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Indicator · Rainbow Trout

17-Foot Short-Range Indicator Nymphing Leader

A 17-foot leader for nymphing under an indicator at short range on a 3-5 wt. It steps down in 29" sections from .018" through .016", .014" and .012" to 1X (.010"), then a 23" 3X (.008") sighter and 40" of 5X (.006") tippet. A 1/2" trapped-air indicator rides on the 1X section, and a No. 4 split shot sits 10" above a size 16 bead-head nymph.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.018"
.016"
.014"
.012"
~11.5 lb1X.010"
~8 lb3X.008"
~4.5 lb5X.006"
BUTT · 29"
TAPER · 29"
TAPER · 29"
TAPER · 29"
TAPER · 29"
SIGHTER · 23"
TIPPET · 40"
Total length17' 4"
Rod3-5 wt
Flies1
Knots7
WaterFreestone river, Tailwater

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

Build your leader

17' 4" of line · 7 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .018"2345Sighter5X

Tie it

0 of 7 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 29" mid with a blood knot. Add 29" of .014" with a blood knot. Add 29" of .012" with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 29" of 1X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add a trapped-air (Thinga) 1/2" onto the 29" mid, 6' 3" above the Bead-head Pheasant Tail. Add 23" of 3X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 40" of 5X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add a split shot No. 4 onto the 40" tippet, 10" above the Bead-head Pheasant Tail.

    Tie a blood knotTie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Tie on the Bead-head Pheasant Tail

    Tie the Bead-head Pheasant Tail to the 40" 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×4
    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

Work pockets, riffles and seams 3 to 4 feet deep from close range. Lob the rig upstream with an open loop, keep the fly line off the water, and mend or lift so the indicator drifts at the speed of the current. Set on any dip, stall or sideways move. The hi-vis sighter below the indicator shows the leader's angle as the fly ticks along.

If the indicator races ahead of the fly or never stalls, the rig is too light or set too shallow. Add a second No. 4 shot or slide the indicator up the leader before changing flies.

Common questions

  • Where should the indicator sit?

    About 1.5 to 2 times the water depth above the fly. Set at 12" up the 1X section, it is about 75" above the fly, right for 3 to 4 feet of water.

  • Why is there a sighter under the indicator?

    On short drifts the hi-vis 3X section shows the leader's angle and small takes the indicator can miss.

  • Which tippet should I use?

    The build is the same up to the tippet: 40" of 5X (.006") or 6X (.005"). Use the finer tippet for small flies in clear, slow water.

  • Why put the shot 10" above the fly?

    The shot takes the rig down, and the 10" of tippet below lets the nymph move freely and drift naturally near the bottom.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutIndicatorNymphFreestoneTailwater

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