Dry Fly Leader Design -- Dry Fly Skills #3 -- The Troutbitten Podcast: S12, Ep3

(From August 11, 2024) The leader should match the moment and match the angler. It should match the fly, the river and the wind conditions. Adjustments are necessary, and when they're performed often enough they become intuitive.

An objective look at real goals for the dry fly, along with the true capabilities of the leader materials at hand, will lead anyone down the path toward a great leader formula for dry flies.

While many anglers might consider the leader as an afterthought, we believe the leader is the most consequential element in the system. The leader always matters, but it’s most important while trying to achieve dead drifts with a dry fly.

My good friend, Matt Grobe, joins me to discuss dry fly leader design. Like me, Matt looks for every opportunity to fool trout at the surface.

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Fish hard, friends.
Dom

[pmohler]

I was on my way back (24hrs of driving) from a 22 days of fishing in Montana and I found Troutbitten. Listened to the dry Fly Series (and more). While in Montana I did lots of dry fly fishing. The Harvey Leader really intrigued me. When I arrived home it was time to build one. Years ago when I started fly fishing I purchased a 12 pack of leader material. Never really used it. But I remembered its color was brown. I dug through all of the draws to find the box. It took some time to find the box and most of the spools were Chameleon, Western Germany. Built a standard Harvey Leader. Put it on my 5wt Orvis and out to the yard. Put a pink piece of fine pink chenille on the 5x tippet end. At 40', the first and second cast, the line, leader, and tippet laid out straight. On the third cast, I saw the Fly line laydown first...the Chameleon a pink image (chenille) slowly floating and gently landing in the grass. WOW!!!

[anthonyalfano]

Would double uniknots be ok, or should i really get better at blood knots when tying my leaders?

[eralc]

What are the percentages or lengths of the various leader components to build a 9 foot leader on a 4 wt rod

[redcat]

What knot do you use to attach each section of leader together?

[dmergen]

Hey Dom, 🎉
What are your thoughts on placing a tippet ring at the head of the tip section on Dry fly Harvey leader design and/or at top of last section prior to tippet section?