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Steelhead and spey · Steelhead

Kaufmann's 10-Foot Sink-Tip Steelhead Leader

Kaufmann's 10-foot steelhead leader for a sink-tip line: 35 inches of .023 mono stepping through .021, .017 and .013 to 30 inches of 1X, .010. Blood knots join the heavy sections and a triple surgeon's knot joins the tippet. The sink tip takes the fly down, and the leader turns over a swung streamer on a 5-8 wt rod. There's also a 0X variation; see the questions below.

BBy BarblessOctober 14, 2026

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.023"
.021"
.017"
.013"
~11.5 lb1X.010"
BUTT · 35"
TAPER · 25"
TAPER · 15"
TAPER · 15"
TIPPET · 30"
Total length10' 0"
Rod5-8 wt
Flies1
Knots5
WaterBig river, Freestone river

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

Build your leader

10' 0" of line · 5 pieces · Butt to tip

Butt .023"2341X

Tie it

0 of 5 done

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

How to tie it

  1. Build the tapered leader

    Join the 35" butt to the 25" mid with a blood knot. Add 15" of .017" with a blood knot. Add 15" of .013" with a blood knot. Add 30" of 1X 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 30" tippet with an improved clinch knot.

    Tie an improved clinch knot

The knots

  • Blood knot · 5 turns×3
    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×1
    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 down and across, mend once upstream to let the tip sink, then let the fly swing through the run on a tight line. Step down a couple of paces after each swing to cover the water. Fish a slim, weighted fly so it stays close to the depth the tip reaches. Hold the line under your finger and let a fish turn with the fly before you come tight.

If the fly swings too high, the leader is the cause: a 10-foot leader lets an unweighted fly rise above the sink tip. Tie on a weighted fly, or cut back the butt to shorten the leader in deep, fast runs.

Common questions

  • Which tippet should I use?

    The build is the same either way up to the tippet, 30 inches of .010 (1X) or .011 (0X). Go heavier for bigger flies and stronger fish.

  • Isn't 10 feet long for a sink tip?

    It is on the long side. The sink tip does the sinking, and the leader only connects it to the fly, so a long leader lets a light fly ride up. Pair it with a weighted fly, or shorten the butt in deep water.

  • What flies suit this leader?

    Slim, weighted swing flies such as leeches and sparse marabou patterns. Bulky, water-resistant flies plane up on a long leader and lose the depth the tip gives you.

  • Can I use it on a floating line?

    This build is set up for a sink tip. On a floating line the fly fishes near the surface, which suits warmer water and active fish better than a deep swing.

SteelheadSteelheadStreamerBig riverFreestone

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