Bill's Useful Leader Collection

In the spirit of keeping an overcomplicated subject as simple as possible, here are a very few proven leader formulas. There are hundreds more, and I realize that everyone with any experience has their own ideas as to what is correct and what is not, however, the basic patterns shown here can be easily modified while fishing. A basic principle in constructing or altering leaders is to not use a Blood Knot to join sections with more than a .002 difference in diameter. A Double Surgeon's Knot can be used to do this. A 12' 5x leader can easily be converted to a 4x, or a 6x or a 7x without changing the entire leader. For those who have difficulty in tying Blood Knots click here for help.

Leader length is both a matter of personal choice, and water conditions. The more flat or slow moving the water, the longer the leader usually necessary. The very short leaders for use with sinking, or sink tip lines are short because they tend to keep the fly down where the tip of the line is. This doesn't seem to bother the fish, as they are more concerned with attack from above and scared of shadows over the water, than with what is in the water with them.

The 12.75' foot leaders are based on the design of the old Universal Vise "Witek's" leaders of around 1959. These leaders were made from a duPont blueish gray hard Nylon. Mason and Maxima material is most similar to it today. The old Orvis material, which came from Pezon et Michel in France, is also similar. The other 12' leaders are based on the old Orvis designs of around 1979.

Last Updated: October 9, 2000

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