** NOTE ** Links to each leader for sale, along with full descriptions, are listed below.
And here are direct links to each category in the Troutbitten Shop . . .
BUY: Troutbitten | Category | Leaders
BUY: Troutbitten | Category | Hats
BUY: Troutbitten | Category | Stickers

(Everything goes live at 8:00 am, 5/23/2024.)

The Troutbitten Shop Spring Sale ’25 is here, with all leaders, hats and stickers back in the Troutbitten Shop this Friday, 5/23.

Last summer, we added The Harvey Gold and my favorite Small Stream Leader to the lineup. And now, we’re adding another. The HV Thin Crossover solves a few problems and offers unique presentations within a tight line system. It’s perfect for the Crossover Technique with streamers and nymphs. And it’s great all-around leader when you need extra distance with less leader sag, while still preserving power, accuracy and casting feel.

Here are articles for each:

READ: Troutbitten | The HV Thin Crossover Leader
READ: Troutbitten | True All-Purpose Leader — The Harvey Gold
READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader — Formula, Reasons and Stories

All Troutbitten leaders are back in stock: Harvey Dry Fly Leaders, all three Troutbitten Mono Rigs, Hi-Vis Mono Rigs, the Full Mono Rig Kit, Harvey Gold, Small Stream and Standard Sighters.

There are some unique things about Troutbitten leaders. I sell these exactly how I fish them — rolled onto a plastic spool for quick changes, with a Backing Barrel on every sighter and a hair tie on the spool. Standard Mono Rigs come with a 1X sighter extension to attach when you need it, along with three foam wheels, making tippet-section changes a breeze. More on all that, along with descriptions and links to each leader appears below.

Thanks to everyone who reached out over the past few months to ask about leaders. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for your support.

These are ready.

The Leader Spools

All Troutbitten Leaders come on a three-inch rigid plastic spool. This makes leader changes far more efficient than wrapping leaders around your hand, storing them flat and unrolling them again. Anglers avoid things that aren’t easy, so we don’t change leaders if it takes too long — especially for long Mono Rigs. This spool system makes everything easy.

Foam spools are provided with the Standard Mono Rig and the full kit, because sighter and tippet changes are part of being versatile on the water. While the narrow foam spools are not a good choice for storing full leaders, they are perfect for wrapping up tippet sections with the flies pre-rigged. Three of these foams are included with the Standard Mono Rig.

Harvey

Many anglers have never fished the Harvey design for a dry fly leader. And I’ve gotten great feedback about long, effortless drag free drifts full of s-curves. That’s what the leader is built for. Harvey leaders are truly a game changer.

Sighters and Barrels

The sighter included on the Standard Mono Rig is stiffer than most, built from Amnesia and Gold Stren. A piece of RIO Bi-Color is also included for extending the sighter if desired. But many anglers are now enjoying the benefits of a sighter built for power and turnover. (Individual sighters are also for sale.)

I’ve heard a lot of great feedback about the Backing Barrel. This once-inch tag of 20 lb Dacron backing is included on every Troutbitten sighter and Mono Rig. Anglers love the unmatched visibility and the third dimension of sensitivity.

It All Matters

In many ways and for many fly fishing systems, the leader is the most critical component to success. And since 2014, I’ve spilled a lot of words on Troutbitten over the intricacies of nylon and fluorocarbon tied together.

I’m a leader junkie. And I’m not the only one. Most fly anglers quickly learn that the leader — and how it’s modified — dictates all of our terms to the fly. It’s our connection. And a good leader, built with purpose and fished with a thorough understanding of its design is the foundation for fly fishing success.

READ: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing Leader Design

— — — — — —

The following leaders are available for purchase:

—  Troutbitten HV Thin Crossover Leader

— Troutbitten Harvey Dry Leader

— Troutbitten Harvey Gold All-Purpose

— Troutbitten Small Stream

— Troutbitten Standard Mono Rig

— Troutbitten Thin Mono Rig

— Troutbitten Micro-Thin Mono Rig

— All three Mono Rigs can be purchased together in the Full Mono Rig Kit

— Troutbitten Hi-Viz Standard Mono Rig

— Troutbitten Standard Sighters are also available

Each leader comes wrapped on a three-inch plastic spool, which is the perfect method for storing long leaders. It makes the process of changing rigs much more efficient, so you can easily swap out leaders in a minute or two.

All Troutbitten Mono Rigs include a sighter with a Backing Barrel built in, adding amazing visibility and another dimension of sensitivity to each sighter. High quality, black 1.5 mm tippet rings are included on each Mono Rig.

Because the Standard Mono Rig is designed as a versatile tool for a hybrid system, it includes the following:

— Two feet of 1X Hi-VIs for extending the Standard Sighter.
— Three rigging foams for storing and swapping out tippet sections. (For example, you may store two nymphs, a pair of streamers, dry dropper, etc., tied up and ready to attach to the sighter.)

Here’s a lot more information about how these leaders are built and how to fish them . . .

VIDEO: Troutbitten | Mono Rig Mods — All the Adjustments for a Versatile, Hybrid System
READ: Troutbitten | The George Harvey Leader Design
READ: Troutbitten | Design and Function of the Troutbitten Standard Mono Rig
READ: Troutbitten | The Full Mono Rig System — All the variations, with formulas and adjustments
READ: Troutbitten | Thin and Micro-Thin Mono Rigs

The stickers

Here’s the New Trail Stuff

New Trail X Troutbitten Shirt — Front and Back

Fish ‘Em

So, to all the new and long-time Troutbitten readers and supporters out there, thank you. I hope these leaders help you put a bunch of trout in your net.

Fish hard, friends.

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Enjoy the day
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com