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Dry fly · Brown Trout

George Harvey 10-Foot Dry Fly Leader, 4X

George Harvey's 10-foot dry fly leader, finished in 4X. It starts with a soft .015" butt and steps down .002" at a time through four 18" sections (.015", .013", .011", .009"), then 15" of 3X and a long 36" tippet of 4X, for 10' 3" in all. The soft butt and long tippet are meant to land the fly with slack in the tippet, so it floats drag-free over mixed currents. It suits a 5 wt rod.

BBy BarblessOctober 15, 2026

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.015"
.013"
~13 lb0X.011"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
~8 lb3X.008"
~6.5 lb4X.007"
BUTT · 18"
BUTT · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 15"
TIPPET · 36"
Total length10' 3"
Rod5 wt
Flies1
Knots6
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

10' 3" of line · 6 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .015"23454X

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 18" butt to the 18" butt with a blood knot. Add 18" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 18" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 15" of 3X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 36" of 4X 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 36" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×1
    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×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

Cast upstream or up and across to rising or likely fish, and stop the rod a little high so the leader lands in soft curves rather than straight. Let the fly drift with no drag and mend early. It shines on slow and mixed currents where a straight leader would drag the fly. Use 4X for medium dries; go to the 5X version for small flies.

If the fly drags right away, the leader is landing too straight. Stop the rod higher on the forward cast or add a few inches of 4X so the tippet falls in curves.

Common questions

  • Why does the butt start so light?

    Harvey used a soft .015" butt so the leader does not kick over hard. It lands with slack, and that slack gives the fly a longer drag-free drift.

  • Why is the 4X tippet 36" long?

    A long, fine tippet falls in curves and lets the fly ride the current on its own. That is the point of Harvey's design.

  • Will it turn over big dries?

    It handles medium dries well. For large, bushy flies or wind, cut the tippet back a few inches or use a stiffer leader.

  • What knots does it use?

    A blood knot joins the first two sections, triple surgeon's knots join the rest, and an improved clinch knot ties on the fly.

Brown TroutRainbow TroutCutthroat TroutDryFreestoneTailwaterSpring creek

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