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ACA Tournament Leader Formulas


Please also see the rules for each event to understand the limititation for lengths and diameters of leaders.

A table for converting typical line diameters to their lb-test rating, see the end of this page.

Trout Fly leader by Steve Rajeff
45 inches
0.024″
18 inches
0.021″
12 inches
0.018″
9 inches
0.014″
6 inches
0.011″
20-22 inches
0.008″
Total length: 9'2″- 9'4", Material: Maxima
Trout Fly leader by John Napoli
48 inches
0.027″
24 inches
0.019″
13 inches
0.017″
7 inches
0.015″
2 3/4 inches
0.013″
18 inches
0.008″
Total length: 9'4 3/4", For 6 weight line
Dry Fly leader by Steve Rajeff
24 inches
0.024″
18 inches
0.021″
15 inches
0.018″
12 inches
0.014″
6 inches
0.011″
15-18 inches
0.009″
Total length: 7'6"- 7'9", Material: Maxima
Dry Fly leader by John Napoli
35 inches
0.022″
17 inches
0.018″
7.5 inches
0.016″
3.5 inches
0.015″
3 inches
0.014″
20 inches
0.009″
Total length: 7'2", For 7 weight line
Bass Bug leader by Steve Rajeff Leader6.jpg
30 inches
0.028″
18 inches
0.024″
9 inches
0.021″
6 inches
0.018″
15-18 inches
0.014″
Total length: 6'6"- 6'9", Material: Maxima
Bass Bug leader by John Napoli
43 inches
0.030″
13 inches
0.028″
9 inches
0.022″
7 inches
0.019″
3 inches
0.017″
12 inches
0.014″
Total length: 7'4", For 8 or 9 weight lines
Angler's Fly Distance leader by Steve Rajeff
48 inches
0.022″
24 inches
0.018″
12 inches
0.016″
24-60 inches
0.014″
Total length: 9'- 12' (*), Material: Maxima
Angler's Fly Distance leader by Chris Korich
48 inches
0.022″
24(36) inches
0.018″
12(24) inches
0.016″
24-30(30-36) inches
0.014″
Total length: 9'- 9'6″(11'6″ - 12') (*), Material: Maxima, tippet is Golden Stren
Single-Hand Fly Distance leader by Steve Rajeff
36-48 inches
0.022″
24-36 inches
0.018″
12-24 inches
0.016″
24-36 inches
0.014″
Total length: 8'- 12' (*), Material: Maxima
Single-Hand Fly Distance leader by Chris Korich
36(48) inches
0.025″
18(24) inches
0.022″
6(12) inches
0.018″
24 inches
0.017″
Total length: 7'(9') (*), Material: Maxima, Tippet is Golden Stren
Two-Handed Fly Distance (17′) leader by Steve Rajeff
60 inches
0.028″
36-48 inches
0.024″
36 inches
0.022″
36-60 inches
0.018″
Total length: 14'- 17' (*), Material: Maxima
Two-Handed Fly Distance (17′) leader by Chris Korich

60 inches
0.033″
36(48) inches
0.028″
24(36) inches
0.025″
12(24) inches
0.022″
24(36) inches
0.018″
Total length: 13'(17') (*), Material: Maxima, tippet is Golden Stren
Skish Fly leader by Steve Rajeff
30 inches
0.025″
18 inches
0.022″
12 inches
0.018″
15-18 inches
0.016″
Total length: 6'3"- 6'6", for 8 to 10 weight lines
ICSF Salmon Distance (15') leader by Henry Mittel
42 inches
0.024″
31 inches
0.022″
26 inches
0.018″
28 inches
0.017″
Total length: 10'7" (*), Material: Maxima, tippet is 17# Golden Stren
ICSF Seatrout Distance leader by Henry Mittel
32 inches
0.024″
31 inches
0.022″
20 inches
0.018″
27 inches
0.017″
Total length: 9'2" (*), Material: Maxima, tippet is 17# Golden Stren
ICSF Trout Accuracy leader by Henry Mittel
47 inches
0.022″
21 inches
0.020″
10 inches
0.015″
7 inches
0.0115″
6 inches
0.0095″
20 inches
0.010″
For large (20mm) fly. Total length: 9'3", Material Maxima, tippet is 8# Golden Stren
* Distance leaders should be adjusted for the conditions of the day. Generally, favorable conditions like back wind and low humidity allow long leaders. Use shorter leaders for no or unpredictable wind and high humidity.
Maxima line diameters and labeled lb-test (revised 1/06)
.028″ .024″ .022″ .020″ .018″ .015″ .0145″ .0135″ .0115″ .0095″ .008″
50 lb 40 lb 30 lb 25 lb 20 lb 15 lb 12 lb 10 lb 8 lb 6 lb 5 lb