Have you ever wondered if you could build your own fly fishing leaders? Making your own leaders is another step in elevating your fly fishing game. Pre-packaged leaders are everywhere and work great, but just like everything in fly fishing, anglers are always looking for the best way to optimize their presentation.

A great way to do just that is by making your own leaders. You can customize them for each and every one of your situations, allowing you to perfectly match the leader to your specific rod, fly line, and fly. Plus, building your own leaders is downright satisfying.

In this guide, we’ll talk about what fly fishing leaders are, the materials and tools needed, how to make them, and the pros and cons of building your own fly fishing leaders.

What are Fly Fishing Leaders?

First, let’s start with the basics. Leaders are the clear section of line that connect your fly line to your fly. Because fly lines (check out more on fly lines in Fly Lines Explained: A Beginner’s Guide) are made of thick plastic, are often brightly colored, and move relatively fast, we need a system that doesn’t scare fish off and doesn’t make our flies land on the water like an asteroid.

That’s where leaders come in. Leaders serve several important mechanisms in fly fishing. First, the clear material is less visible the fish and less likely to spook them. Secondly and of equal importance, they are vital in transferring energy from the fly line to your fly in order to “turn over” the fly properly. This allows our flies to land with a much more natural presentation.

Leaders generally have three sections- the butt, the mid-section, and the tippet. Starting at the thickest end (the butt section) that is connected to your fly line, it tapers down (through the mid-section), down to the “business end” (the tippet) where you attach your fly. This allows the energy from the cast to transition properly and efficiently. That involves complicated physics which we don’t need to worry about- the main message is that properly constructed leaders help you cast and present your fly much better than a level line.

Pros and Cons of Building Fly Fishing Leaders

Building your own fly fishing leaders has its benefits and its downsides. In my opinion, the advantages of building your own leaders far outweigh any negatives that come along.

Benefits of Building Your Own Fly Fishing Leaders

• Cost: In the long run, you will save a ton of money building your own fly fishing leaders. Once you purchase the materials, you’ll be able to build dozens of leaders that will last you years.
• Optimization: You will be able to customize your leaders specific to your situation. Pre-packaged leaders are great as an all-around leader, though they don’t quite maximize the effectiveness of every fly. For example, pre-packaged leaders are often made of limper materials that are good for dry-fly trout fishing, but not effective for streamer fishing.
• Gratification: If you’re fly fishing, you’ve already admitted that you like a challenge and most likely enjoy the satisfaction of catching fish on the fly. You may have even tied your own flies. Building your own fly fishing leaders is another step you can take to fulfil the DIY nature that fly fishing provides. Hell, maybe you’ll even build a rod one day!

Drawbacks of Building Your Own Fly Fishing Leaders

• Time: As opposed to popping a leader out of a bag from the fly shop and being ready to go, tying your own leaders takes time. Not a ton of time, especially once you get the hang of the knots, but time nonetheless. Personally, I enjoy tying my own leaders and is another way to get my fishing fix in during the winter or win the rivers and streams are unfishable.
• Knots: Pre-packaged leaders are knotless, handmade leaders are not. If you’re fishing grassy areas, you may pick up the occasional patch of grass on your retrieval. This is not a big deal!
• Organization: By building your own leaders, you’ll acquire several spools of materials that you’ll need to organize. This is a few more things to keep track of, but certainly not a deal breaker.

Materials and Tools for Building Fly Fishing Leaders

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What you’ll need to build your own fly fishing leaders is pretty simple:

• Leader Material
• Tippet Material
• Scissors/Clippers
• Ruler

For leader materials, Maxima Ultragreen is the standard for monofilament leaders. It’s cheap, strong, and readily available on Amazon and every fly shop in the country.

A ruler or some sort of measuring stick is also helpful if you want to be exact in your measurements. Building leaders (like everything in fly fishing) can be as complicated as you want it to be, and if perfectly measured sections are vital to you, pick up a ruler.

And of course, you’ll need something to cut off sections of material and tag ends of knots. Scissors, nippers, or fingernail clippers work great. Don’t be using your teeth on this stuff!

How to Build a Simple Fly Fishing Leader

Okay, now on to the good stuff. We know the pros, cons, and materials needed to make your own leaders, so let’s get on with the build!

Building fly fishing leaders is simple. Essentially, you’re tying pieces of leader and tippet material together than when completed, forms a leader tailored to your needs.

For the basics the build, it’s essential to understand the “60/20/20 Rule.” This guideline suggests that in order for proper transfer of energy, the leader should be composed of:

• 60% Butt Section
• 20% Mid Section
• 20% Tippet

There are three knots you will need to tie your own leaders:

• Perfection Loop
• Blood Knot
• Double Surgeons’ Knot

With this in mind, we can begin building our own fly fishing leaders.

Step by Step Guide to Build Fly Fishing Leaders

Step 1: Assemble your Materials.

Step 2: Cut Your Materials First

• I’ve found this very helpful. It organizes and simplifies the process and allows you to move through the next steps efficiently.
• It’s essential that you add an extra 3-4 inches of material to allow for knot tying. The extra length allows you to tie knots more easily. When you cut the tag ends off, you won’t lose any length to your leader.

Step 3: Tie a Perfection Loop on End of Butt Section

• This will allow you to easily attach the leader to your fly line using a loop-to-loop connection.

Step 4: Tie Butt and Mid Sections Together Using a Blood Knot

• Start with the thickest section and move down to the next size.
• Use these for connecting your Butt and Mid Sections

Step 5: Tie your Tippet in with a Double Surgeons’ Knot

• Blood knots are tricky with limper tippet material. The Double Surgeons’ Knot is strong, reliable, and easy to tie with tippet material.

Step 6: Go Fishing!

Once you have your leader built, you’re ready to fish. Some alterations may be needed on the water, perhaps adding longer or shorter tippet sections based on the conditions. Leaders are meant to be changed, but as long as your leader is presenting your fly properly you’re good to go!

Tips for Tying Fly Fishing Leaders

• Taper your sections incrementally
  • Going from 40 lb Maxima (.024) all the way to say 15 lb (.015) will not transition energy properly and knots won’t be very strong.
• Stretch your Materials
  • Leader materials have spent most their lives coiled up on a spool. They retain this shape very easily so it’s important to give your materials a good stretch before using.
• Test Every Knot Before Tying the Next
  • Make sure your knots are seated properly before moving on.
  • Moisten your knots to ensure a strong connection
• Use the Same Brand Material for your Butt and Mid Sections
  • Brands can differ in breaking strength and diameter ratios. One brand may have a thicker diameter for 30 lb breaking strength, another a thinner diameter. To avoid confusion, stick with the same brand for all your materials.
  • I’ve also found that materials of the same brand tie better knots.

So now that we understand the basic steps in tying fly fishing leaders, you may be asking “how long is each section?” That’s where leader formulas can help:

Fly Fishing Leader Formulas

Leader formulas are great to get a gauge what thickness material we should use and how long each of section should be. This helps us create leaders that transfer energy smoothly and ensures that the connections between sections are smooth and strong.

Leader formulas are great guidelines but don’t necessarily need to be followed to the exact inch. All that matters is that the fly is delivered properly. Don’t get hung up on getting the exact lengths perfectly correct!

For these formulas, we used Maxima Ultragreen as the leader materials and Scientific Angler Freshwater Tippet. Different brands may have slightly different diameters and breaking strengths.

Trout Leader Formulas

Bass Leader Formulas

Saltwater Leader Formulas

Conclusion

While there are many options available for fly fishing leaders, building your own provides a unique opportunity to tailor your setup precisely to your needs. By understanding the basic principles of leader construction and following simple steps, we can create leaders that optimize presentation and enhance the overall fly fishing experience.

The benefits of crafting your own leaders are numerous. Not only does it offer cost savings in the long term, but it also allows for customization tailored to specific fishing situations. This level of optimization can make a significant difference in fly presentation, ultimately leading to more fish on the end of your line. Additionally, the process of building leaders adds a layer of satisfaction and fulfillment to the angling experience, aligning with the DIY ethos fly anglers are undoubtedly addicted to.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the time investment required and the need for organizational diligence. However, these factors are often outweighed by the benefits, making the decision to build your own leaders a worthwhile endeavor for many anglers.

By following simple guidelines and utilizing readily available materials and tools, you can create leaders that meet your unique requirements. Whether fishing in a stream, river, or lake, a well-constructed leader can enhance casting efficiency and fly presentation, ultimately leading to more enjoyable and successful fly fishing adventures.

Do you tie your own leaders? If not, get started!