There are three basic parts to a tapered leader: the butt section, tapered section, and the tippet. The butt section makes up 60% of the leader length and is made of larger stiffer diameter material. This section starts the transfer of energy from the fly line into the leader.

The mid section (20% of the leader length) is made up of short, graduated strands of monofilament stepping down quickly in diameter. It dissipates the energy transferred from the fly line to allow a gentle presentation.

The final section, the tippet, is made of softer smaller diameter material which enables the fly to to set gently down and ride the current in an unrestricted manner as possible.

7 1/2 FOOT LEADERS

0X		1X		2X		3X		4X
24	.019	24	.019	24	.019	24	.019	24	.019
16	.017	16	.017	16	.017	16	.017	16	.017
14	.015	14	.015	14	.015	14	.015	14	.015
9	.013	9	.013	9	.013	6	.013	6	.013
9	.012	9	.011	9	.011	6	.011	6	.011
18	.011	18	.010	18	.009	18	.008	18	.007

9 FOOT LEADERS

0X		1X		2X		3X		4X		5X
36	.021	36	.021	36	.021	36	.021	36	.021	28	.021
16	.019	16	.019	16	.019	16	.019	16	.019	14	.019
12	.017	12	.017	12	.017	12	.017	12	.017	12	.017
8	.015	8	.015	8	.015	6	.015	6	.015	10	.015
8	.013	8	.013	8	.013	6	.013	6	.013	6	.013
8	.012	8	.012	8	.011	6	.011	6	.011	6	.011
20	.011	20	.010	20	.009	6	.009	6	.009	6	.009
						20	.008	20	.007	6	.007.
										20	.006

12 FOOT LEADERS

4X		5X		6X		7X
36	.021	36	.021	36	.021	28	.021
24	.019	24	.019	24	.019	18	.019
16	.017	16	.017	16	.017	16	.017
12	.015	12	.015	12	.015	14	.015
7	.013	7	.013	7	.013	12	.013
7	.011	7	.011	7	.011	7	.011
7	.009	7	.009	7	.009	7	.009
7	.008	7	.008	7	.007	7	.007
28	.007	8	.006	28	.005	7	.005
						28	.004

Fly Tippet Sizes

Tippet sizes are referred to by "X" designations ranging from 0X (largest) to 8X (smallest). The X designation is based on the tippet diameter. An easy way to remember their correlation is subtract the X number from 11 and express in .001".

Example: find the diameter of 4X
Solution:  11-4 = 7 or .007"

NOTE: test strengths will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Diameters should be consistent throughout a length of material. Subject to each manufacturer's level of quality control, the range of variation will determine actual breaking strength.

Fly Size	Tippet Size	Diameter (inches)	Approximate Pound Test*
1/0-4	0X	.011	13
4-8	1X	.010	11
6-10	2X	.009	9
10-14	3X	.008	6.5
12-16	4X	.007	5.5
14-18	5X	.006	4.5
16-22	6X	.005	3.5
18-24	7X	.004	2.5
22-28	8X	.003	1.75