Trout fly leaders

What do you trout fly fishermen use as a leader formula? Do you tie your own or buy the tapered ones. If you tie your own what is the methods you use?
Stew

[Tinman]

I always use the factory-tapered leaders, and keep plenty of tippet on hand for frequent re-ties when the tippet gets frayed. I've never tied my own leaders, section-by-section, so I can't advise.

[Pete]

I used to use a formula, but it really depends on the particular material you are using ... some are softer, others are harder and that affects how it turns over. I generally like the new fluoro type materials which are harder ... but I mainly do it by feel now using shorter segments as I work towards the tip and using an 18 to 24 inch tippet.

I will, however, use a factory tapered leader on weedy rivers like the Wood when the knots pick up junk otherwise.

[SteelieSteve]

Berkley factory made leaders

[crawdad]

Check out Orvis' braided leaders, I like em, some people hate em. Essentially it's just a few feet of braided mono that tapers down as it goes. You attach several feet of tippet to the end, but don't need to taper it. They are extreemly tough and will last for years.

[SSPey]

I tie 'em up. Maxima chameleon for butt, ultra green for mid (and tippet with steelies) with Umpqua for trout tippets.

here is a typical formula for a 10' steelhead leader

4' 0.022
2' 0.020
1' 0.017
8" 0.015
6" 0.013
2-3' 0.012


Make 'em at home, takes less time (and money) than driving to the tackle shop. Moisten and tightly cinch blood knots all the way, though I usually reattach tippets onstream with a triple surgeons knot

[SSPey]

and of course now I notice that you wanted a trout leader. About 10' long:

3.5' 0.020 (Cham)
1.5' 0.017 (Cham)
1' 0.015 (ult-grn)
10" 0.013 (ult-grn)
8" 0.010 (ult-grn)
6" 0.009 (2x) - start umpqua here
6" 0.008 (3x)
2-3' leader of 4X (or add more skinny sections down to 5, 6, or 7X)

[rob allen]

floatnfish has it right Maxima all the way until you get to the small stuff
Maxima all blood knots
3'25lb
2'20lb
1'15lb
8" 12lb
8" 10lb
6" 8lb
6"6lb
36 inch tippet
Rio powerflex tippet size dependant on application. Ties with the triple surgeons knot. may also neet to be tapered.