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Nymph · Rainbow Trout

All-Purpose Mono Rig Leader

A mono rig for small streams that fishes nymphs tight-line and small streamers on one leader. It runs 480 inches of 20 lb Maxima Chameleon as the casting line, a 24 inch step of 12 lb Maxima Clear, then a two-color sighter of 12 inches of neon red Suffix and 12 inches of neon green Amnesia. A 2 mm tippet ring below the sighter holds 36 inches of 4X fluorocarbon to a tungsten jig nymph.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

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20 lb.017"
Maxima Chameleon
12 lb.013"
Maxima Clear
12 lb.013"
Suffix Superior monofilament neon fire (neon red)
10 lb.012"
Sunset Amnesia monofilament neon green
~6.5 lb4X.007"
BUTT · 40 FT
TAPER · 24"
SIGHTER · 12"
SIGHTER · 12"
TAPER · 36"
Total length47' 0"
Flies1
Knots6
WaterSmall stream, Freestone river

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

Build your leader

47' 0" of line · 5 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt 20 lb2SighterSighter4X

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 40 ft butt to the 24" mid with a blood knot. Add 12" of 12 lb with a blood knot. Add 12" of 10 lb with a blood knot.

    Tie a blood knot

  2. Add the tippet ring - light

    Tie the tippet ring - light to the 12" sighter with an improved clinch knot. Tie 36" of 4X to its other eye with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

  3. Tie on the Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tail

    Tie the Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tail to the 36" 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
  • Improved clinch knot · 5 turns×3
    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 in pocket water, riffles and short runs where you can stand close. Cast the jig upstream, lift the rod so the line and most of the mono stay off the water, and lead the fly downstream at about the speed of the current. Watch the red and green sighter and set on any pause, twitch or sideways move. To fish a streamer, tie a small weighted one to the same 4X tippet and strip or jig it back through the pocket.

Rebuild the 4X fluorocarbon off the tippet ring when it gets short, so the sighter never ends up in the water and the main leader keeps its length.

Common questions

  • Why 480 inches of 20 lb Chameleon?

    It is the casting line for the rig. Mono sags far less than fly line, so it keeps you in contact with the fly on a short line, and the stiff 20 lb butt still turns the rig over.

  • Why two colors in the sighter?

    The neon red and neon green pieces show against both bright and dark water, so one of them is always easy to track while you watch for the take.

  • Do I need split shot or an indicator?

    No. The tungsten jig carries the weight and the sighter shows the take. If the fly is not touching bottom, tie on a heavier bead.

  • Why 4X tippet?

    4X fluorocarbon is light enough for a size 14 jig to sink well and strong enough to strip a small streamer on the same rig without retying.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutBrook TroutNymphEuroStreamerSmall streamFreestone

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