Author Topic: New to curlys first question (Read 631 times)

Louis Martin · « **on:** February 01, 2011, 03:51:24 PM »

I’m new to this forum, which is a very interesting and informative one, and I just starting to try the slinky/curly indicator, so I’m posting several questions. To keep things clear, I’ll make separate threads. First, at what distances do you fish your slinky/curly rigs? I note French and Spanish nymphing typically calls for longer casts. Do many of you fish the slinky up close? If so what is the typical distance you use the rig at, and how close will you go? Do you vary the overall leader and tippet length a lot depending on how far away you plan to fish?

Loren Williams · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2011, 05:46:13 PM »

I try to keep my leader as consistent as possible. The longer I do this the more static my leaders seem to become.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2011, 01:28:21 PM »

My leader changes with the river and conditions, but I'm a proponent of the William's "One Leader for Everything."

A very typical rig for me is the Hends leader to curly sighter, 1ft 3x, and then however long I feel i need my tippet/droppers based on how the fish are reacting and depth/layout of the stream... ie - sometimes long 8-10 foot section of 5x for plunging deep pools or staying off wary fish, sometimes just a few feet for floating the curly with some midges, or fishing a rather shallow stream where you can get over the fish without spooking them, etc.

With a very long level leader (+30ft) I can now fish the curly at great range - obviously using weighted flies to propel the cast - and high rod position/angle, and hand twisting are essential in this application.

I think the curly excels at long distance applications over other sighters. Predominately for it's visibility and sensitivity - especially when feel is of little concern.

John Killinger · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2011, 07:10:13 PM »

I take it you need a fast action fly rod to cast that long mother leader? What's this hends leader all about?

Loren Williams · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2011, 07:32:42 PM »

John,

A quick rod is not as important as a rod that recovers on a dime (Z *cough-cough*). It is not a violent cast either--most guys I watch try to overpower the cast and it never works. I can cast wee flies with the leader very accurately.

Unlike Dejon, I do not hand-twist ever using a long leader. My drifts are still short--they just occur a long way from me

My entire drift is controlled with my rod hand and I am often holding my net in the other hand...

If I feel the need to get extended drifts, which will require the recovery (and then shooting) of line then I will utilize my fly line which is much better suited for that task.