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Stillwater · Rainbow Trout

5.5-Foot Sinking Line Stillwater Leader, 4X

A 5' 6" (66 inch) all-fluorocarbon leader for fishing chironomids and small nymphs on a sinking or intermediate line in lakes. It runs 18 inches of 20 lb Seaguar Blue Label (.016"), 24 inches of 10 lb fluoro (.011"), a #12 barrel swivel and 24 inches of 4X (.007") fluoro tippet. A short leader lets the line set the depth, so the fly fishes right where the line tip is.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

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20 lb.016"
Seaguar Blue Label
10 lb0X.011"
~6.5 lb4X.007"
BUTT · 18"
TAPER · 24"
TIPPET · 24"
Total length5' 6"
Flies1
Knots2
SeasonMost of the year
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

5' 6" of line · 3 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt 20 lb24X

Tie it

0 of 3 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the leader

    Join the 18" butt to the 24" mid with a double surgeon's knot.

    Tie a double surgeon's knot

  2. Add the barrel swivel

    Tie the barrel swivel to the 24" mid. Tie 24" of 4X to its other eye.

  3. Tie on the chironomid

    Tie the chironomid to the 24" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Double surgeon's knot · 2 turns×1
    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 once more, twice in all.
    4. Wet the knot and pull all four ends evenly until it seats. Trim both tags.
    The double 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

Loop the leader to a full-sink or intermediate line and cast. Count the line down until the fly is just above the weeds or the bottom, then retrieve very slowly with a hand twist or short, slow strips. Takes are usually a soft pull or a tightening line, so keep the rod tip low and the line straight. Strip-set rather than lifting the rod.

Count every cast down. When the fly picks up weed, take a few seconds off the count; when nothing touches for a long time, add a few. The right depth matters more than the pattern.

Common questions

  • Why is a sinking line leader so short?

    The line does the sinking. A short leader keeps the fly close to the line tip, so it fishes at the depth you counted it to instead of floating up on a long piece of line.

  • What is the #12 barrel swivel for?

    It joins the 10 lb fluoro to the 4X tippet, stops line twist from a slowly retrieved fly, and lets you replace the 24 inch tippet without shortening the leader above it.

  • Why 4X tippet?

    4X fluoro is strong enough for a strip-set, bigger trout and weedy water, and it suits bigger chironomids and nymphs while staying hard to see.

  • Will this work on a floating line?

    Not well. On a floating line a 66 inch leader keeps a chironomid near the surface. This rig is built for a sinking or intermediate line only.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutTiger TroutMidgeStillwaterNymphLake

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