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Streamer · Rainbow Trout

13-Foot Baitfish Streamer Leader

A 13-foot streamer leader for small baitfish patterns on a 6 wt. It runs in three pieces: 22" of .018" butt, a long 111" middle of .012" and 22" of 2X (.009") fluorocarbon tippet. The long middle lets the fly swim and drop away from the fly line, and the 2X tip holds up to hard strips and strikes.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.018"
.012"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
BUTT · 22"
TAPER · 9.3 FT
TIPPET · 22"
Total length12' 11"
Rod6 wt
Flies1
Knots3
WaterLake or reservoir, Big river

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

Build your leader

12' 11" of line · 3 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .018"22X

Tie it

0 of 3 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 22" butt to the 9.3 ft mid with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 22" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot.

    Tie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Tie on the Baitfish streamer

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

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Triple surgeon's knot · 3 turns×2
    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

Tie a size 6 baitfish streamer to the tippet with an improved clinch knot. Cast across or down and across, let it sink a moment, then strip it back with a mix of short, quick strips and pauses. Fish takes often come on the pause, as the fly drops. Use it on a floating or intermediate line where fish hold off banks, drop-offs and weed edges.

If a bulky fly piles up at the end of the cast, cut 2 to 3 feet off the .012" middle. A shorter leader turns over a heavy streamer with less effort.

Common questions

  • Why is a streamer leader 13 feet long?

    The long .012" middle lets the fly swim away from the fly line and sink on the pause in clear water. When the fly is heavy or the wind is up, shorten that middle section.

  • Why 2X tippet on a streamer leader?

    Streamer strikes are hard and come on a tight line. 2X (.009") fluorocarbon resists that shock and the abrasion of teeth and rocks, and it turns over a size 6 fly better than light tippet.

  • What line does it suit?

    A 6 wt floating or intermediate line. On a sink tip, a much shorter leader works better because a long one lets the fly ride up above the tip.

  • How do the knots go?

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

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutSmallmouth BassStreamerLakeBig river

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