If you fly fish, using nymphs or streamers, for trout or smallmouth bass, give some consideration to using Orvis Fluorocarbon tapered leaders.

Made from pure 100% fluorocarbon, these leaders perform extremely well in terms of durability, knot strength, low visibility to fish and long term life.

Fluorocarbon is a denser material than nylon monofilament. It is harder. The result is improved abrasion resistance over nylon. Orvis fluorocarbon is pure, not mixed with nylon. It has a specific gravity of 1.76, which means, the leaders sink faster than nylon. This is not a good leader to use with dry flies or poppers. Use mono for that.

Fluorocarbon’s refractive index is close that of water, making the material almost invisible to fish.

Fluorocarbon does not absorb water the way nylon does over time. This improves knot strength.

If you look at the specification tables below, you will notice the tensile strength of the leaders does not compare favorably with that of the tippet material. The pound test of the extruded tapered leader is not as high as the actual tippet material by comparison. This has to do with the extruding process. The leader’s tippet strength weakens. You may buy a spool of tippet material, cut 2 feet off the leader and replace that with tippet material to maintain the intended strength. Or, move up one size.

These are great leaders. I use them nearly every time I fly fish with sub-surface flies. I think they help me fool more fish, and I know the abrasion resistance is important when you hook a large fish, especially in water that has obstacles such as stones, sticks or other debris.

I have been using Orvis leaders and tippet for trout, smallmouth bass, other warmwater species and saltwater fly fishing exclusively for 30 some odd years. I never felt there was a reason to change.

Byron Begley

All leaders are 9' long.

2-Pack $23.95

ORDER ONLINE OR CALL 865-448-9459

Little River Outfitters is a fly shop and mail order company located in Townsend, Tennessee, a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We have been family owned since 1994.