Sign in

Dry fly · Brown Trout

9-Foot Tournament Casting Leader

A 9-foot leader built to turn over and hit a target, the way tournament accuracy and distance casting demand. It runs 44 inches of .024 inch mono, 28 inches of .020, 17 inches of .017 and 8 inches of .015 to an 11 inch tip of .012 inch, with most of its weight in the long butt. It straightens fully at the end of the cast and drops the fly where it was aimed.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

LikeSave
Clone and edit
.024"
.020"
.017"
.015"
.012"
BUTT · 44"
TAPER · 28"
TAPER · 17"
TAPER · 8"
TIPPET · 11"
Total length9' 0"
Rod5-8 wt
Flies1
Knots5
WaterFreestone river, Big river

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

Build your leader

9' 0" of line · 5 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .024"234.012"

Tie it

0 of 5 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 44" butt to the 28" mid with a blood knot. Add 17" of .017" with a blood knot. Add 8" of .015" with a blood knot. Add 11" of .012" 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 11" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×3
    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×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 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 on a 5-8 wt for casting practice on the lawn or pond and for target and distance events. Aim the cast so the leader straightens just above the target, then let the fly drop. On the water it turns over big dries well in wind, but it lands hard, so it is a poor choice for spooky fish without a longer, finer tippet added.

If the fly kicks past the target or lands in a pile, check the length of the .012 inch tip. Fly changes cut it short quickly, so replace it once it is down to about 8 inches.

Common questions

  • Why such a heavy butt?

    The 44 inch .024 inch butt and 28 inch .020 inch section carry most of the cast's energy to the end, so the leader straightens fully and puts the fly on the mark.

  • What rod does it suit?

    A 5-8 wt. The stiff butt is matched to those line weights.

  • Can I fish with it?

    Yes, for big dries in wind. For wary fish, add 18 to 24 inches of finer tippet so the fly lands softer and drifts drag-free.

  • What fly goes on the end?

    A small yarn practice fly for casting on grass or at targets, or a dry fly when fishing.

Brown TroutRainbow TroutDryFreestoneBig river

More dry fly rigs

Explore all

  • 8-Foot 50-25-25 Tapered Dry Fly Leader

    An 8-foot dry fly leader built on the simple 50-25-25 rule: half the length in a stiff butt, a quarter in the middle and a quarter in tippet. It steps from 48 inches of 30 lb mono to 24 inches of 20 lb and 24 inches of 10 lb, joined with double uni knots. The heavy tippet and short, punchy taper make it a leader for big dries such as hoppers, stoneflies and foam bugs.

    Total length8' 0"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots3
    Time to tie2min
    BBy Barbless

  • 9-Foot Dry Fly Leader, 4X

    A 9 foot 2 inch dry fly leader that ends in 4X and is built to land a fly with a little slack for drag-free drifts. It starts with 20 inches of 15 lb and 20 inches of 12 lb Maxima Chameleon, steps through 8 inches of 8 lb Maxima and 8 inches of 8 lb Stren Gold, then 12 inches each of 2X, 3X and 4X, and finishes with an 18 inch 4X tippet. Every join is a triple surgeon's knot.

    Total length9' 2"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots8
    Time to tie4min
    BBy Barbless

  • 9.5-Foot Heavy-Butt Trout Leader, 3X

    A 9.5-foot trout leader with a heavy butt, built to turn over big, wind-resistant dries on 5-7 wt rods. Nearly half its length is a 48 inch .026 inch butt, which then steps through 18 inches of .019, 10 of .017, 8 of .015, 6 of .013 and 6 of 1X (.010 inch) to an 18 inch 3X tippet. It pushes hoppers, stoneflies and big attractors out in the wind and lays them down straight.

    Total length9' 6"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots7
    Time to tie5.25min
    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