What Leader do I need...?

Even before I began Cutthroat Leader co. I was a firm believer that you needed the proper tool for the job.  Not just in fishing, but when doing finished carpentry, landscaping, furniture building and more. Having and using the proper tools not only makes the task more enjoyable, but very often, the project outcome is typically much better.  

Same thing for fly fishing.  Having the proper tools makes for a more enjoyable and productive day. No other item in your setup aides in the delivery of your fly as the leader you use.  

While doing the fly fishing trade show circuit, we often hear from fly fishers that want one leader to do everything.  Sure anyone can throw on any fly they decide to their leader and catch fish, (once in a while) but is that the best system.  Think of tying a large weighted wolley bugger on the same leader that you deliver a small size 20 dry fly to rising trout...?  Even if you are a great caster, this outcome would not be pretty.

Because 90% of new fly line have welded loops, changing leaders takes less than two minutes.  That two minutes will make large improvements to the delivery of your fly to feeding fish.

Most of my fishing is with an ultimate dry fly leader, a dry fly and or a dry fly  / dropper setup.  On a typical day of fishing, I will throw small dry flies as well as large heavy streamers with the same fly line.  This means a quick leader change occurs often.  If while tossing streamers against the bank, I see a small hatch materialize, I quickly change my setup to deliver dry flies to feeding fish.  This system not only increases catch rates, but also makes the day on the water much more enjoyable.

A couple different style leaders in your arsenal is all you need.

We do offer a nylon furled leader for those that want that one leader to do everything.  I will admit is does nothing perfectly, but does perform many different fly fishing scenarios better than most.  If fishing dries, simply apply some leader floatant to eliminate any over-spray.   This leader is great with bobber style indicators as the leader does not kink.    Depending on size of tippet you use, you can throw small dries, up to weighted streamers. As mentioned above, it will not be perfect in any one situation, but it will be decent in many fly fishing situations.. 

Nylon Furled Leaders

Our Hi-Vis Nymphing Leader is quickly becoming the most popular leader around for fishing smaller beadheads, emergers, nymphs, etc. Reason being, it casts so perfectly.  I was recently out doing some R&D on a new High Sticking Leader we are working on.  My 9yr son wanted to come along, so I set him up a rod already rigged up with our Hi-Vis nymph leader on it.  I was casting upriver, and fishing a similar style that George Daniels often talks about, tight Line nymphing with a sighter.

My son was casting his 5wt, rod with our Cutthroat Furled Hi-vis leader and he was hooking into fish after fish.

After about the 4th fish he landed, I decided to sit back and watch what he was doing.  Up until this point, I was actively fishing utilizing a high stick method.  Yes, I was catching fish, but I will admit I was being out-fished by my son.   He would make a short cast up river, about 25 feet.  He would throw one mend in the line and simply watch the indicator.  Line mending with a furled leader is so much easier to do because of the surface stick a fueled leader has.  Once the indicator showed any sign of movement, my son would simply raise his rod.  Often times, there was a fish on the end...

These leaders have become favorites of many fishing guides across the states.  Reasons, they are easy to cast, they DO NOT spook fish and they indicate the most subtle of strikes.  What else do you want from a indicator leader?

Image of our Popular Hi-Vis Nymph Furled Leader.


Below are a few fish from some guides that use our leaders almost exclusively.

Video Link: click Here for Video!

For fly fishers that use furled leaders, applying the paste floatant is a no-brainer, but for anyone new to the furled leader game, we have created a quick video.  This vid shows how to apply floatant to our ever popular Ultimate Dry Fly leader, but the same process is used for treating our Hi-Vis nymph leader as well.  (only treat the Hi-Vis section).

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. mike@cutthroatleader.com

We have many F.A.Q's on our website about furled leaders as well.

What is a furled leader? by Cutthroat Leader co.

You have heard about the term "Furled Leader", but what is it....?

Click link below to learn more about furled leaders.

I want to learn more about Furled Leaders

furled leaders

Do you use Tippet Rings while fly fishing

Do you use Tippet Rings...?

I often get asked this very question.  We handcraft and sell 10's of thousands of furled leaders every year.  Most of these leaders are sold with tippet rings.  We use 2mm on trout leaders and 3mm on steelhead / salmon / larger species.

Are all Tippet Rings equal.... NO!
There are so many companies importing cheap tippet rings and selling as high quality online.  One clue to if your tippet ring is a good one or a bad one is this.  The material that makes the rings shall be the same diameter.  If your ring is somewhat flat, (not cylindrical), you have a bad ring,  You want a ring that is perfectly round.  If the ring is somewhat "Flat", the tippet will be cut....

Like much in life, you get what you paid for.  We sell 10 rings for $6.00.  comes on a safety pin which make attaching to tippet that much easier.  Tie it on before you remove the ring from the pin, less lost rings.

We put micro tippet rings on about 80% of our Furled Leaders.

We do not use rings on leaders for very strong / heavy fish.  Yes, the ring will work for a bit, but after some time fishing heavy tippets / fish, the ring will begin to damage the leader and eventually break the leader.

We do manufacture reinforced leaders and use rings.  The material we use for reinforcement has a very high tensile strength and abrasion resistance.  Therefore the ring does no damage.
reinforced leaders link.

Cutthroat Leader Gift Certificates

This time of year, we often get asked about gift certificates.  Yes, we do offer gift certificates to the public.

We offer them in amounts of $25.00 and $50.00.

$25.00 Link

$50.00 Link


Whether you are a multi-year returning customer or you have simply been thinking about giving a Cutthroat Furled Leader a Try this Season, our Gift Certificates are great gifts.

Forward this post onto any family / friend whom might be buying for you this season.


If you have any questions at all, we are always here to answer them.  Feel Free to contact us.
208-559-4788
mike@cutthroatleader.com

Each month, we send out a news letter to our loyal customer base.  The last one of the season gives Cutthroat Leader customers the chance to win a Hand Crafted net from Snake river net co, for any fly fishing related picture sent into us.  We do a random section from a hat, (a.k.a. computer program).

The link to the news letter is here: Link to News letter 

We are also reaching out to any fly fishing clubs in the USA that have annual fund raising gatherings/meetings.  The best advertising for us is word of mouth, the more fly fishers that use our leaders, the more fly fishers hear how great they are.  It is a win win for everybody.  So if you know of fly fishing club that has upcoming annual meetings, please pass this onto them.

Using the coupon code 2015 at checkout will also save you 20% off the purchase until the end of the 2015.

We are looking for great things to come from 2016.

Thank you to all that have help make 2015 a true success.











furled leaders