Tip #15 The Straight Scoop - Taming Unruly Fly Fishing Leaders!

About 4 decades ago as I was just getting into fly fishing, I ran into a problem with my leader getting kinks and loop memory in it which inhibited a proper presentation. It also made it difficult to react to a strike when there was a lot of loose slack in the leader from the curves.

Back in those days I looked forward to each and every issue of my dad's Sports Afield magazine and would read it cover to cover non-stop, gleaning every bit of knowledge I could find to improve myself as a successful outdoorsman. This is a tip I picked up from one of those issues many years ago.

When tippets or fly leaders get kinks or loop memory in them, a good way to straighten them out is to use a small piece of bicycle tire inner tube rubber. It only takes a small piece, perhaps an inch square or so. Fold the rubber in half with the end of the leader inside. SLOWLY pull the leader through the inner tube to the other end of the line. For some reason this helps eliminate the curves and kinks in the line.

Don't pull the line too quickly through the rubber. The friction generated can cause enough heat to melt the rubber and perhaps even your leader, especially if using very light tippets.

Good Fishin'
Klondike Kid

Return to Outdoor Tips Index

Home