How To Build A Fly Fishing Leader

When getting ready to go fly fishing the leader is the last thing to get added to the fly line and if you don't know any better there is few things to know so the leader is correct for fishing. If you are new to fly fishing then this article will teach you how to build a fly fishing leader.

For the benefit of beginners we will assume that we are fishing for trout with a seven weight rated ten foot rod and the target trout are anywhere between 3lb and 8lb in weight. With this in mind we will use 8lb breaking strain mono-filament line which can be obtained very cheaply from any good tackle shop.

Making a Double Blood Knot

For again simplicity we use the double blood (or cliche knot) technique to build the leader. First take a length of about 8-9ft off the spool and cut in half. Next form two blood knots back to back leaving the tag end on one of the knots about 7-8 inches long to use as the dropper. To form a blood knot wind the two pieces of leader around each other about ten times. Pick the middle loop and push through the two tag ends one in each direction. Moisten and pull until almost tight. Have a look at the knot making sure no loops have slid over one and other but are lying behind each other. When you are happy with the two sides moisten again and pull tight. Trim the shorter of the tags and now we have a dropper sitting proud of the main line.

How to form a water knot

To finish off the leader we need to form a water knot or surgeons knot at the end so we can attach our leader to the fly line with the loop to loop connection. The water knot is formed by looping over the tag end so we have now doubled the material. Then form a circle and push the loop through the circle three to four times. Moisten, pull tight and trim the tag end. You will now have a loop at the end of your leader which you can use to join to you fly line which should have a braided loop already attached if you have read the previous article.

Tip! If you have formed the leader and there are kinks in it take a piece of wet cloth and pull the leader through the cloth held tightly in your hand being careful not to over stretch it. Remember what breaking strain you are using to avoid damaging it. This will help straighten your leader and is a good techniques to use at the river if you get any new kinks.

There you have it a simple leader for fly fishing with one dropper. You can add more droppers by repeating the connection process but be mindful that the more droppers you have the more chance or wind knots, kinks and hang ups on the vegetation and river bottom you will get. I would not recommend any more that two flies for a beginner. Need more help with fly fishing then check out my blog.

Any comments are welcome below.