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Streamer · Rainbow Trout

Crossover Mono Rig for Streamers and Nymphs

A mono rig that switches between streamers and nymphs without rebuilding the leader. It runs 288 inches of 20 lb Maxima Chameleon, 24 inches of 12 lb Maxima HV, then a sighter of 12 inches of red mono (Amnesia or Sufix Neon Fire) and 12 inches of Umpqua Sighter with a backing barrel marker. A 4 mm tippet ring holds 14 inches of RIO Two Tone and 36 inches of 3X fluorocarbon to the fly.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

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20 lb.017"
Maxima Chameleon
12 lb.013"
Maxima HV
12 lb.013"
8 lb2X.009"
Umpqua Sighter
11 lb1X.010"
RIO Two Tone Indicator
~8 lb3X.008"
BUTT · 24 FT
TAPER · 24"
TAPER · 12"
SIGHTER · 12"
SIGHTER · 14"
TIPPET · 36"
Total length32' 2"
Flies1
Knots5
WaterFreestone river, Tailwater

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

Build your leader

32' 2" of line · 6 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt 20 lb23SighterSighter3X

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 24 ft maxima Chameleon to the 24" maxima HV with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 12" of 12 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 12" of 8 lb with a triple surgeon's knot. Add a backing Barrel with tag onto the 12" sighter, 56" above the Small to medium streamer.

    Tie a triple surgeon's knot

  2. Add the tippet ring - heavy

    Tie the tippet ring - heavy to the 12" sighter. Tie 14" of 11 lb to its other eye. Add 36" of 3X with a triple surgeon's knot.

    Tie a triple surgeon's knot

  3. Tie on the Small to medium streamer

    Tie the Small to medium streamer to the 36" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Triple surgeon's knot · 3 turns×4
    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 small to medium streamer across or upstream, let it sink, then strip or jig it back on a tight line while watching the sighter. To nymph, tie a weighted jig nymph to the same 3X tippet, lift the rod so the line and most of the mono stay off the water, and lead the fly down at current speed. Set on any stop, twitch or sideways move of the sighter.

Switch flies, not leaders. The 3X fluorocarbon is the compromise that lets one rig strip a streamer hard and still sink a weighted nymph.

Common questions

  • Why 3X fluorocarbon instead of something finer?

    A streamer needs a tippet that turns it over and survives a hard strike on the strip. 3X does both and is still thin enough to let a weighted nymph sink.

  • What is the backing barrel on the sighter?

    A short wrap of backing tied onto the Umpqua Sighter as a high-visibility marker, 6 inches above its end, so the sighter is easy to track in glare.

  • Do I need split shot or an indicator?

    No. Fly weight gets the streamer or nymph down, and the red mono and Umpqua Sighter show the take.

  • Why 288 inches of 20 lb Chameleon?

    It is the casting line. Thin mono sags far less than fly line, so you stay in contact with the fly whether you are stripping or dead drifting.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutStreamerNymphEuroFreestoneTailwater

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