer:  The above is just my humble opinion and I do not mean to offend anyone in anyway who may find the Hends leader to be the best leader they have ever used.

[Clyde Olson]

I don't think the ability to measure a leader to the 4th or 5th decimal point has much real fishing value, notwithstanding its possible scientific.  Further, and I don't know this for sure, but I doubt the manufacturers can extrude material to such accuracy.  Fishpond or any quality manufacturer purportively making a device measuring a leader diameter to the 3rd decimal point is more than enough accuracy for our 'fishing' purposes. Knowing that one is dealing with a new leader tapered to 3X and not the advertised "4X" does have some fishing value.  This thread suggests that spending 20 bucks and adding this device to our stuff would be worthwhile and fun to have.

[Jim Frazier]

i have one of those pricey fish pond leader/tippet gauges and it is cool the stuff you find out when using one  now in my lazy days its just a 9' tappered leader works well enough for me.

[Clyde Olson]

I hear ya, Jim . . . 'sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thingy'