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Dry fly · Brook Trout

10-Foot Light Line Dry Fly Leader for 3-4 Weights

A 9' 10" dry fly leader for light 3-4 wt rods. A 29" butt of .020" Maxima Clear steps down through .017", .015" and .012", then RIO Powerflex at .010", .008" and .007" to 5X at .006". The last two pieces, 8" and 22" of 5X, make a 30" tippet that lands small dries softly on quiet water.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

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25 lb.020"
Maxima Clear
20 lb.017"
Maxima Clear
15 lb.015"
Maxima Clear
10 lb.012"
Maxima Clear
13 lb1X.010"
RIO Powerflex
8.2 lb3X.008"
RIO Powerflex
6.4 lb4X.007"
RIO Powerflex
5 lb5X.006"
RIO Powerflex
5 lb5X.006"
RIO Powerflex
BUTT · 29"
BUTT · 19"
TAPER · 12"
TAPER · 10"
TAPER · 6"
TAPER · 6"
TAPER · 6"
TAPER · 8"
TIPPET · 22"
Total length9' 10"
Rod3-4 wt
Flies1
Knots9
WaterSpring creek, Small stream, Tailwater

Drag the drawing to pan. Tap a fly for what it does, a knot for how to tie it.

Build your leader

9' 10" of line · 9 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt 25 lb23456785 lb

Tie it

0 of 9 done

These are the finished lengths. Leave extra for tying each knot.

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 29" butt to the 19" butt with a blood knot. Add 12" of 15 lb with a blood knot. Add 10" of 10 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 6" of 13 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 6" of 8.2 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 6" of 6.4 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 8" of 5 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 22" of 5 lb with a triple surgeon's knot.

    Tie a blood knotTie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Tie on the fly

    Tie the fly to the 22" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×2
    1. Overlap the two ends by about six inches.
    2. Wrap one tag end around the other line five times, then bring it back and pass it between the two lines where they cross.
    3. Wrap the other tag end five times the opposite way and pass it back through the same opening from the other side.
    4. Wet the knot and pull the two standing lines steadily until the wraps seat. Trim both tags close.
    The blood knot, step by step
  • Triple surgeon's knot · 3 turns×6
    1. Lay the new line alongside the end of the leader so they overlap about six inches, the ends pointing opposite ways.
    2. Holding the two lines as one, tie an overhand knot, passing the whole new piece through the loop.
    3. Pass the same ends through the loop twice more, three times in all.
    4. Wet it and pull all four ends evenly to seat the knot. Trim the tags.
    The triple surgeon's knot, step by step
  • Improved clinch knot · 5 turns×1
    1. Pass the tippet through the hook eye and pull about five inches through.
    2. Wrap the tag around the standing line five to seven times.
    3. Pass the tag through the small loop just above the eye, then back through the large loop you just made.
    4. Wet it and pull the standing line so the wraps snug down against the eye. Trim the tag.
    The improved clinch knot, step by step

When and how to fish it

Fish small dries to rising trout on spring creeks, small streams and flat water. Cast upstream or up and across, and let the long 5X tippet fall in loose curves so the fly drifts without drag. Set gently, because 5X parts on a hard strike. Retie the 22" piece of 5X as fly changes shorten it.

If the fly lands in a pile, the 5X tip is too long for the fly or the wind. Cut a few inches off the 22" piece and the fly will turn over.

Common questions

  • Why are there two pieces of 5X?

    The 8" piece is the leader's tip and the 22" piece is the tippet. Replacing only the 22" piece keeps the taper the same through many fly changes.

  • Is the .020" butt too heavy for a 3 wt?

    It matches the tip of most 3-4 wt lines. A matched butt lets the cast flow from line into leader without hinging.

  • What flies does it suit?

    Small dries and emergers that 5X can turn over and drift: the kind of flies fished on light rods to rising trout.

  • Can it go finer?

    Yes. Swap the 22" piece for 6X on flat, clear water. Expect to set the hook even more gently.

Brook TroutBrown TroutRainbow TroutCutthroat TroutDrySpring creekSmall streamTailwater

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