Fly Fishing Long Leaders in NZ | Chris Dore
One of the biggest things fly fishers coming to New Zealand for the first time fail to come to terms with is the necessity to fish longer leaders on our gin clear rivers. Now I'm not talking the 18' + rigs we sometimes employ ourselves, but even the standard 12'- 15' leader / tippet combos we fish here daily far surpass what many visitors are used to.
In fact, many locals may employ such leader systems but don't handle them too well either! Long leaders on short casts are often difficult to control but have no fear, Chris is here.
The secret to casting longer leaders on often 30' to 40' casts? Good, basic casting mechanics to maximise energy transfer. Shh... don't tell anyone!
CASTING ARC
One of the most important casting tools is to understand and employ a variable casting arc. This simply allows the rod to work properly, maintains a straight line path of the rod tip which creates an efficient, aerodynamic shaped loop and allows the taper of your flyline to do its job. The casting arc is the change of angle at your rod butt throughout your casting stroke (the 'casting V' as many clients better understand) and should be matched to the flex in your rod.
Essentially the good old 10 - 2 teachings are very limited and if going by the clock face, a shorter cast should employ an arc of say 11:30 - 1:30 and a longer cast of maybe 9:30 - 2:30.
Simply remember: Short line = minimal power = minimal flex = small casting arc.
Longer line = minimal power = deeper flex = wider casting arc
Cause we don't want to use any more power than we need to.
HIT IT LATE
We also want to delay the rotation, or turnover of the rod throughout our stroke. This allows for a longer acceleration phase, more slack line to be removed from the cast, and a deeper, more controlled load / flex of the rod.
"Get the end of your line moving before you send it on its way", much like throwing a javelin or a long throw with a cricket ball in from the boundary. Accelerate the hand before you make the cast.
Think \\\\/ -> on the forward cast and on the back cast. \/ just doesn't do a lot.
Smoothly accelerate the line from the water into the backcast by lifting the rod tip at a constant angle and rotate as the line lifts off. Pause the backcast, then smoothly accelerate the rod butt forward before rotating right at the end of your stroke. Now follow through... you're welcome.
THE STOP
Finally, you must stop the rod crisply and completely to anchor the rod butt at the completion of your stroke on both the forward and backcast, and allow the rod to unload to its full potential.
Think 'accelerate your hand into a wall', pulling through your cast with a relaxed hand, rotating and squeezing to tense the muscles of your arm and stop your stroke like an opponent running into Mike Tyson’s fist. Relaxing your hand immediately following the stop will allow your rod tip to oscillate, and smooth out your cast.
Remember, the majority of failings in the forward cast I see are born from an ineffective back cast. Put extra attention into accelerating, delaying rotation and stopping your backcast crisply in an upward direction and often your forward cast will magically improve!
Now we can also mention tracking, backcast trajectory, adjustments for the wind etc however above are the three most important aspects of any cast.
Play with them, practise them and ingrain them to muscle memory and not only your ability to handle longer leaders, but your casting ability overall will improve in bounds.
THE LEADER
Use a well constructed leader with a heavier / higher mass butt section to better transfer energy such as the Trout Hunter or Airflo Tactical range and add tippet to suit.
THE TIPPET
I often hear people proclaim that 'This tippet is crap! It keeps breaking! It won't hold knots."
Now I can accept that with cheap and nasty brands trying to punch with the big boys, but high end Japanese material like Trout Hunter is super consistent and strong, precision typical of the Japanese... I tend to look more at the angler themselves and their knot tying abilities when people complain about the main players.
Some traditional brands offer great knot strength and everyone can tie a strong knot with them, however it's hard to break a tow rope too. Modern tippet material offers tiny diameters to breaking strain to pass through the water column with ease and reduce line shadow and unsurpassed suppleness to beat drag. However to get the best out of them you need a little more precision and skill.
Like a high end fly rod that works best with impeachable timing of the casting stroke, or the Maserati that a seasoned driver can corner effortlessly at speed, if you know what you're doing these toys can work like a dream, and you'll get the most out of them. If you hack it they crash and burn. The Maserati more so...
THE KNOTS
The solution? Practice your knots. Each coil must seat snug, smooth and tight. If you work out how many turns suit the diameter of your tippet, you tie precise knots and test them correctly then these high tech tippet materials will treat you well. If you yank that muscle car lazily around the bend, it will end in disaster.
Wet your knots and simply pull them tight, slow and smooth. If they don't feel right, or look right, retie. Know what it takes to break the tippet you use and test each knot, every time.
Another tip is to use your fingernail to slide your coils together rather than directly pulling on your knot, and stressing a low diameter tippet.
Combined with the above you will be turning over 15' + leaders whenever the situation calls. Get to it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Dore is a battle tested fly fishing guide with over 15 years of professional guiding experience, battling the demanding, ever changing conditions that our New Zealand rivers throw at us.
In 2006 Chris became one of the first New Zealanders to successfully pass the internationally recognised Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructors examination and has since taught many thousands of anglers to up their skillset.
For more in person and on river fly fishing advice and upskilling why not book Chris for a day or three?