Sign in

Stillwater · Rainbow Trout

18.5-Foot Stillwater Leader for Floating Lines

An 18' 6" leader for fishing a single fly on a floating line in stillwater. It starts with a 30" butt of .017" and 28" of .013", then steps down through 1X, 2X, 3X and 4X sections to 82" of 5X (.006") tippet. The heavier butt carries the cast off a 4-6 wt line, and the long fine tip lets small flies land softly and sink naturally in calm water.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

LikeSave
Clone and edit
.017"
.013"
~11.5 lb1X.010"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
~8 lb3X.008"
~6.5 lb4X.007"
~4.5 lb5X.006"
BUTT · 30"
TAPER · 28"
TAPER · 29"
TAPER · 22"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 13"
TIPPET · 6.8 FT
Total length18' 6"
Rod4-6 wt
Flies1
Knots7
WaterLake or reservoir

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

Build your leader

18' 6" of line · 7 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .017"234565X

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 30" butt to the 28" mid with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 29" of 1X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 22" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 18" of 3X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 13" of 4X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 6.8 ft of 5X with a triple surgeon's knot.

    Tie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Tie on the fly

    Tie the fly to the 6.8 ft tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Triple surgeon's knot · 3 turns×6
    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

Cast with a smooth, open loop and let the leader straighten before it lands. Fish a small nymph, emerger or dry to cruising or rising fish, then let it settle, retrieve with a slow hand-twist, or let the breeze move it. Takes in calm water are often gentle, so watch the end of the fly line and tighten at any twitch.

If the tippet lands in a pile, slow the casting stroke and open the loop. In a stiff breeze, cut a few feet off the 5X.

Common questions

  • Why is this leader so long?

    In clear, calm lakes, 18' 6" keeps the fly line far from cruising fish, and the long 5X tippet lets the fly land and sink without drag.

  • Why a .017" butt?

    A thin butt cannot carry the cast off a floating line. The .017" and .013" sections turn over the long taper before it steps down to tippet.

  • What flies suit it?

    Single small nymphs, emergers, chironomids fished near the top, and small dries. The 5X tippet suits small, light flies.

  • When should I go heavier?

    With bigger flies, wind or weeds, move the tippet up to 4X (.007").

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutTiger TroutStillwaterNymphDryLake

More stillwater rigs

Explore all

  • Lake Almanor, Ca. Hex Hatch Slip Bobber Dredging Rig

    Featured

    I built this rig to get a weighted hex fly down to the lake bottom where trout are waiting for natural hex emergers to rise up the water column. It uses a slip bobber to suspend the fly 12 to 24 inches above the bottom in 15 to 35 feet of water, letting me fish without casting while the fish camp in place before they start moving up to chase the hatch.

    Total length28' 0"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots4
    Time to tie2min
    CABy Chad Alderson

  • Hogan's Yuba River Nymph Rig (fall/winter)

    This is my go-to setup for Fall/winter nymphing on the Lower Yuba River. I adjust the weight between AAA, SSG, and AB as well as move the indicator up and down fish varios depths and speeds of water... shallower water lighter weight.

    Total length11' 0"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots8
    Time to tie3.25min
    HBBy Hogan Brown

  • Thin Mono Rig with a .012 Butt

    A long thin mono rig for euro nymphing: 312" of .012" Maxima Chameleon, a 24" sighter of 12" of Umpqua Sighter and 12" of RIO Two Tone Indicator (both .009"), and 48" of 5X fluorocarbon tippet to a tungsten bead nymph. Triple surgeon's knots join the sections. At 384" overall the thin butt does the work a fly line would, with far less sag.

    Total length32' 0"
    TechniqueEuro
    Knots4
    Time to tie2min
    BBy Barbless

More from Barbless

  • Standard Indicator Nymphing Rig, 4X

    A 10' 8" indicator nymphing leader on Maxima Chameleon. The butt steps from .017" to .010", then 18" of .009" runs to a 4 mm heavy tippet ring, with 24" of 3X and 24" of 4X fluorocarbon below it. A 3/4" trapped-air indicator, one No. 4 split shot and a #16 Tungsten Bead Pheasant Tail make it a ready-to-fish indicator rig for riffles and runs.

    Total length10' 8"
    TechniqueIndicator
    Knots6
    Time to tie4min
    BBy Barbless

  • Tight-Line Nymphing Mono Rig, 5X

    A tight-line mono rig for euro nymphing with a 5X point. It runs 288" of 20 lb Maxima Chameleon (.017"), 24" of 12 lb Maxima HV, a 12" red sighter section and 12" of Umpqua Sighter (.009") with a backing barrel marker, then a 4 mm tippet ring. Below the ring, 14" of RIO Two Tone, 36" of 4X and 20" of 5X fluorocarbon lead to a #16 tungsten Pheasant Tail. No indicator or split shot: the fly carries the weight.

    Total length33' 10"
    TechniqueEuro
    Knots6
    Time to tie3.5min
    BBy Barbless

  • Tight-Line Dry-Dropper Mono Rig, 5X

    A tight-line mono rig that fishes a dry and a nymph together. It runs 288" of 20 lb Maxima Chameleon (.017"), 24" of 12 lb Maxima HV, a 12" red sighter section and 12" of Umpqua Sighter (.009") carrying a backing barrel marker, then a 4 mm tippet ring. A 6" tag of 3X mono off the ring holds a #12 Stimulator; below the ring, 14" of RIO Two Tone, 24" of 4X and 24" of 5X fluorocarbon lead to a #16 tungsten Pheasant Tail.

    Total length33' 2"
    TechniqueDry dropper
    Knots8
    Time to tie4min
    BBy Barbless
All rigs by Barbless