Leaders and rigs for bluegill: the cut list, knots and tying time for each, with a card to print.
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.
An 8-foot leader built on a smooth, gradual taper from .018" butt to .006" tip. It's designed for light-touch presentations to panfish in still water, where a gentle cast and a forgiving taper help you land small flies without breaking off. There's also a 4X variation; see the questions below.
A 7.5-foot, 5X leader built on a smooth taper from .017" butt to .006" tip. It's designed to turn over small, light flies cleanly and land panfish without excess splash or disturbance. The formula suits 3 to 5 weight rods and works well where stealth and delicate presentation matter.
A 6-foot (72 inch) tapered leader for panfish on a 4-6 wt rod, built to turn over small poppers and float small dries. It steps from a 22 inch .019 butt through .017, .015, .012 and .010 to 15 inches of 3X tippet at .008. The stout butt handles the air resistance of a popper, and 3X is strong enough for bluegill and crappie around weeds.
