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Wet fly and soft hackle · Brown Trout

George Harvey 9-Foot Wet Fly Leader

George Harvey's 9-foot wet fly leader: a short 10" butt of .017", then five 20" sections of .015", .013", .011", .009" and .008" (3X), for 9' 2" in all. The even taper turns over a wet fly or soft hackle and lets it sink just under the surface and swing across the current. It is a simple, proven leader for a single wet fly on a floating line.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.017"
.015"
.013"
~13 lb0X.011"
~9.5 lb2X.009"
~8 lb3X.008"
BUTT · 10"
TAPER · 20"
TAPER · 20"
TAPER · 20"
TAPER · 20"
TIPPET · 20"
Total length9' 2"
Flies1
Knots6
WaterFreestone river, Tailwater

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

Build your leader

9' 2" of line · 6 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .017"23453X

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 10" butt to the 20" mid with a blood knot. Add 20" of .013" with a blood knot. Add 20" of 0X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 20" of 2X with a triple surgeon's knot. Add 20" of 3X 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 20" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×2
    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×3
    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 across or down and across, mend once so the fly sinks, then let it swing on a tight line. Lift slowly or give a few short pulls as the fly finishes below you, where many takes come. You can also cast upstream and dead-drift a wet fly back toward you. Hold the rod at an angle so a hard take on the swing pulls line instead of breaking the tippet.

If fish come unbuttoned or break off on the swing, stop striking. Keep the rod at an angle to the line and let the fish hook itself as it turns.

Common questions

  • Can I use it with a sinking line?

    Use it on a floating line. A long taper on a sinking line holds the fly up while the line sinks. For sinking lines, a short leader of a few feet works better.

  • Can I use this leader with a dry fly?

    It will turn over a dry, but the .008" tip and quick taper are built to sink a wet fly. A dry fly leader with a longer, finer tippet floats a dry with less drag.

  • What knots do I need?

    Blood knots join the first three sections, triple surgeon's knots join the last four, and an improved clinch knot ties on the fly.

  • Is the .008" tip fine enough?

    For wet flies, yes. Swung flies are taken hard on a tight line, and 3X gives some margin. Go finer only for small soft hackles in very clear water.

Brown TroutRainbow TroutCutthroat TroutWetFreestoneTailwater

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