Author Topic: building leaders with stren fluorocast (Read 1152 times)

Brett Silber · « **on:** April 03, 2011, 01:54:45 PM »

I just started experimenting with stren fluorocast from the line section at walmart for my leaders. It says it is 100% fluorocarbon and I have had just as much success. Does anybody know of any negatives to using this. It is a lot cheaper considering it is 8.99 for 200yds.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2011, 02:26:50 PM »

It's advertised as true fluorocarbon so that's good. If it works for your fishing application and budget then there really aren't any negatives, eh?

Unaware of how it actually performs - Technically speaking you're giving up breaking strength vs diameter. For instance, the Stren at 6lb is rated .009 which, for instance, compared to RioFluoroFlex Plus would give you 12lb breaking strength... or the equivalent of almost 5x at 6lb breaking strength.

Lance Egan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2011, 10:04:11 PM »

You're giving up contact, diameter/#test, and knot strength.

Your gaining in price, but at what cost to your flies, and fishing?

Consider this, you could purchase high quality nylon that offers better strength per diameter, knot strength and increase contact due to the thinner material and have it cost the same as the crappy fluoro.

A Yugo is still a Yugo... It costs less to begin with, but after all the repairs (lost flies and rigs, loss of contact etc...) it really costs more.

All that said, you certainly can catch fish with less expensive material, just like one can catch fish with a $30 fly rod. It all boils down to how YOU would like to do it and how many advantages you'd like to stack in your favor.

Brett Silber · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2011, 10:36:55 PM »

Thanks for the info. I don't want to lose any more flies than i already do and certainly no breaks in my leaders. I don't get enough time on the water as it is and i really don't want equipment problems when I get the chance to go, so i will be sticking with fly line manufacturers. i certainly have plenty to learn and am definitely open to as many comments and ideas as i can get from those of you professionals.

Lance, i just wanted to let you know that the best fishing days I have had here in western MD was this past week with your rainbow warrior. One question that i have is, i didn't put any ribbing over the mylar on the first batch that i tied. The mylar got pretty tore up. So I added small silver wire ribbing over the second set which seemed to definitely hold up. Maybe it was me but I don't think they were as effective. Do you have any input or suggestions. By the way, the fly destroyed bait fisherman on opering day as well. It was unbelievable.

Lance Egan · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2011, 11:13:34 PM »

Brett,

We all have lots to learn

That is the beauty of it...

Glad to hear the Warrior worked for you. It is certainly an effective pattern for me.
I use large and sometimes medium sized tinsel for mine. Anything 18 and larger use large/wide and medium for 20's and smaller. Using tinsel that is too small (thin) allows the body to get unraveled. Tinsel that overlaps with each wrap increases the durability. Also, use your fingers or a Ketchum release to take the fly out of the fish. Forceps are murder on flies.

Wire for me fishes fine, but slides down to the tail and offers very little added durability. I would recommend adding a layer of superglue or head cement to the thread before you wrap the pearl tinsel. That should help quite a bit.

Also, many overlook the other colors of warriors. Umpqua offers the glass bead versions in black and red. Both have their glory days in the hot sun

For those who tie their own, adding a tungsten bead to these colors helps get the fly down. Add a bit of lead wire under the thorax to help weight it even more. Don't be afraid to try all the colors in larger sizes. I fish them up to size 12 in rivers and as chronomids in lakes.

Brett Silber · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2011, 11:29:52 PM »

Thanks a lot for the info Lance. I really appreciate the tips and strategies. I tied olive under the mylar but haven't fished it with confidence. Have you had any luck with that color.

Lance Egan · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2011, 11:18:18 PM »

Brett,

First, sorry for sending your thread in a different direction.

I haven't tried a warrior with olive thread under pearl tinsel. Give it a whirl...

The black and red versions still use red thread, but the tinsel is either black or red rather than the pearl tinsel on the original warriors. I use spirit river crystal splash in red or black and twist a few strands to create the body.

Have fun!