Fly Lead Length

[rpoll]

I have heard people using longer leads like 48" or more between a flasher or spin doctor and a fly while others use shorter leads like 18" Any recommendations?

I fish Lake Michigan around Grand haven and Port Sheldon

[jdh]

I didn't really figure out the flasher fly bite too well and I'm new to this, but what I noticed was this:

I took 17 fish on flasher/flies (11 kings, 4 lakers, 2 coho).

8" spin doctors and paddles

- 18" - 22" leaders worked better when travelling 2.5 - 3.3 mph

- 22" - 28" leaders worked better when travelling 2.0 - 2.5 mph

11" Paddles (Never did 'well' on these but did pick up some fish)

- 54" leaders got hits when travelling 2.0 - 2.5 mph

- Didn't get hits on 36" leads, but I didn't run these that much

[Twill23]

Your fly leads should match your presentation

For example.

Long fly leads are targeting less aggressive fish... slower speeds.

Short fly leads are targeting more aggressive fish.. faster speeds.

Paddles are the same way.

long fly leads..long leads behind the ball, nuetral fish.

Short fly leads, short behind the ball, Agressive fish.

Your speed will also match this.

as a general rule of thumb.. or on average.

2.5mph- 3x the length of whatever atractor you're using.

[jeffsisson]

I do a lot of Flasher/Flie fishing.

8inch spin doctor/fishcather almost exclusively use 22" leads but will extend to 28, 8"protrol or pro king paddle type flashers I sit 28 to 32. On the larger flashers 11inch I will run normally 32 to 38. my speed varies from 2.2 to 3.2 and I sit the majority of the time right around 2.5. Twill23 is 100% correct you need to determan the many factors of your target for best results!

[rpoll]

When you are lengthening the lead do you just add line to the current lead or do you use new line right from the treble hook?

[fishsniffer]

Your fly leads should match your presentation

For example.

Long fly leads are targeting less aggressive fish... slower speeds.

Short fly leads are targeting more aggressive fish.. faster speeds.

Paddles are the same way.

long fly leads..long leads behind the ball, nuetral fish.

Short fly leads, short behind the ball, Agressive fish.

Your speed will also match this.

as a general rule of thumb.. or on average.

2.5mph- 3x the length of whatever atractor you're using.

what is being accomplished (if you don't already know) is the longer length is "killing" the snap of the fly making it a more lethargic presentation..obviously the opposite is being obtained with the shorter lengths

[Twill23]

what is being accomplished (if you don't already know) is the longer length is "killing" the snap of the fly making it a more lethargic presentation..obviously the opposite is being obtained with the shorter lengths

^ That. I didn't go in to a lot of detail. Could prolly talk about this for hours. lol

As far as lengthening, Call it over kill, but having extra flies is really the key.

As a personal preference we run Big Weenie stuff. The majority of the flies will come right out of the package long enough to tie right on to a paddle. Simply trim it before attaching it to any other rotator. Another helpful tip, Tying a loop knot onto the snap swivel of the rotator will allow for quick changing of flies, rather than stealing the snap swivel from your favorite one.