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Streamer

11.5-Foot Baltic Sea Trout Leader

An 11.5-foot mono leader for wading the coast after sea trout with flies from #8 to #2. A 69 inch butt of .015" carries the cast into the wind, then it steps through 21 inches of .012" and 21 inches of 0X, .011" to a 28 inch tippet of 2X, .009". The length keeps the fly line away from fish cruising in clear, shallow water, and the 2X tip stands up to hard takes, stones and weed.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.015"
.012"
~13 lb0X.011"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
BUTT · 5.8 FT
TAPER · 21"
TAPER · 21"
TIPPET · 28"
Total length11' 7"
Rod5-7 wt
Flies1
Knots4
WaterSaltwater flats and coast

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

Build your leader

11' 7" of line · 4 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .015"232X

Tie it

0 of 4 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 5.8 ft butt to the 21" mid with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 21" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 28" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot.

    Tie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Tie on the fly

    Tie the fly to the 28" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Triple surgeon's knot · 3 turns×3
    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 it on a 5-7 wt with a floating or intermediate line. Wade along points, reefs and the edges of weed beds, fan casts along the shore, and strip shrimp or baitfish flies back in steady pulls with short pauses. Many fish follow to the rod tip, so keep the fly moving until it is close. Set with a firm strip rather than a lift.

If the leader piles up in an onshore wind, cut the tippet back several inches before changing anything else.

Common questions

  • Why a 2X tippet and not finer?

    Sea trout in salt water take a stripped fly hard and run toward stones and weed. The .009" tippet holds them and turns over flies up to #2 without twisting.

  • What line should it go on?

    A floating line on calm days and in shallow water, an intermediate line when there is chop or the fish hold deeper. A 5-7 wt suits both.

  • Which knots does it use?

    Triple surgeon's knots join the four mono sections, and an improved clinch knot ties on the fly.

  • Why is the butt so long?

    The 69 inch butt carries the cast's energy far down the leader, which helps it straighten into the wind that blows along most coasts.

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