Streamer rigs

A 10-foot tarpon leader for an 8-10 wt rod, aimed at juvenile and mid-size fish. The butt steps down from 42" of 40 lb mono (.024") through 30" of 30 lb (.021") and 18" of 20 lb (.017") to an 18" class tippet of 15 lb mono (.015"). Last comes a 12" bite tippet of 30 lb fluorocarbon (.020") to stand up to a tarpon's rough mouth, with a 1/0 Tarpon Toad on a non-slip loop knot.

A simple all-fluorocarbon saltwater leader for 7 to 9 weight rods. It steps down from 36 inches of 40 lb (.026") to 12 inches of 30 lb (.022"), 24 inches of 20 lb (.018") and 24 inches of 15 lb (.016"), joined with triple surgeon's knots, for 8 feet in all. The fly is tied on with a non-slip loop knot so it swims freely.

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.

A 9-foot (108 inch) streamer leader for floating lines. It runs 48 inches of 25 lb mono (.021"), 36 inches of 16 lb mono (.016") and 24 inches of 10 lb fluorocarbon tippet (.011"). The extra length keeps the fly line away from wary fish in clear or slow water, and the stout butt still turns over a streamer.

An 8-foot snook leader with a heavy butt and a fast taper, built to turn over bulky baitfish flies into the wind. It runs 48 inches of 60 lb mono (.030") to 36 inches of 30 lb mono (.022"), joined with triple surgeon's knots, and ends in a 12 inch bite tippet of 40 lb fluorocarbon (.024"). The bite tippet takes the wear from a snook's rough mouth and gill plates, and the fly hangs on a non-slip loop knot so it swims freely.

A 6-foot (72 inch) streamer leader for floating lines. It runs 36 inches of 25 lb mono (.021"), 24 inches of 16 lb mono (.016") and 12 inches of 10 lb fluorocarbon tippet (.011"). The heavy butt and short length turn over weighted and bulky streamers with control, and the fluoro tip is tough against teeth, rocks and wood.

A 4-foot winter steelhead leader for sink tips, all in Maxima Ultra Green: 20" of 30 lb (.022"), 10" of 20 lb (.017") and 18" of 12 lb (.013"), joined with triple surgeon's knots. Short and stout, it turns over big weighted winter flies and keeps them near the depth of the tip.

An 11-foot bonefish leader that halves each section: 60 inches of 30 lb mono (.022"), 30 inches of 20 lb (.017") and 15 inches of 15 lb (.015"), ending in a 27 inch tippet of 12 lb fluorocarbon (.013"). The heavy butt turns over a weighted bonefish fly, and the long, clear tip lands it softly on calm, shallow flats where fish spook at a fly line.

An 11.5-foot tarpon leader that tapers in even steps: 36 inches of 60 lb mono (.032"), then 24 inches each of 40 lb (.024"), 30 lb (.022") and 20 lb (.017"), an 18 inch class tippet of 16 lb (.016"), and a 12 inch shock of 40 lb fluorocarbon (.025"). The gradual taper turns over a tarpon fly smoothly, the class tippet sets the breaking strength, and the shock tippet takes the wear of a tarpon's rough mouth. It suits juvenile and mid-sized tarpon on a 9-11 wt.

A 10-foot tarpon leader built the classic way: a 48" butt of 60 lb mono (.032"), 30" of 40 lb mono (.024"), a 30" 16 lb class tippet (.016") and a 12" bite tippet of 60 lb fluorocarbon (.028"). Albright knots join the class tippet to the heavier line on both sides, and a non-slip loop knot ties on the fly so it swims freely.

A heavy, modular leader for nymphs and streamers, built from RIO Powerflex: 72" of 30 lb (.017"), a 4 mm heavy tippet ring, 36" of 20 lb (.013"), a second 4 mm ring, and 36" of 10 lb 2X (.009") tippet, for 12' in all. The rings let you change tippets without shortening the leader, and the stout pieces turn over weighted flies.

A heavier do-it-yourself saltwater leader: 36" of 40 lb fluorocarbon, 24" of 30 lb, and a 24" tip of 20 lb, for 7' in all. It is short and stout so it turns over bulky flies in wind and stands up to hard-running fish, rough mouths and structure. The fly goes on with a non-slip loop knot so it swims freely.

A 9-foot all-fluorocarbon bonefish leader built to turn over shrimp and crab flies in the wind that blows across most flats. It runs 48 inches of 50 lb, 24 inches of 30 lb and 12 inches of 25 lb to a 24 inch tippet of 15 lb. The heavy butt carries the cast, and the 15 lb tip is strong enough to stand up to coral, mangrove roots and a bonefish's first run.

A simple 7.5-foot (91 inch) saltwater leader for 8-9 wt rods, tied from three pieces of fluorocarbon: 39 inches of .024, 26 inches of .019 and 26 inches of .014. It turns over weighted shrimp, crab and baitfish patterns in wind, and the fluorocarbon sinks and stands up to abrasion. It is quick to tie on a boat or beach.

A 12.5-foot tarpon leader for an 11-12 wt. It runs 72 inches of 60 lb mono, 48 inches of 40 lb mono and an 18 inch class tippet of 16 lb, ending in a 12 inch bite tippet of 50 lb fluorocarbon. The heavy butt turns over big tarpon flies, the class tippet sets the breaking strength, and the bite tippet takes the wear of a tarpon's rough jaw.

An 11-foot redfish leader for an 8-10 wt. It starts with 46 inches of .033" mono and steps down through 23 inches of .028", 23 inches of .026" and 17 inches of .024" to a 23 inch tippet of .016" fluorocarbon. The stiff butt turns over weighted shrimp and crab patterns, and the long fluorocarbon tip lands quietly and stands up to oyster shell and grass on shallow flats.

An 11-foot leader built on the half-again formula: each section is half the length of the one above it. It runs 60 inches of 30 lb mono, 30 inches of 20 lb and 15 inches of 15 lb, then a 27 inch tippet of 12 lb. The long, heavy butt carries the cast's energy down to the fly, so it turns over weighted and wind-resistant flies for flats and warm-water fishing.

An 11.5-foot tarpon leader for a 12 wt, all fluorocarbon. A 60 inch butt of 60 lb steps to 12 inches of 40 lb and 24 inches of 30 lb, then an 18 inch class tippet of 20 lb and a 24 inch bite tippet of 50 lb. The stepped butt turns over big tarpon flies on a 12 wt line, the class tippet sets the breaking strength, and the bite tippet stands up to a big tarpon's rough mouth.

A 30" streamer leader for trout on a sinking line or sink tip. It is two pieces: 12" of RIO Powerflex 0X (15 lb, .011") as a butt, joined with a triple surgeon's knot to 18" of 6 lb Drennan fluorocarbon. Kept short so the fly stays down where the line takes it.

A 7-foot bass bug leader after Steve Rajeff's formula: five sections of mono stepping from a .028" butt to a .014" tippet, joined with blood knots. The long, heavy butt and short taper carry wind-resistant poppers and hair bugs and turn them over on a 6-8 wt line. It is built for casting bugs tight to cover, not for delicacy.

A mono rig built to fish a weighted streamer on a tight line: 288 inches of 20 lb Maxima Chameleon, 24 inches of 12 lb Maxima HV, 12 inches of 12 lb red sighter mono and 12 inches of 2X Gold Label with a Backing Barrel marker, to a 4 mm tippet ring. Below the ring are 36 and 24 inch pieces of 2X fluorocarbon to a size 8 tungsten jig streamer.

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.

A 5-foot leader for sink-tip lines: 36" of 20 lb fluorocarbon joined with a triple surgeon's knot to 24" of 10 lb fluorocarbon. Short and dense, it keeps a streamer near the depth of the tip, with a little more distance from the line than a 4-foot leader for clearer water.

A 5-foot trout streamer leader for full sinking lines: 24" of 0X fluorocarbon at .011" joined with a triple surgeon's knot to 36" of 2X fluorocarbon at .009". Short and dense, it keeps a streamer down near the depth of the line for trout holding deep in lakes, pools and big runs.