Many of our UL rods are pretty short, 6 to 8 feet, sometimes even shorter. Now there are now also UL rods above 9 feet (nymph rods) but still many are sub 9.

This leads me to some problems:

1. Leader length: the normal leader is 9 feet. When using a 6'3 rod especially in short spaces do you shorten the Leader? Because especially in tight spaces I sometimes get tangled with the Leader and catch some bush, tougher to control the Leader and keep it off the bushes than with a longer rod

2. Starting the fly when you can't wade or directly get to the water. Wading it is easy but sometimes you have to cast standing a couple feet away from the river to not spook fish in a very small stream. If there is high grass then I have a tough time getting the fly in the air due to the shorter rod and longer leader plus fly line which is way longer than the rod. Again easier to manage with a longer rod where you can keep the fly off the ground easier especially on the first back cast (when the fly is in the air it works better).

Do you also have those problems and how do you resolve this? Do you have some tips both casting style equipment? And are short rods even the best solution for small streams?

What leader length do you use for a 6 foot rod?

Thanks.

I mostly fish small streams that are only 10-20 feet wide, sometimes overhanging trees but also high grass in some cases. I mostly use dry flies from may till September sometimes also nymphs.

I have a 3 wt 7.5 feet and a 1wt 6 (also a 9 foot 5 but I don't like it except for streamers).

I use mostly those normal 9 foot leaders you can buy, sometimes shorten them by a foot.

Btw if I shorten such a leader which is the best way to keep the taper? Cut off the top or the bottom?

I have quite a few rods measuring from 6' to 7' 6", and I rarely use a leader/tippet combo longer than my rod. Thus on a 6' rod, I might use a 4' furled leader and a 2' tippet. For me at least, trying to cast a 9' leader on a 6' rod is a losing proposition.

Larry

That is why I like using furled leaders. I can buy leaders in a variety of lengths, starting at about 3 feet if I so wish, furled and tapered to optimally suit the length and line weight of the rod. That way, the only trimming I do is on the tippet.

Larry

There is very little line memory in a furled leader. They are durable; I have some that I have been using for over 2-3 years. They are tapered just like your fly line. They can be ordered by line weight range and come in many lengths, depending on where and from whom you buy them. They can be made from thread, monofiliament, fluorocarbon, or Spectra. I have tried furled leaders from many sources, but have been most satisfied with the ones from Streamside Leaders. I prefer the ones made with tippet rings over the ones with Shorb loops, as the loops tend to twist, making it difficult to make a loop to loop conncection with the tippet. Some people have told me that furled leaders tend to hold water, so that when you are false casting it will spray water. I have seen this with braided leaders, but never with furled leaders. They cost a little more than standard mono leaders, but last much longer.

Larry

I agree with Larry, too! Almost all of the rods I use on a regular basis are 6' to 7.5', and I typically use a 7.5 ft leader that is often shorter (due to fly changes, breakouts, whatever). Very occasionally I'll use a 9' leader, and turnover suffers noticeably. If I were a better caster ....

Buy a 7 1/2 leader and cut two feet off it and tie on a 2mm tippet ring . Then add what ever tippet you need . EZ Peasy .

Unsure about color, but as long as you're using a reasonable amount of tippet (10-12") you should be ok

On my 6' rods I have used 7 1/2' leaders but lately I use the short braided leader butts sold by Feather-craft. I use the shortest, which I recall being 3 1/2' . I add another 2- 3' of 5X tippet and it works great!