How To Select And Tune A Leader To Perfection - S5 E8

In this episode of RIO's "How To Fly Fish" series, RIO product designer Chris Walker explains how to select the right leader for multiple trout fishing situations. Chris shows the various RIO leaders that are built for specific applications, and explains precisely why each leader design works.
Chris also illustrates what the "tippet", "taper" and "butt" sections are, and explains why these sections are so important. For a more "DIY" approach, Chris also shows how to take a regular trout leader and tune it for a specific application.
#flyfish #flyfishing #learntoflyfish
Clearly explained in Chris's easy-going, simple-to-understand style, this is an excellent film for any trout angler, and actually one of our favorite How To films at RIO. You will certainly pick up some GREAT tips from this video.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Leader Terminology
1:40 Leader Design
2:40 Comparing Off-The-Shelf Leaders
4:30 Adapting Your Leader
6:52 Close
RIO's "How To Fly Fish" videos are a series of short films that explain all you need to know to learn a particular way to fish or cast. Where applicable, each film talks through the gear that you need, shows how to rig the gear, how to read the water, and how to fish that particular technique. These educational films are packed with information and top tips designed to improve the knowledge and skill level of all fly fishers. Each one is bought to you by a RIO employee or a RIO brand ambassador.

[@danbrown7857]

There truly is nobody better out there to clearly explain and demonstrate the various casts, rod positions and proper anchor points.
It really isn’t even close!😂
(I don’t watch any other instructors out there.😉)
Thank you, Simon!

[@SurfSkagit]

Great clip and very well presented.
Leaders can easily give a newbie a very first bad reading on what a new fly line head profile was build for, either return it to share a bad comment about it.
You fly line manufacturers should consider a kind of guidance with every fly line, like, include a chart or a set of the actual leaders that best cover a general fishing situation for that head length,, density and profile.
Definitely a link to this video print inside a fly line box it’s a must 😾
Thank you Rio and Chris 👏

[@74elsea]

Dude. New fly fisher here and you just finally explained everything to me

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Very nice review of leaders.

[@charlieboutin3341]

VERY helpful! Thanks a lot! 👍👍🎣

[@CHill-oj8pt]

If you are making a leader land softer, wouldn't you first need to reduce the tippet section of the manufactured leader by some amount and then tie on your lower X tippet in order to get the proper structure for the leader to do what you wanted it to do?

[@davidcook5858]

No. Keep your 9' manufactured 4X leader and add, let's say, 24 inches of 5X. You would now have an 11' leader - still properly tapered -- which would be appropriate for tossing a size 12 to 16 dry fly for softer presentation. After you tie on the first fly you would have, then, a 10' 8" leader. If, as you suggested, you cut back the manufactured 4X leader first you might have to add 4X first and then the 5X to achieve a good taper. If you are targeting smaller fish use 5X and add 6X and smaller flies (14 to 20). Try to keep track of the leader length that works best for you depending on the conditions you most fish in, the streams you fish, your casting style and the flies you use the most and forget about what other folks might suggest. Fly Fishing is fun and individualistic.