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Steelhead and spey · Chinook Salmon

11.5-Foot Heavy Salmon Leader for Big Flies

An 11.5-foot heavy mono leader for swinging big flies to salmon on a 9-11 wt. A 55 inch butt of .024" steps down through 37 inches of .020" and 28 inches of .018" to an 18 inch tip of .016", joined with blood knots. The heavy butt turns over large tube flies and weighted salmon flies, and the stout tip holds a big fish in strong current.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.024"
.020"
.018"
.016"
BUTT · 55"
TAPER · 37"
TAPER · 28"
TIPPET · 18"
Total length11' 6"
Rod9-11 wt
Flies1
Knots4
WaterBig river

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

Build your leader

11' 6" of line · 4 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .024"23.016"

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 55" butt to the 37" mid with a blood knot. Add 28" of .018" with a blood knot. Add 18" of .016" with a blood knot.

    Tie a blood knot

  2. Tie on the fly

    Tie the fly to the 18" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×3
    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
  • 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 floating line in high or colored water when salmon want a big fly. Cast across and slightly downstream, mend upstream to slow the fly, and let it swing across the lie at an even pace. Take a step downstream between casts and cover the whole pool. When a fish takes, give it a moment to turn and come tight before lifting the rod.

If the leader coils off the spool, stretch it hard between your hands before the first cast so it lies straight.

Common questions

  • What flies is it built for?

    Large tube flies, weighted salmon flies and other big patterns that a light leader cannot turn over. Small flies kick around on so stiff a tip.

  • Can it go on a sink-tip?

    A sink-tip works better with a short leader. At 11.5 feet this one holds the fly up near the surface, so it suits a floating line.

  • Which knots join it?

    Blood knots join the four mono sections, and an improved clinch knot ties on the fly.

  • How strong is the tip?

    The tip is .016" mono, heavy enough to land big salmon in strong current without a long fight.

Chinook SalmonSteelheadSteelheadBig river

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