How is this different from a Harvey dry fly leader?

A Harvey steps down through many short sections of softer line and is built to land in slack, which takes practice to cast well. The Borger design keeps the taper to three sections and turns the fly over more readily; the slack comes from your casting stroke instead.

Which tippet should I use?

The build is the same either way: 53" of .013", 13" of .010", then 53" of tippet. Use .007" (4X) for mid-size dries and .006" (5X) for smaller flies or flat, clear water. Both are variations of Borger's design.

Can the same leader fish nymphs?

Anglers who use it for both like that only the tippet end changes. Swap in a heavier tippet for weighted flies and keep the butt as it is.

Dry fly · Rainbow Trout

Gary Borger 10-Foot Dead-Drift Dry Fly Leader

Gary Borger's dead-drift dry fly leader in three sections: a stiff .013" butt, a short .010" step and a long .007" tippet, or .006" (5X) for smaller flies. Quick to tie, quick to repair on the water, and it turns a dry fly over without fuss.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.013"

~11.5 lb1X.010"

~6.5 lb4X.007"

BUTT · 53"

TAPER · 13"

TIPPET · 53"

.013"

~11.5 lb1X.010"

~6.5 lb4X.007"

BUTT · 53"

TAPER · 13"

TIPPET · 53"

Total length9' 11"

Rod1-5 wt

Flies1

Knots3

WaterFreestone river, Tailwater, Spring creek

Move across the drawing to pan. Point at a fly or a knot to see what it is; select a knot for how to tie it.Drag the drawing to pan. Tap a fly for what it does, a knot for how to tie it.

Build your leader

9' 11" of line · 3 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt 53" · .013"13" · 1X53" · 4X

Butt .013"24X

Section	Length	Diameter and size	Material	Connection
01Butt	53"	.013"	Mono	Fly line loop
02Mid	13"	~11.5 lb · 1X · .010"	Mono	Triple surgeon's knot
03Tippet	53"	~6.5 lb · 4X · .007"	Mono	Triple surgeon's knot

Tie it

0 of 3 done

These are the finished lengths. Leave extra for tying each knot.

How to tie it

Build the tapered leader
Join the 53" butt to the 13" mid with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 53" of 4X with a triple surgeon's knot.
Tie a triple surgeon's knot
Tie on the fly
Tie the fly to the 53" tippet with an improved clinch knot.
Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

Triple surgeon's knot · 3 turns×2
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

Made for dry flies fished dead drift on trout streams. The long butt carries the cast and the short middle step hands it to a long, fine tippet. For slack on the water, stop the forward cast a little high and lower the rod tip as the line falls, so the tippet lands in soft S-curves instead of straight. Those curves buy drag-free drift time; mend early and let the fly ride.

Tune it with the tippet, not the butt. Start long, and if the fly won't turn over, trim the tippet back a little at a time until it unrolls but still lands soft. With only three sections, a break on the water is a one-knot repair.

Common questions

How is this different from a Harvey dry fly leader?
A Harvey steps down through many short sections of softer line and is built to land in slack, which takes practice to cast well. The Borger design keeps the taper to three sections and turns the fly over more readily; the slack comes from your casting stroke instead.
Which tippet should I use?
The build is the same either way: 53" of .013", 13" of .010", then 53" of tippet. Use .007" (4X) for mid-size dries and .006" (5X) for smaller flies or flat, clear water. Both are variations of Borger's design.
Can the same leader fish nymphs?
Anglers who use it for both like that only the tippet end changes. Swap in a heavier tippet for weighted flies and keep the butt as it is.

Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Cutthroat Trout Dry Freestone Tailwater Spring creek

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