What is your balanced leech/bobber leader setup?

DerekWhipple

DerekWhipple

Steelhead
I'm blaming it on the enshittification of Google. I cannot seem to find a diagram for a lake leader for fishing a balanced leech with a bobber/indicator. I'm fishing smaller lakes around Mt. Hood and SW Washington. How long do you make your butt section? Is that just tied to a tippet ring and then 10-20 feet of 3 or 4x?

Thanks for any tips!
 
However you prefer to build an indicator leader will work fine. I like a 18” butt section of 12 or 15 lb maxima UG, 15-18’ of 6 or 8 lb maxima UG and 3-5’ of 3x fluoro tippet. All sections joined with triple surgeons knots. Don’t forget to add your slip indicator before you tie your leech on ;)
 
The leech combo is often fished, especially this time of year in higher lakes, right along the weed line, or even in weed holes along the edge of the lake. So long leader not really an issue. Use a three foot tapered to surgeons, then three to six foot of floro in the 12# range as the indicator set range, with bobber stop, to the tippet ring depending on intended fly depth. Floro tippets of choice from there. Leech bottom, chiro, scud, 'baetis, blob upper. That should give enough backbone to turn over the junk.
 
I’ve really simplified my leader build. I just don’t build them anymore. I normally just run straight 3x the whole way.
This is mostly because I suck at casting indicator rigs and makes it simple to re-rig when I get tangled (which is often😁).
Google Phil Rowley’s level leader concept, if you want way better advice than what I posted.
 
Paul_ said:
I’ve really simplified my leader build. I just don’t build them anymore. I normally just run straight 3x the whole way.
This is mostly because I suck at casting indicator rigs and makes it simple to re-rig when I get tangled (which is often😁).
Google Phil Rowley’s level leader concept, if you want way better advice than what I posted.
Click to expand...
x2
 
12ft 0-1x fluoro
Tippet ring
3ft 3x fluoro off tippet ring to balanced leech
6in 5x fluoro tag off tippet ring to chironomid

Any longer than that becomes a pain in the ass to cast. Any taper or heavier main line affects the drop.
 
I like ot have two rods rigged for indicator fishing. Of course that depends on the particular lake and depth. But I rig both rods the same way.

Normal indicator rod - Either a 9 or 10ft tapered leader to 3x or a straight 9ft piece of 12# fluoro. Tied to a micro swivel. Then tie two tippets to the other end of the swivel. Shorter piece about 3ft of 3x or 4x fluoro. Longer piece about 5 ft of 3x or 4x fluoro. Tie the balanced leech to the shorter tippet and a chironomid to the longer tippet.

Deeper water rod - Same exact setup except the I use a 15ft piece of 12# fluor to the barrel swivel.

Oh and on both setups the main leader has a bobber stopper on them so I only have to set depth once and then know where to replace the indicator after a hookup. And no I don't guess the rough depth for my flies. I hook a weight to the bottom fly and lower it down to ensure I have the indicator set so that the bottom fly in 8-12" off the bottom (to start then adjust as needed).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top