Leader help

you don't need either...

ORIGINAL: KJH807

you don't need either...

Agreed. IMO its very overrated for trib fishing.

I stick with powerflex for the most part.

I use flo tippets
FC

I usually just use 2-4 feet of 6# mono but i will use 6# fluro if necessary and in moving water 8# fluro. But then again i rig really weird. I put a small swivel at the end of my leader; and then tie my tippett to it. No line to line ties.

Are you swivel guys using black and what size?
Will have to try that this year. My eyes are getting worse with age.

ORIGINAL: KJH807

i don't see the benefit of a swivel....
anyone care to share why they use them?

can't imagine they help casting...

 
Small barrel swivels.

Easier than tying a blood knot if you need to replace tippet.

You're not casting dry flies.  If nymphing alot of the time there is a bunch of split shot, and you're usually only roll casting, so it doesn't matter much.

I've never used a swivel.

its just to avoid tying a knot?
so you tie 2 knots instead of one?

i'm guessing shot is below the swivel? the hinge can't make turning the weight over very easy

psss.... double surgeon knot is stronger

Why do all that to throw wet flies?

I also use a small barrel swivel in my leader set-up for steelies. I like the ball bearing
swivels in black. I use a 7 1/2 foot 2x tapered line tied to a barrel swivel. To the other
end of the swivel I attach my 3-4 foot fluorocarbon tippet. If a fish breaks the line all one
loses (besides the fish) is the tippet. This a great set-up for chuck-n-duck steelhead fishing!

No matter what other people on this forum think, a small #12 or 14 black barrel swivel works very well for attaching tippet to your leader when indicator fishing for "steelbows" or erie "mutts". All you're doing on the PA tribs like Elk or 20 mile is making little 20 or 30 ft roll casts with shot and an indicator. To all the purists on here that think the only way to fish "steelbows" around erie is to swing flies with sink tips tell them to shove their "attitude" and go about your buisness of indicator fishing with shot, swivel, nymph or egg pattern, whatever. Who gives a f**k what other people think. What you enjoy is all that matters. It's all good. A good alternative to using a swivel is loop to loop, double surgeons loops.

using a small swivel may have been the best thing that pxtim taught me.  i have broken 8 fingers over the years (that's why i type lower-case, right little finger can't reach the shift key) and arthritis has settled in.  easier for me to tie an improved clinch knot with big loops.
 
thanks, pxtim.   

I use alot of the furled leaders that have a little ring or swivel already attached. They do make tippet changes alot faster and easier, especially when you have cold, wet hands. I also do the regular way of tying blood knots, double surgeons, or two perfection loops and the handshake method. It all depends on what rod or situation I am in. I say do what works for you!