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Dry fly · Rainbow Trout

7-Foot Short Leader for Medium-Weight Lines

A short, stiff 7-foot (84 inch) leader for 4-7 wt lines. It steps from an 11 inch .021 butt through .019, .017, .015, .013, .011 and .009 to 16 inches of 3X at .008. The heavy butt and short length turn over bushy dries, hoppers, small streamers and other wind-resistant flies with accuracy.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.021"
.019"
.017"
.015"
.013"
~13 lb0X.011"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
~8 lb3X.008"
BUTT · 11"
TAPER · 11"
TAPER · 15"
TAPER · 13"
TAPER · 6"
TAPER · 6"
TAPER · 6"
TIPPET · 16"
Total length7' 0"
Rod4-7 wt
Flies1
Knots8
WaterFreestone river, Small stream

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

Build your leader

7' 0" of line · 8 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .021"2345673X

Tie it

0 of 8 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 11" butt to the 11" mid with a blood knot. Add 15" of .017" with a blood knot. Add 13" of .015" with a blood knot. Add 6" of .013" with a blood knot. Add 6" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 6" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 16" of 3X with a triple surgeon's knot.

    Tie a blood knotTie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Tie on the fly

    Tie the fly to the 16" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×4
    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×3
    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

Use it where accuracy and turnover matter more than slack: short casts into pocket water, tight to the bank, into a breeze or with big, air-resistant flies. The leader lays out fairly straight, so add a mend or a slack line cast when the drift needs it. For long, slack-filled drifts on flat water, a longer, softer leader is the better tool.

Build and repair it from the fly end back, and replace a broken section with the same diameter rather than skipping a size. The small, even steps are what keep the turnover smooth.

Common questions

  • Why does it step down so gradually?

    Each section is only a little thinner than the one before it, from .021 at the butt to .008 at the tip, so the cast's energy fades smoothly instead of collapsing at a big jump.

  • What flies does it suit?

    Flies big enough to use its turnover: bushy dries, hoppers, foam flies and small streamers. 3X at .008 is a good match for them.

  • Can I go finer than 3X?

    Yes: add a short piece of 4X to the end. For tiny flies on flat water, a longer, finer leader usually fishes better.

  • How is it different from a Harvey leader?

    A Harvey uses softer material toward the fly and is meant to land in curves for slack. This taper stays stiffer and lays out straighter, trading some drift for accuracy and turnover.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutDryStreamerFreestoneSmall stream

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