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Nymph · Steelhead

11.5-Foot Dead-Drift Salmon and Sea Trout Leader

An 11.5-foot mono leader for dead-drifting flies to salmon and sea trout in rivers. It tapers in eight even steps from 35 inches of .021" down through .019", .017", .015", .013", 0X, .011" and 1X, .010" to a 27 inch tippet of 2X, .009". The long, gradual taper lands a fly softly and lets it drift at the current's speed, the way fish see natural food in low, clear water.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.021"
.019"
.017"
.015"
.013"
~13 lb0X.011"
~11.5 lb1X.010"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
BUTT · 35"
TAPER · 23"
TAPER · 15"
TAPER · 12"
TAPER · 9"
TAPER · 9"
TAPER · 9"
TIPPET · 27"
Total length11' 7"
Rod5-8 wt
Flies1
Knots8
WaterFreestone river, Big river

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 · 8 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .021"2345672X

Tie it

0 of 8 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 35" butt to the 23" mid with a blood knot. Add 15" of .017" with a blood knot. Add 12" of .015" with a blood knot. Add 9" of .013" with a blood knot. Add 9" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 9" of 1X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 27" of 2X 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 27" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×4
    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×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 5-8 wt with a floating line in runs, pocket water and the tails of pools. Cast upstream or up and across, mend to kill drag, and let the fly drift drag-free past the lie, following it with the rod tip. Lift at any stop, flash or turn. Blood knots join the heavier sections and triple surgeon's knots the finer ones.

If the fly skates or swings at the end of the drift, that pass is over: pick up and cast again rather than letting it hang.

Common questions

  • What flies suit this leader?

    Small weighted nymphs, wet flies and dries that are fished on a drag-free drift. The 2X tippet turns them over and holds a good fish.

  • Why a 2X tippet for a dead drift?

    Salmon and big sea trout run hard in current. The .009" tippet is fine enough for a natural drift and strong enough to land them.

  • Can it be fished on the swing?

    It will swing at the end of a drift, but it is built for drag-free drifts. A swing leader for heavier flies is usually shorter and stouter.

  • Can it go finer?

    In low, clear water for sea trout, add 18 to 24 inches of 3X below the 2X with a triple surgeon's knot.

SteelheadNymphSteelheadFreestoneBig river

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