Rigs Lab · Gear & fly fishing rigs + leaders

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rigs to tie
134
knots
42
fly lines
639
leader materials
128
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1 to 20 of 45 rigs

  • A 10' 8" indicator nymphing leader on Maxima Chameleon. The butt steps from .017" to .010", then 18" of .009" runs to a 4 mm heavy tippet ring, with 24" of 3X and 24" of 4X fluorocarbon below it. A 3/4" trapped-air indicator, one No. 4 split shot and a #16 Tungsten Bead Pheasant Tail make it a ready-to-fish indicator rig for riffles and runs.

    Total length10' 8"
    TechniqueIndicator
    Knots6
    Time to tie4min
    20 lb.017"
    Maxima Chameleon
    15 lb.015"
    Maxima Chameleon
    12 lb.013"
    Maxima Chameleon
    8 lb1X.010"
    Maxima Chameleon
    6 lb2X.009"
    Maxima Chameleon
    ~8 lb3X.008"
    ~6.5 lb4X.007"
    BUTT · 24"
    TAPER · 18"
    TAPER · 12"
    TAPER · 8"
    TAPER · 18"
    TIPPET · 24"
    TIPPET · 24"
  • An 8-foot dry fly leader built on the simple 50-25-25 rule: half the length in a stiff butt, a quarter in the middle and a quarter in tippet. It steps from 48 inches of 30 lb mono to 24 inches of 20 lb and 24 inches of 10 lb, joined with double uni knots. The heavy tippet and short, punchy taper make it a leader for big dries such as hoppers, stoneflies and foam bugs.

    Total length8' 0"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots3
    Time to tie2min
    30 lb.022"
    20 lb.017"
    10 lb.012"
    BUTT · 48"
    TAPER · 24"
    TIPPET · 24"
  • A 6-foot (72 inch) streamer leader for floating lines. It runs 36 inches of 25 lb mono (.021"), 24 inches of 16 lb mono (.016") and 12 inches of 10 lb fluorocarbon tippet (.011"). The heavy butt and short length turn over weighted and bulky streamers with control, and the fluoro tip is tough against teeth, rocks and wood.

    Total length6' 0"
    TechniqueStreamer
    Knots3
    Time to tie2min
    25 lb.021"
    16 lb.016"
    10 lb0X.011"
    BUTT · 36"
    TAPER · 24"
    TIPPET · 12"
  • A 4-foot winter steelhead leader for sink tips, all in Maxima Ultra Green: 20" of 30 lb (.022"), 10" of 20 lb (.017") and 18" of 12 lb (.013"), joined with triple surgeon's knots. Short and stout, it turns over big weighted winter flies and keeps them near the depth of the tip.

    Total length4' 0"
    TechniqueSteelhead
    Knots3
    Time to tie1.5min
    30 lb.022"
    Maxima UG
    20 lb.017"
    Maxima UG
    12 lb.013"
    Maxima UG
    BUTT · 20"
    TAPER · 10"
    TIPPET · 18"
  • A 16-foot all-fluorocarbon leader for sight-fishing carp on shallow flats. It steps down from 24" of 40 lb (.023") through 12" of 30 lb (.020"), 36" each of 20 lb (.016"), 15 lb (.014") and 10 lb (.011"), to 48" of 8 lb tippet (.010"). The length keeps the fly line well away from wary fish, and the fluoro sinks a size 8 weighted carp fly quickly to the bottom.

    Total length16' 0"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots6
    Time to tie3min
    40 lb.023"
    30 lb.020"
    20 lb.016"
    15 lb.014"
    10 lb0X.011"
    8 lb1X.010"
    BUTT · 24"
    TAPER · 12"
    TAPER · 36"
    TAPER · 36"
    TAPER · 36"
    TIPPET · 48"
  • A heavy, modular leader for nymphs and streamers, built from RIO Powerflex: 72" of 30 lb (.017"), a 4 mm heavy tippet ring, 36" of 20 lb (.013"), a second 4 mm ring, and 36" of 10 lb 2X (.009") tippet, for 12' in all. The rings let you change tippets without shortening the leader, and the stout pieces turn over weighted flies.

    Total length12' 0"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots1
    Time to tie0.5min
    30 lb.017"
    RIO Powerflex
    20 lb.013"
    RIO Powerflex
    10 lb2X.009"
    RIO Powerflex
    BUTT · 6 FT
    TAPER · 36"
    TIPPET · 36"
  • A 9-foot leader built to turn over and hit a target, the way tournament accuracy and distance casting demand. It runs 44 inches of .024 inch mono, 28 inches of .020, 17 inches of .017 and 8 inches of .015 to an 11 inch tip of .012 inch, with most of its weight in the long butt. It straightens fully at the end of the cast and drops the fly where it was aimed.

    Total length9' 0"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots5
    Time to tie4min
    .024"
    .020"
    .017"
    .015"
    .012"
    BUTT · 44"
    TAPER · 28"
    TAPER · 17"
    TAPER · 8"
    TIPPET · 11"
  • A 9.5-foot trout leader with a heavy butt, built to turn over big, wind-resistant dries on 5-7 wt rods. Nearly half its length is a 48 inch .026 inch butt, which then steps through 18 inches of .019, 10 of .017, 8 of .015, 6 of .013 and 6 of 1X (.010 inch) to an 18 inch 3X tippet. It pushes hoppers, stoneflies and big attractors out in the wind and lays them down straight.

    Total length9' 6"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots7
    Time to tie5.25min
    .026"
    .019"
    .017"
    .015"
    .013"
    ~11.5 lb1X.010"
    ~8 lb3X.008"
    BUTT · 48"
    TAPER · 18"
    TAPER · 10"
    TAPER · 8"
    TAPER · 6"
    TAPER · 6"
    TIPPET · 18"
  • An 8-foot (96 inch) three-piece dry fly leader built from the 25-15-10 formula: 36 inches of 25 lb mono, 36 inches of 15 lb and 24 inches of 10 lb. It is quick to tie from three spools and turns over big, wind-resistant dries such as hoppers, stoneflies, large foam flies and bass bugs.

    Total length8' 0"
    TechniqueDry
    Knots3
    Time to tie2.5min
    25 lb.020"
    15 lb.015"
    10 lb.012"
    BUTT · 36"
    TAPER · 36"
    TIPPET · 24"
  • An 11-foot leader built on the half-again formula: each section is half the length of the one above it. It runs 60 inches of 30 lb mono, 30 inches of 20 lb and 15 inches of 15 lb, then a 27 inch tippet of 12 lb. The long, heavy butt carries the cast's energy down to the fly, so it turns over weighted and wind-resistant flies for flats and warm-water fishing.

    Total length11' 0"
    TechniqueStreamer
    Knots4
    Time to tie2min
    30 lb.022"
    20 lb.017"
    15 lb.015"
    12 lb.013"
    BUTT · 60"
    TAPER · 30"
    TAPER · 15"
    TIPPET · 27"
  • A 30" streamer leader for trout on a sinking line or sink tip. It is two pieces: 12" of RIO Powerflex 0X (15 lb, .011") as a butt, joined with a triple surgeon's knot to 18" of 6 lb Drennan fluorocarbon. Kept short so the fly stays down where the line takes it.

    Total length2' 6"
    TechniqueStreamer
    Knots2
    Time to tie1min
    15 lb0X.011"
    RIO Powerflex
    ~8 lb3X.008"
    Drennan Fluorocarbon
    BUTT · 12"
    TIPPET · 18"
  • A 7-foot bass bug leader after Steve Rajeff's formula: five sections of mono stepping from a .028" butt to a .014" tippet, joined with blood knots. The long, heavy butt and short taper carry wind-resistant poppers and hair bugs and turn them over on a 6-8 wt line. It is built for casting bugs tight to cover, not for delicacy.

    Total length6' 11"
    TechniqueStreamer
    Knots5
    Time to tie4.5min
    .028"
    .024"
    .021"
    .018"
    .014"
    BUTT · 32"
    TAPER · 19"
    TAPER · 10"
    TAPER · 6"
    TIPPET · 16"
  • Gary Borger's 9-foot leader for bouncing a nymph along the bottom: 45" of .020" butt, 17" of .013", and a long 45" tippet of 0X (.011"). Two No. 4 split shot ride 10" above a size 8 stonefly nymph, and a small yarn indicator on the butt shows the take. The stout tippet holds up to the shot, snags and big fish on 4-7 wt rods.

    Total length8' 11"
    TechniqueIndicator
    Knots3
    Time to tie1.5min
    .020"
    .013"
    ~13 lb0X.011"
    BUTT · 45"
    TAPER · 17"
    TIPPET · 45"
  • Gary Borger's 7.5-foot leader for flies you move, finished in 3X: 51" of .020" butt, 13" of .013", and 26" of 3X (.008") tippet. The short, stout design keeps the line straight to the fly, so stripped and swung wet flies and nymphs stay under control and takes are felt. It casts well on 4-7 wt rods.

    Total length7' 6"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots3
    Time to tie1.5min
    .020"
    .013"
    ~8 lb3X.008"
    BUTT · 51"
    TAPER · 13"
    TIPPET · 26"
  • Gary Borger's 7.5-foot leader for flies you move: 51" of .020" butt, 13" of .013", and 26" of 2X (.009") tippet. The short, stout design keeps the line straight to the fly, so stripped and swung wet flies and nymphs stay under control and takes are felt. It casts well on 4-7 wt rods and turns over weighted flies.

    Total length7' 6"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots3
    Time to tie1.5min
    .020"
    .013"
    ~9.5 lb2X.009"
    BUTT · 51"
    TAPER · 13"
    TIPPET · 26"
  • A 9 foot 6 inch carp leader for an 8 weight rod. It runs 48 inches of 30 lb Maxima Clear, then 24 inches of 20 lb, 12 inches of 15 lb and 6 inches of 12 lb Maxima Clear, ending in 24 inches of 0X fluorocarbon. The heavy butt turns over a weighted carp fly in wind, and the stout tip holds big fish around weeds and snags.

    Total length9' 6"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots5
    Time to tie4min
    30 lb.022"
    Maxima Clear
    20 lb.017"
    Maxima Clear
    15 lb.015"
    Maxima Clear
    12 lb.013"
    Maxima Clear
    ~13 lb0X.011"
    BUTT · 48"
    TAPER · 24"
    TAPER · 12"
    TAPER · 6"
    TIPPET · 24"
  • A 9 foot 6 inch carp leader for a 6 weight rod. It runs 48 inches of 20 lb Maxima Clear, then 24 inches of 15 lb, 12 inches of 12 lb and 6 inches of 8 lb (1X) Maxima Clear, ending in 24 inches of 2X fluorocarbon. The long, stout taper turns over a weighted carp fly and lays it down far enough from the fish to keep it calm.

    Total length9' 6"
    TechniqueNymph
    Knots5
    Time to tie3.5min
    20 lb.017"
    Maxima Clear
    15 lb.015"
    Maxima Clear
    12 lb.013"
    Maxima Clear
    8 lb1X.010"
    Maxima Clear
    ~9.5 lb2X.009"
    BUTT · 48"
    TAPER · 24"
    TAPER · 12"
    TAPER · 6"
    TIPPET · 24"
  • A 5-foot leader for sink-tip lines: 36" of 20 lb fluorocarbon joined with a triple surgeon's knot to 24" of 10 lb fluorocarbon. Short and dense, it keeps a streamer near the depth of the tip, with a little more distance from the line than a 4-foot leader for clearer water.

    Total length5' 0"
    TechniqueStreamer
    Knots2
    Time to tie1min
    20 lb.016"
    10 lb1X.010"
    BUTT · 36"
    TIPPET · 24"
  • A 5-foot trout streamer leader for full sinking lines: 24" of 0X fluorocarbon at .011" joined with a triple surgeon's knot to 36" of 2X fluorocarbon at .009". Short and dense, it keeps a streamer down near the depth of the line for trout holding deep in lakes, pools and big runs.

    Total length5' 0"
    TechniqueStreamer
    Knots2
    Time to tie1min
    ~13 lb0X.011"
    ~9.5 lb2X.009"
    BUTT · 24"
    TIPPET · 36"
  • A 5.5-foot steelhead leader with a heavy point: 28" of .026" mono joined with a double uni knot to 38" of .017" mono. Built for sink tips and Skagit heads on 7-9 wt rods, it keeps the fly near the depth of the tip and the thick point shrugs off rocks, wood and hard takes.

    Total length5' 6"
    TechniqueSteelhead
    Knots2
    Time to tie1.25min
    .026"
    .017"
    BUTT · 28"
    TIPPET · 38"