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Steelhead and spey · Steelhead

4-Foot Steelhead Leader, 10 lb

A 4-foot steelhead leader for sink tips and Skagit heads: 12" of 20 lb Ande joined loop to loop with 36" of 10 lb Maxima Ultra Green. The short, stout build keeps the fly at the depth of the tip, and the loop join makes changing a frayed point quick on the river.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

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20 lb.018"
Ande
10 lb.012"
Maxima Ultra Green
BUTT · 12"
TIPPET · 36"
Total length4' 0"
Flies1
Knots2
WaterBig river

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

Build your leader

48" of line · 2 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt 20 lb10 lb

Tie it

0 of 2 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the leader

    Join the 12" butt to the 36" tippet with a loop to loop.

    Tie a loop to loop

  2. Tie on the fly

    Tie the fly to the 36" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Loop to loop · 2 turns×1
    1. Pass the leader's loop over the fly line's loop.
    2. Pass the whole leader through the fly line's loop.
    3. Pull the two loops together so they meet flat, interlocked like a square knot rather than one choking the other.
    The loop to loop, 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

Loop the butt to the sink tip, cast across or down and across, and mend once to let the tip sink. Swing the fly across the current on a tight line with the rod tip pointed at it, and step downstream between casts. When a fish takes, wait for the line to come tight before lifting.

Seat the loop-to-loop join square, with the loops sitting like a reef knot. A girth-hitched join cuts into the 10 lb point.

Common questions

  • Why a loop join?

    With a surgeon's loop in each piece, a worn 10 lb point can be swapped in seconds without cutting the 20 lb butt.

  • Why only 4 feet?

    On a sink tip, a long leader lets the fly ride up. At 4 feet the fly stays near the depth the tip reaches.

  • Is 10 lb enough for steelhead?

    For most rivers, yes. Maxima Ultra Green is abrasion resistant, and the 20 lb butt takes the wear near the tip.

  • Can I fish it on a floating line?

    It is built for sink tips and heads. A floating line swings a fly better on a longer tapered leader.

SteelheadSteelheadStreamerBig river

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