HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FELT THE SAME WAY? "Old Dog’s & new Tricks Being one who absolutely hates change, and pretty set in my ways at 63, I find myself amazed that I’m writing this, for who ever will take the time to read it. I have been chasing Trout, and what ever else swims in the local rivers and streams, for some time now, using methods and gear that I was taught to use many years ago, but it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that all of it changed, and I will say at the outset, changed dramatically for the better. For opener’s, I use a 9 foot, 5 weight, 4-piece TFO rod, and have always used commercially available 4X & 5X extruded Leaders with loop to loop connections to the line, and then 5, 6,or 7X tippets down to the fly’s. I probably should also say here that 90 % of what I do is with dry fly’s. Like many of us, weather you choose to admit it or not, we all struggle with casting accuracy and the very elusive, drift control. This all has changed for me. A couple of good friends from Team 7X, put me onto the hand tied Leaders by Chris several weeks ago, and I will say that I have been VERY reluctant to change, but what a HUGE difference. I started out with two, 9 foot, 4X Maxima Dry Leaders from Chris 2 weeks ago, and the first one is still hooked up. After slowing down the cast’s a bit, there was an almost instant and dramatic improvement in accuracy. Even the little short throws…you know the ones you do before we all blunder into the streams and scare the crap out of anything within 20 yards… sorry… I digress; all the way out to a long shot 40 feet away to the opposing bank. Wind doesn’t seem to matter, nor does the weight of the fly. I will say that I throw primarily # 12 & # 14, only because that is as small as I can see to tie the little buggers on to the tippet, but it doesn’t seem to matter at all what is tied on. The casting loops are tight and controllable and almost always land very softly on the water…something that I can’t say for a Looped connection. As a footnote, Chris’s leaders came with a Loop connection that I cut off and “Nail Knotted” the leader to my line. As for the control of the drift, the fly’s drift more naturally. Perhaps its the improved accuracy getting the fly to where “I” want it, or perhaps the leader material itself, but once again, I have much better control of the drift with far less impact on position if I need to mend the line back upstream. As a final thought, perhaps more of a comment, give this exceptional product a shot. If your thinking that the extra few knots that compose a hand tied leader will cause an issue, I can tell you that they are no more cumbersome than an extruded leader. Getting a wind knot, or picking up a little stream crud is all part of the game that we all play every time we get wet. Do not let a pre-conceived notion like I had, for far to long, get in the way on improving your game. Paul Rice"
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 20:09:52 +0000
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