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Wet fly and soft hackle · Rainbow Trout

9-Foot Emerger and Wet Fly Leader

A 9 foot 2 inch leader for emergers and wet flies that tapers from a .017 inch butt in six sections to a 30 inch 4X (.007 inch) tippet. The even steps turn the fly over on 3-5 wt rods, and the long tippet lets an emerger ride in the surface film or a wet fly sink and swing without drag.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.017"
.015"
.013"
~13 lb0X.011"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
~6.5 lb4X.007"
BUTT · 10"
TAPER · 10"
TAPER · 20"
TAPER · 20"
TAPER · 20"
TIPPET · 30"
Total length9' 2"
Rod3-5 wt
Flies1
Knots6
WaterFreestone river, Tailwater, Spring creek

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

Build your leader

9' 2" of line · 6 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .017"23454X

Tie it

0 of 6 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 10" butt to the 10" mid with a blood knot. Add 20" of .013" with a blood knot. Add 20" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 20" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 30" of 4X 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 30" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×2
    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

Fish it during a hatch when trout take insects just under or in the surface. For emergers, cast upstream or across and let the fly dead drift in the film. For soft hackles and wet flies, cast across and slightly downstream, mend once, and let the fly swing on a tight line, then hang it in the current at the end before the next cast.

If the fly lands in a pile, the 30 inch tippet is too long for the fly or the wind. Cut it back a few inches, or tie on 3X for bigger, heavier wet flies.

Common questions

  • Why such a long tippet?

    30 inches of 4X lets the fly move on its own, so an emerger drifts naturally in the film and a wet fly sinks and swings freely instead of being pulled by the heavier leader.

  • Can it fish both emergers and wet flies?

    Yes. Dead drift emergers in the surface film, or swing soft hackles and wet flies across the current. The leader is the same for both.

  • What rod does it suit?

    A 3-5 wt with a floating line, which matches the .017 inch butt.

  • How do I avoid break-offs on the swing?

    Hold the rod off to the side, not pointed at the fly, so a hard grab bends the rod instead of snapping the 4X. Let the fish turn before you lift.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutWetFreestoneTailwaterSpring creek

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