The Fifty-Fifty Fly Leader

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

The Fifty-Fifty Fly Leader

While living in Florida I came across a 12 foot leader design called the Fifty-Fifty leader. No idea who created it, but I found it useful…. and you may as well.

 

The diagram above shows an example of this leader for an 8 or 9 weight fly rod.  It is called the fifty-fifty leader simple because the butt section makes up half the total length. As you can see, it has 6 feet of 40 pound test, followed by 2 feet of 30 pound, 2 feet of 25 or 20 pound, and a 2 foot tippet.  Bingo, 12 feet.

While we are on the subject, allow me to pass along some advise on building leaders. Mixing monofilament brands is rarely wise. Why?  Different brands have different coatings, and when joined together may produce a weak knot.  Moreover, I am not a fan of fluorocarbon, especially knotted to conventional mono. I depend on Maxima Clear for my leaders. It is tough, dependable, and knots extremely well. Love it. And occasional I’ll use Maxima Ultra Green for the tippet. It is more supple.

 

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Sand Eels are Important

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Sand Eels are Important

School of Sand eels

That’s right sand eels are important. A great many fish eat them beautiful, squirmy, oily  little critters, and so do a great many marine birds. Hell, I ate a sand eel once. Yeah raw, down the gullet. Wonderful briny flavor, a bit like a quahog. And then I went back to camp and tied flies to match.

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The Earth is Titling

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

The Earth is Titling

Have you noticed? The earth is titling. No, no, nothing is going to slide off the table. Take it easy. But rest assured, the northern hemisphere is starting to tilt toward the sun. Yeah it was only in the teens a few morning back, but the snow is largely gone. And days in the fifties are coming. Believe me, old man winter is losing his grip; spring is unstoppable.

Hold off on jumping into your waders. The earth has to tilt more. In my neck of the woods, it will about six weeks before the Hendricksons ride the riffles.  Still when time allows, pour yourself a cup of joe and check the gear, check the fly boxes, check the leaders, get a license. Relax, smile.

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Life in the Great Northwoods

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Life in the Great Northwoods

Man I love the Great Northwoods. The lakes, the loons, the landlocked salmon. There is a sense of freedom here – far from the madding crowd. The usual rules don’t apply. Life feels bigger. At the diner, an order of French toast is 4 buttered slices with pitcher of real maple syrup, and a mountain of local hickory smoked bacon. Coffee is an endless cup on the house. Up by the cash register, there is a stack of homemade pies crowned with whipped cream, and a tray filled with glazed donuts. Just in case you are still famished.

Now if all that good food has you as big as a moose, don’t sweat it. A store down the road has you covered. Shirts to 5XL, even for toddlers.

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Dave Got a Nice Redfish!

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Dave Got a Nice Redfish!

News from Florida. Dave – the infamous fish whisper- got a nice redfish!  At first light the other day, he and his friend Pete were out hunting for reds. They set up outside a creek mouth. As you move into March, creek mouths are a good bet. Longer days and warmer temperature have baitfish, snook, and reds dropping out of the backcountry and onto the flats. And it doesn’t hurt to have a new moon stirring things up.

They encountered a fair number of 22″ reds which have been abundant this spring. Those 2 year-old fish are an excellent sign for the future. As the sun got higher, however, Dave spotted a bigger hombre – a 33″ red and fed it a fly. You got to love it!

 

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