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Nymph · Rainbow Trout

Bergman 12-Foot Nymph and Wet Fly Leader

Ray Bergman's 12 foot leader for nymphs and wet flies. Eight 18 inch sections of mono step down from .021" at the butt to .006" (5X) at the tip, joined with blood knots in the butt and triple surgeon's knots through the 0X, 3X and 5X pieces. It is built for one fly on a 4 to 7 weight rod. There is also a 6X variation; see the questions below.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.021"
.019"
.017"
.015"
.013"
~13 lb0X.011"
~8 lb3X.008"
~4.5 lb5X.006"
BUTT · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TIPPET · 18"
Total length12' 0"
Rod4-7 wt
Flies1
Knots8
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

12' 0" of line · 8 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .021"2345675X

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 18" butt to the 18" mid with a blood knot. Add 18" of .017" with a blood knot. Add 18" of .015" with a blood knot. Add 18" of .013" with a blood knot. Add 18" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 18" of 3X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 18" of 5X 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 18" 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

Fish a nymph upstream and across on a dead drift, mending so it sinks before the drag starts, and watch the leader where it enters the water and the fly line tip for a pause or a draw. Fish a wet fly across and downstream on a slow swing, letting it rise at the end of the drift. The long taper lands softly, which helps in clear water and on flat glides.

If the fly lands in a pile, the fly is too heavy for the 5X tip. Cut the tippet back a few inches or go to a lighter fly rather than casting harder.

Common questions

  • Which tippet should I use?

    The build is the same either way up to the tippet, 18" of .006" (5X) or .005" (6X). Go finer for smaller flies and clear, flat water.

  • How do I see a take without an indicator?

    Watch the leader where it enters the water and the tip of the fly line. Any stop, twitch or draw upstream is a take on a nymph; on a wet fly swing, most takes are felt as a pull.

  • Will it turn over a heavy bead-head nymph?

    A 12 foot leader with a .006" tip is happiest with small to medium flies. A heavy nymph will hinge it, so cut the tippet shorter or step down to a lighter fly.

  • Will this work on a 3 weight rod?

    It is built for 4 to 7 weights. A 3 weight may struggle to turn over the .021" butt cleanly.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutNymphWetFreestoneTailwaterSpring creek

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