BlueSky Remarkable Furled Tapered Leaders

A 250 Year Old Tradition. Now Hand Woven in U.S.A.

• Hand-woven: Each BlueSky Remarkable Furled Tapered Leader is hand woven in the U. S. from over 90 feet of premium nylon material. Every leader is individually inspected and tested before packaging to ensure the highest quality standards.
• Amazing Casting: BlueSky Remarkable Furled Tapered Leader can be cast by itself, right out of the package - just like a fly line. Using one will instantly improve one's casting. There is nothing like it.
• Durability and Life: Designed for anglers who want a leader that LASTS, the life of our Furled Tapered Leader is measured in SEASONS while the life of conventional mono leader is measured in DAYS or even HOURS.
• Convenient: No more rebuilding short leaders, untying wind knots or changing leaders during a hatch. The furled leader allows the angler to tie on tippet sections as the ONLY leader adjustment necessary.
• Delicacy: No other leader can present a dry fly with the delicacy of the furled leader. It lands on the water like a feather. Check out Darrell Martin's great book "Micropatterns" to see what he thinks and says about the great benefits of using a furled leader.
• Furled Tapered Construction: Superior to mono leaders because it provides a vastly improved mass-to-length ratio resulting in excellent turnover and extension of tippet and fly
• Solid Core: The solid core of the furled leader does NOT collect or hold water like a braided leader will. This leader lifts off the water and cast with NO spray of water droplets. Braided leaders can "splat" onto the water when cast.
• Perfectly Balanced: Tapers are woven at critical points resulting in leaders that provide graceful turnover. They are balanced to match the line weight you are using.
• An environmental alternative - Did you ever notice the discarded monofilament on our rivers and lakes? One would guess that some of it is leaders tossed out because they got too short or stiff from rebuilding, or doomed by the dreaded wind knot. Alas a solution. BlueSky Furled Leaders are not throwaway leaders. When your tippet gets short from changing flies, simply add a new section. And the possibility of a wind knot ruining your furled leader is reduced to near zero! Oh, please don't forget to pick up that discarded mono.
• Shock Absorbing: Our leaders have a built-in stretch factor of 10-15%. This feature helps to assure one lands that once-in-a-lifetime fish and also makes it possible to use lighter, more delicate tippets. When one grasps the leader on both ends and gently pulls, one can feel the leader stretch a little. This built-in shock absorbing effect protects the leader and helps prevent a fish from breaking off and escaping during unexpected runs.
• It's Supple!: The suppleness of the furled leader reduces drag like no other while allowing the angler to use shorter leaders to gain better control. Compare the furled leader to the stiff coil at the butt end of a conventional mono leader. Incidentally, the stiff coil of the mono leader acts as a spring that can pull your fly back 4-8 inches after you cast, creating an unnatural movement of the fly.

BlueSky Remarkable Furled Tapered Leader represents a vast improvement over mono or braided leaders. When casting into a head wind or side wind, the furled leader will drive the tippet and fly to the target with authority.

For top-water dry fly fishing, our furled leader will cast amazingly long tippets and delicately settle on the water's surface. Even "non-expert" fly casters will greatly improve presentation of their fly. Many experts acknowledge that presentation comprises about 80% of the factors that determine success.

The furled construction provides another important bonus: built-in overstrike protection for those unexpected hard strikes and big runs.

Most fly fishers use tapered monofilament leaders. But did you ever notice when casting a mono leader, that the leader, tippet and fly often end up in a big pile at the end of your cast? That's because mono leaders often do a poor job of delivering the fly to the target. Under less-than-perfect wind conditions, mono leaders usually provide unsatisfactory extension of the fly line.

Why are mono leaders so popular? Because, let's be honest, they're cheap. But when we spend lots of our hard-earned money for fly fishing equipment, the last thing we should skimp on is the leader!

 While the usable life of mono leaders is measured in hours, the life of our furled leaders is measured in months or seasons. That's because our leaders are not "throw-away" leaders. When you are finished with the day's fishing, simply snip off the tippet. The convenient loop-to-loop connection also allows you to switch to our BriteSpot strike indicator leader or another leader in seconds.

Remove one of our furled leaders from the package. Marvel at how 90 feet (27.4m) of super-fine nylon is expertly woven into a 5 foot 9 inch (1.75m) leader.

• Run your fingers down the length of the leader and feel the beautiful tapers. Try to imagine how these tapers were created.
• Grasp the leader by each end. Gently stretch. Notice how all memory disappears instantly. No annoying, stiff, springy coils. Try this with a mono leader. Now you can throw away those leader straighteners.
• Try this. Hold the leader by the butt end. Cast the leader just as you would a fly line. Yes, you can actually cast our furled leaders by hand. Even our gossamer-fine UltraLight leader will cast all by itself. Imagine how improved your casting will be.

BlueSky furled tapered leaders are 5 feet 9 inches (1.75m) long. To this leader, you add a tippet of appropriate length and strength. Don't be afraid to experiment with long tippets. BlueSky Furled Leaders can turn over very long tippets. (note: Spey and Stillwater leaders are longer)

• Each leader is individually hand woven from over 90 feet (27.4m) of premium nylon -- furled and twinned into a beautiful taper.
• This leader, like all our leaders, attaches using the no knot loop-to-loop method. This means you can quickly switch to another BlueSky leader in seconds.
• Detailed instructions are included with your leaders. And, you can always contact us with any questions.
• We highly recommend tying a 6-8 inch extender onto the tip loop using a clinch knot. Then tie a loop onto the other end. Attach your tippet to this loop. This allows you to add and remove tippets quickly, protecting the furled leader loop.

UltraLight size furled leader: 4X to 8X
Light size furled leaders: 3X to 6X
Medium size furled leaders: 0X to 4X
Heavy size furled leader: 0X to 2X
Spey size furled leader: 0X to 4X
We also recommend experimenting with various combinations of tippets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a new product?

The furled leader has been around for generations and was invented sometime in the 1700's. They were originally woven by hand from silk or horse hair. However, cheaper materials and faster leader production methods all but eliminated their availability and use. But because of its many important advantages, the furled leader is enjoying a rebirth of its use, especially among dry fly fishers

.

Today, BlueSky leaders are woven from over 90 feet of premium quality nylon to a length of 5 feet 9 inches (our Stillwater leader is 8' 4" in length and is woven from over 120 feet of premium nylon).

For top-water dry fly fishing, your leader will cast amazingly long tippets and delicately settle on the water's surface. Their wonderful casting characteristics along with the fact they have very little drag allows even "non-expert" fly casters to greatly improve presentation of their fly. Many experts acknowledge that presentation comprises about 80% of the factors that determine success.

BlueSky is the largest weaver of furled leaders. Thousands sold worldwide.

How is a furled leader different from a tapered mono leader?

 

Did you ever notice when casting an ordinary mono leader, that the leader, tippet and fly often end up in big pile at the end of the cast? That's because a mono leader often does an inadequate job of "turning over" the tippet and fly. This happens even more often when casting into a head wind. And casting into a side wind with a mono leader is a hopeless adventure. Our furled tapered leaders provide a beautiful balance of mass to length, thus driving the fly to the target with authority.

Your casts will turn over every time. Because our furled tapered leader has such an efficient transfer of power, it can cast very long tippets and is effective turning over large or small flies. Furled leaders are much easier to use and more economical than mono leaders.

How is a furled leader different from a braided leader?

 

Our furled tapered leader is not a "braided" leader. Conventional braided leaders have a hollow center that tends to pick up and hold water which in turn makes the leader heavier and effects casting performance. When cast, a braided leader also has a tendency to 'splat' the surface of the water and spray the small droplets contained in its core. Many say that these negative characteristics put down or "spook" fish. BlueSky furled leaders have a sold core and do not have these negative characteristics. Additionally, most braided leaders are too limp to fully turn over the tippet and fly.

How do I attach the furled leader to the fly line?

 

Your leader can be attached to the end loop on any fly line since it has a built in loop at its butt end.See step-by-step photos to add a loop to your fly line. This loop-to-loop system makes it easy to change over to other types of leaders, such as our BriteSpot strike indicator leaders, or level leaders for other fishing methods.

How do I attach the tippet to the furled leader?

 

Notice that the leader has a very small loop at its tip end. We recommend tying a 6-8 inch extender onto the tip loop using a clinch knot. Then tie a loop onto the other end. Attach your tippet to this loop. This extender allows the user to add and remove tippets quickly, protecting the furled leader loop. This eliminates the possibility of snipping off the tiny leader loop when changing tippets.

Recommended extender material: Ultralight 3X, Light 2X, Medium 0X, Heavy 20 lb. test.

How long will a furled leader last?

 

Our Furled Tapered Leaders are tough and very durable. The typical life of a BlueSky furled leader is measured in SEASONS vs. days or even hours for an ordinary mono leader. This feature of durability makes the furled leader an economical option and will save the owner considerable expense. As with all fly fishing gear, proper care and handling will add to life. BlueSky furled leaders only require normal care.

• Use tippet material of a diameter recommended on the package.
• Do not jerk or excessively stretch the leaders.
• Do not false cast without a piece of tippet attached.
• Clean the leader with mild soap and water if it discolors.
• Use of the furled leader in below freezing weather is not recommended due to the probability of ice build-up.
• If excessive pressure on a furled leader causes the furling to unravel, the leader can be "reloaded" by simply grasping the leader at both ends and gently stretching.

Can I roll cast using a furled leader?

 

Besides the improved distance casting you will experience with our furled leader, you will not believe how well they roll cast. The secret to the roll cast is taking advantage of the "surface tension" of the leader and tippet as the cast is drawn toward the angler. The natural weave of our furled leaders allows for slightly more tension resulting in beautiful roll casts - even with very short casts.

The taper and balance of our leaders provide a smooth continuation of the fly line. This means, that where a mono leader can collapse into a pile at the end of the roll cast, the furled leader will turn over and deliver the fly to the target.

How can I tell the difference between a BlueSky Furled Leader and a not-so-good, cheap imitation?

• Is the leader made of premium nylon rather than fly tying thread? We will never sell a furled leader made from fly tying thread.
• Are the leaders available in correct sizes to match the line weight you are using? Or are they a one-size-fits-all leader? BlueSky's ten different furled leaders are matched to your line weight and fishing conditions.
• Does the leaders have a metal ring on the tip loop? This is clumsy attempt to protect the tip loop. Why add the unnecessary weight and bulk of iron hardware to a leader whose goal is to be light and delicate? Our tips with recommended extender attached do the job flawlessly.
• This is the clincher! Does the leader have its butt and/or tip loops woven seamlessly into the leader, or are these loops "whip tied"? Whip tied butt and tip leaders have a distinctive unfinished look to them and they can catch your tippet as it passes by. The beautiful woven-in loops of a BlueSky leader are smooth and clean.

Why does BlueSky use nylon instead of fly tying thread to make furled leaders?

 

Believe us, we have tried every conceivable material for making furled leaders. Whatever their claimed advantages, furled leaders made of tying thread have some serious disadvantages:

• Fly tying thread is not suitable to be a fishing line. All the characteristics necessary for a fine furled leader are absent with fly tying thread -- such as suppleness, durability, transparency and elasticity. Thread-made leaders are far less durable than leaders made with nylon. Nylon is also more abrasion resistant.
• Because furled leaders are like a spring, storing their energy and releasing it quickly, nylon does a far better job. Our furled leaders offer a 10 - 15% stretch for shock absorbency. Tying thread, on the other hand, offers non of the elasticity that is an important feature of a premium quality furled leader. Good luck if you try to pull a thread-made leader off a snag.
• Fly tying thread, regardless of its color, is an opaque material. When woven into a leader, this opacity is an immediate disadvantage, rendering the leader visible from below. Our UltraLight, Light and Medium furled leaders are woven from near-clear nylon. Enough said.
• Thread-made leaders also will have a tendency to mildew, unlike nylon, especially if put away wet. And they are more difficult to keep clean.
• Thread-made leaders have a tendency to be too stiff or too limber, depending on the thread used. BlueSky furled leaders have been very carefully designed and woven with high quality nylon fibers of the correct diameters and proven taper formulae to ensure unparalleled performance, casting and presentation.

Does the furled leader float or sink?

 

Your leader is woven with nylon that has a neutral buoyancy. We chose this nylon so anglers who were fishing "wet" would be able to get the leader and fly down to the chosen depth.

On the other hand, your leader will float beautifully for dry fly fishing by applying a light coating of silicone floatant to the entire length of the leader when it is dry. Occasional re-application may be necessary, just as it is for your fly.

Can I add a strike indicator to a furled leader?

 

Yes. And it's simple to do and works better than with mono leaders. All you do is open the furling and insert a piece of bright yarn. No sticky paper disks or gooey putty. If you fish with strike indicators often, you will want to have our BriteSpot strike indicator leaders in your fly vest!

What about tippet size and length?

 

BlueSky Furled Leaders are about 5' 9" long. Normally, tippet lengths will be 3 - 6 feet long, resulting in an overall leader length of about 8 - 12 feet (or longer). This length can quickly be adjusted according to conditions and preferences. Suggested tippet material:

• UltraLight Size Leaders we suggest 4X and finer material
• For the Light Size Leaders we suggest 3X and finer material
• Medium Leaders, a piece of 0X and down
• The Heavy Leaders have a built in extender of 20 lb. nylon to attach any size tippet desired.

Don't forget to first tie on a 6 to 8 inch extender to help protect the tip loop. Recommended extender material: Ultralight 3X, Light 2X, Medium 1X, Heavy leader has extender tied on.

One does not have to cut back, rebuild or even put on a new leader when fishing conditions change. Simply tie on a different length or size tippet as the only leader adjustment required.

What happens if the tip loop breaks?

Fear not. Occasionally, due to excessive strain or long use, a tip loop can break. Simply gather the leader strands together and secure them with your hemostat or tying vice. You can whip-finish the strands and trim if you wish. Now, tie on a mono extender using a nail knot. Then tie a perfection loop to the tag end to make a 4 to 8 inch extender.  Dab knot with super glue or "Knot Sense." Your leader is now as good as new.

Recommended extender material: Ultralight 3X, Light 2X, Medium 0X, Heavy 20 lb. test.

Why not use fluorocarbon or Kevlar® to weave a furled leader?

 

Fluorocarbon, Kevlar® and the assorted exotic fishing lines are not suitable materials for furled leaders. We have tried them all! They lack the characteristics required, such as suppleness, durability, transparency and elasticity. Even if they were suitable materials, the cost might make the price of a furled leader prohibitive.

Are these leaders suitable for saltwater?

 

Our medium and heavy leaders are used extensively by many of the top saltwater fly fishers. They are very effective at turning over the larger saltwater fly, especially in the windy conditions that saltwater anglers face.

---

StillWater Furled Tapered Leader

Is this a new product?

Yes, at the request of several customers, we developed this furled leader for casting very long leader/tippets.

How is the leader different from the original leader?

The original furled leader is 5 ft. 9 in. long. The new StillWater leader is 8 ft. 4 in. long.

Does the StillWater replace the original leader?

No. The original leader is still the one to use for 95% of your fishing. The StillWater is designed for conditions where the angler needs extreme stealth and distance.

How do I attach StillWater leader to the fly line?

With a simple loop-to-loop connection. A loop is provided on the butt end of the leader.

---

Once you cast a BlueSky furled leader, you will be convinced.

This  listing is for: 

FREE tippet ring included

Tippet rings are excellent for adding dropper flies.  At the end of a leader or tippet tie in a tippet ring using a clinch not. Add an additional length of tippet for your point fly- 15-20". Add a shorter piece of tippet to the ring for attaching your dropper - 6".

Popular in Czech and European style nymphing.