Large Streamer Leader Recommendations

Esoxbum

Esoxbum

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Joined
Jun 10, 2026
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Perryopolis
Looking for any input on reasonably priced leaders for heavier (mostly brass/tung conehead) size 2-6 streamers. Usually with a zonker strip. Anyone use RIO Bass Leaders (12lb)? I also just came to the realization that I have been doing it wrong? for years. I have always just used powerflex 2x-3x trout leaders (on a 5wt w/ floating line) However they don’t turn over any heavier size 6 streamers (conehead w/ rabbit zonker is prime example) or any weight size 2-4. I also use the SA sonar leaders w/ floating line, but on a 7wt. Went into ****’s to grab some 0x-1x leaders. All they had were the RIO bass leaders that I googled to see how a 12lb, whatever the diameter leader was, compared to a 0x-1x and the light bulb came on….AI also suggested RIO streamer leaders….
 
Would a furled leader turn over the big flies better ???
 
Generally shorter, stiffer leaders will turn over large flies easier than normal 9' leaders. I make my own using stiff flouro for the butt section. However, when I was purchasing them, I was using SA Absolute Streamer leader. ~ 4' length then tie on a micro swivel, and use about a foot and half of what strength tippet you want. Swivel will help with line twist that comes with throwing large streamers.
 
Piece of monofilament stripped off your spinning gear. If your leader is long enough, two pieces of mono stripped from two spinning reels, one thicker than the other.

You're not finesse fishing, you're not trying to negotiate drag, you're stripping a big streamer back.
 
Keep it simple for large and heavy streamers. 4'-6' total leader length is generally fine. If you just tie your own it is quite simple with 2 sections. For the butt section you can use any Maxima in 20 or 25 lb at approx. 3'-4' in length, tie in a swivel or tippet ring and then add your preferred Fluoro in 0x, 1x or 2x & tippet length of about 18". That is it. It will get the streamer down quickly in the zone and you can replace the tippet as needed at the swivel/ring.

This leader works best when used with a sink tip line especially in rivers.

Long leaders and streamers do not work so well unless the streamer is very small/light.
 
Last edited:
gfenlikestolosepasswords said:
Piece of monofilament stripped off your spinning gear. If your leader is long enough, two pieces of mono stripped from two spinning reels, one thicker than the other.

You're not finesse fishing, you're not trying to negotiate drag, you're stripping a big streamer back.
Click to expand...
Hence me just using powerflex leaders for years. They’ll get it where you want it to go. Just figured I could make it easier on my aging self. As far as finesse, I’m used to chucking 12” musky streamers which entails - however you can get it there. A bottle rocket is probably the only thing I haven’t tried
 
TerrellBFly said:
Generally shorter, stiffer leaders will turn over large flies easier than normal 9' leaders. I make my own using stiff flouro for the butt section. However, when I was purchasing them, I was using SA Absolute Streamer leader. ~ 4' length then tie on a micro swivel, and use about a foot and half of what strength tippet you want. Swivel will help with line twist that comes with throwing large
CLSports said:
Keep it simple for large and heavy streamers. 4'-6' total leader length is generally fine. If you just tie your own it is quite simple with 2 sections. For the butt section you can use any Maxima in 20 or 25 lb at approx. 3'-4' in length, tie in a swivel or tippet ring and then add your preferred Fluoro in 0x, 1x or 2x & tippet length of about 18". That is it. It will get the streamer down quickly in the zone and you can replace the tippet as needed at the swivel/ring.

This leader works best when used with a sink tip line especially in rivers.

Long leaders and streamers do not work so well unless the streamer is very small/light.
Click to expand...
triple surgeon’s adequate? I’m a lazy knot tyer 😂
Click to expand...
 
CLSports said:
Keep it simple for large and heavy streamers. 4'-6' total leader length is generally fine. If you just tie your own it is quite simple with 2 sections. For the butt section you can use any Maxima in 20 or 25 lb at approx. 3'-4' in length, tie in a swivel or tippet ring and then add your preferred Fluoro in 0x, 1x or 2x & tippet length of about 18". That is it. It will get the streamer down quickly in the zone and you can replace the tippet as needed at the swivel/ring.

This leader works best when used with a sink tip line especially in rivers.

Long leaders and streamers do not work so well unless the streamer is very small/light.
Click to expand...
You win for best suggestion. Seems economical as well
 
for leader to tippet or leader butt section to leader?

I used to just use knots, itll work, but if you throw big deer heads they will twist and make it a thing after a while - hence the swivel and allows for easy changeout of thrashed tippet.

Leader to leader, whatever knot you know, just make sure its seated well.
 
gfenlikestolosepasswords said:
Piece of monofilament stripped off your spinning gear. If your leader is long enough, two pieces of mono stripped from two spinning reels, one thicker than the other.

You're not finesse fishing, you're not trying to negotiate drag, you're stripping a big streamer back.
Click to expand...
Only have musky gear with 80lb mason
 
Dear Esoxbum,

See if you can find a mono furled leader 4' to 5' long, either with a tippet ring or a loop. Add 2 foot of 12# test as the tippet and you'll be fine.

You can also watch eBay for leaders on sale. I just bought a dozen brand new Scientific Anglers 7 1/2-foot 12# test leaders for $ 15.00 shipped. They last me a couple of seasons.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
TimMurphy said:
Dear Esoxbum,

See if you can find a mono furled leader 4' to 5' long, either with a tippet ring or a loop. Add 2 foot of 12# test as the tippet and you'll be fine.

You can also watch eBay for leaders on sale. I just bought a dozen brand new Scientific Anglers 7 1/2-foot 12# test leaders for $ 15.00 shipped. They last me a couple of seasons.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
Click to expand...
I buy so much stuff from ebay I regularly lose track of what I even bought….nearly all of my tying materials came from the bay
 
CLSports said:
Keep it simple for large and heavy streamers. 4'-6' total leader length is generally fine. If you just tie your own it is quite simple with 2 sections. For the butt section you can use any Maxima in 20 or 25 lb at approx. 3'-4' in length, tie in a swivel or tippet ring and then add your preferred Fluoro in 0x, 1x or 2x & tippet length of about 18". That is it. It will get the streamer down quickly in the zone and you can replace the tippet as needed at the swivel/ring.

This leader works best when used with a sink tip line especially in rivers.

Long leaders and streamers do not work so well unless the streamer is very small/light.
Click to expand...
Going to order material. Plan is to use say 3’ x-lb to smaller 3’ of x-lb maxima (insert tippet ring here if needed) to tippet. IYO, would it be better to use 15 to 10lb maxima or is the difference in diameter less ideal than say 15 to 12, or 12 to 10lb. I can experiment w/ the lengths….Assuming the smaller the difference the better, but the difference is so small either way it would not make much difference …
 
Esoxbum said:
Going to order material. Plan is to use say 3’ x-lb to smaller 3’ of x-lb maxima (insert tippet ring here if needed) to tippet. IYO, would it be better to use 15 to 10lb maxima or is the difference in diameter less ideal than say 15 to 12, or 12 to 10lb. I can experiment w/ the lengths….Assuming the smaller the difference the better, but the difference is so small either way it would not make much difference …
Click to expand...
Was leaning towards the 15 to 12
 
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