for the leaflabs maple & other arduino like devices I hit the reset when I want to upload data dtr or rts are pins used that are different to trigger thowse based on sparkfuns design or others...I use linux and thowse differences with the ftdi cables could make a difference some are 3v cables some are 5v.
3v or 5v ftdi cables reset pin was needed in linux to program I could not get it to work in linux.