Sign in

Stillwater · Rainbow Trout

5.5-Foot Sinking Line Stillwater Leader, 5X

A 5' 6" (66 inch) all-fluorocarbon leader for fishing small chironomids and nymphs on a sinking or intermediate line in clear 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 5X (.006") fluoro tippet. A short leader lets the line set the depth, and the finer tippet helps with wary fish.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

LikeSave
Clone and edit
20 lb.016"
Seaguar Blue Label
10 lb0X.011"
~4.5 lb5X.006"
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 lb25X

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 5X 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, so keep the rod tip low and the line straight. Set by tightening smoothly; a hard strip-set can break 5X.

With 5X on a tight sinking line, fish often hook themselves. Let the line come tight and lift steadily instead of striking hard, and check the tippet for nicks after every fish.

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 5X tippet, stops line twist from a slowly retrieved fly, and lets you replace the 24 inch tippet without shortening the leader above it.

  • Why 5X tippet?

    5X fluoro suits clear, calm water, small chironomids and fish that refuse heavier tippet. It needs a gentle set and a check for nicks after every fish.

  • 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

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