How to Fly Fish in Florida's Saltwater

Think you're up to it? well, you can (as a cop-out) buy your leaders, but you will not feel as close to the Fly-Fishing experience and over and over, leader after leader, eventually, you will spend a lot of money. Hand tied leaders cost pennies and are of a much better quality,(if you tie them right) than any thing you will ever get in the "pre fab" style, and besides, it's easy. Here's how:

There are many systems and formulas for tying fly-leaders, so I am going to concentrate on the most popular size and formula for saltwater fishing, the "Weight forward, floating eight weight line." This is the leader I tie most often, and it was taught to me by someone I hold up as somewhat of a hero, Captain John Cave.

You will also see this leader system outlined in the most knowledgeable book ever written on the subject; Fly Fishing in Saltwater, written by "Lefty Kreh. If you don't have a copy of this book, buy one, or check it out at your public library. It's the one book you need.

As a quick break down of the fly line system, the system is set up like this: from your reel, the first thing you will tie on is the backing, then the fly line is joined to the backing via an "Albright Special" knot. At the end of the Fly line you will need a three foot section of thirty pound monofilament, "Mason" is a good brand to use, attached to the fly line via a "Nail Knot." Once this nail knot is tied, you should glue it and then coat it with liquid latex to make it go through the guides of the rod easier. This first section of mono is called a 'Butt Leader", and will remain on the fly line and in use much longer than the leader itself. At the leader end of this butt section you will tie a "Surgeon's loop" and via this loop, you will attach the actual leader. Are you with me so far? Don't be afraid of learning to tie these knots. In my fly casting course I have taught these knots to children, and I have brought many adults through it also, and believe me, you can learn it, and do it for yourself. Now to the actual leader system; To construct a leader for an eight weight floating line you will need to remember a formula, "three, two, one--- 20#-15#-12#. That is to say: Three feet of 20# test - Two feet of 15# test- one foot of 12# test.

The knots you will need to learn are as follows: The Surgeon's loop"- The "Blood Knot"- The "Bimini Twist." I also recommend "stretching" any mono used to make leaders, for presentation sake, and "Mason", or some similar brand of monofilament should be used. The mono for this application should not be to limp, so keep that in mind. To start construction, take the three feet of 20# test and tie a surgeons loop in one end, then tie the other end to the two foot piece of 15# test via a "Blood Knot." Now take a piece of 12# mono about four feet long and install a "Bimini Twist" knot in one end and then cut it to where the entire length of 12# test (including the Bimini Twist )is approximately sixteen inches long.

Tie the piece of 12# test to the 15# test via a blood knot, leaving the bimini twist on the end of the line, nearest the fly. In saltwater, you will need what is called a "bite tippet", and standard size inshore is about 20# test, although if you are in an area where you will pick up Snook or Tarpon, it might pay to go larger, as much as 40# test. The standard 20# bite tippet is tied to the Bimini Twist, via another Blood Knot, and the leader is complete--

Not yet! I have a great way to improve on this leader system. Make sure you have tied the best knots possible, and then Super glue the knots together. This will not make a bad knot good. This will make a good knot GREAT.

You will have to learn how to put the leader on the butt leader via the "loop to loop" connections because there is no way to describe it with words alone. It requires a visual aid. Any fly shop can show you.

And there you have it. What I do three or four times before every charter. The description gets a little wordy, but the truth is, once you can do it, you actually get physically taller. You will be proud of your accomplishment, and it will shine through in your fishing. I teach all this first hand, one on one at my school in Orlando, in my basic fly casting 101 course. The price is only fifty dollars for ten hours instruction, and I guarantee that when you are done you will be able to "double- haul" at least sixty or seventy feet and tie all your own leaders. If that sounds like a good deal, call me , and I'll fit you in. I was blessed and honored to have "Lefty Kreh" himself teach me to teach his method of "Teaching", and I'll tell you why I love to teach fly casting and leader construction. Lefty gave me some words of wisdom in my time with him . He said, and I quote, " Z, you can display knowledge to impress people, or you can share knowledge, and teach." "Thanks Lefty, for teaching me to share." I'm Captain "Z", and "I'll see you on the flats."

Please, let me know what you got from this article, and, book me for a charter and we'll go Redfishn'.

F.Y.I.-Captain "Z" Zeigler is a licensed fly-casting and fly-tying instructor. A U.S.Coast Guard licensed charter captain and guide for light tackle spinning and fly fishing in the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon area, He is also a member of the "American Professional Captains Association", F.O.W.A., F.C.A., and represents: Hewes Flats Boats, Yamaha outboards, Shimano, Billy Pate and Tibor fly reels, Stren fishing lines, Scientific Anglers fly lines, J.W.A. and Assoc., G.Loomis fishing rods and many plug and plastic bait manufacturers.

He can be contacted by email at: Captain_Z@msn.com, or by telephone at :407-898-7424.

Also, visit his web site, from Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River flats, Florida.