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Dry fly · Rainbow Trout

George Harvey 11.5-Foot Dry Fly Leader, 5X

George Harvey's 11.5-foot dry fly leader, finished in 5X. 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, 15" of 4X and a long 36" tippet of 5X, for 11' 6" in all. The soft butt and long, fine tippet land the fly with slack so it floats drag-free over slow, clear water. 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"
~4.5 lb5X.006"
BUTT · 18"
BUTT · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 18"
TAPER · 15"
TAPER · 15"
TIPPET · 36"
Total length11' 6"
Rod5 wt
Flies1
Knots7
WaterSpring creek, Tailwater

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

Build your leader

11' 6" of line · 7 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .015"234565X

Tie it

0 of 7 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 15" of 4X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 36" of 5X 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×5
    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 fish, and stop the rod a little high so the leader lands in soft curves. Let the fly drift with no drag and mend early. Use it for small dries on flat, clear water and over tricky, mixed currents. Set with a gentle lift to protect the 5X.

If the fly drags right away, the leader is landing too straight. Stop the rod higher on the forward cast so the 5X falls in curves.

Common questions

  • When should I pick this over the 10-foot 4X version?

    For smaller flies, slower and clearer water, and fish that refuse anything that drags. The extra 4X section and 5X tippet make it finer and softer.

  • Why is the butt so light?

    Harvey used a soft .015" butt so the leader lands with slack instead of kicking over straight. That slack is what gives the drag-free drift.

  • Will it cast in wind?

    Not well. Its soft design gives up some punch. In wind, cut the tippet back a few inches or use a shorter, 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.

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutCutthroat TroutDrySpring creekTailwater

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