Hi Pete. Thanks for your questions. You can certainly rig it however you like, after the tippet. Here’s an article that answers your question about why I choose two diameters, most often.

https://troutbitten.com/2019/11/13/nymphing-a-two-diameter-solution-to-a-one-diameter-problem/

Make sense?
Dom

Why does standard tippet formula utilize two diameters, 4X then 5X below upper fly? I’m thinking of using only one diameter (5X) for all tippet sections as my default; what are the pros and cons?

When I discovered Troutbitten, I was blown away how you have used your creativity to create such an amazing resource.

Thanks, Dom for all you are doing!! My daughter is a junior at Penn State. So, I fish in Central Pa all the time. Hopefully we will cross paths some day!

Thanks,
Jeff Smecker

Next, I can’t find either Maxima Chameleon 10# or 20#, just 25#, 15# and 8#. What would you recommend as far as those options?

Hi Steven,

Thank you for the kind words.

So if you haven’t yet, be sure to find this article, and then follow the links within:

https://troutbitten.com/2021/03/14/design-and-function-of-the-troutbitten-standard-mono-rig/

There’s about a book’s worth of material, just by following those links. It’s a big rabbit hole.

I bring up that link, because it explains WHY I build the leader this way. Sure, there are a lot of good (and bad) ways to build a tight line rig. But I’ve been fishing this long enough that there’s a reason behind everything. You will see that the Rio section is really an addition that I don’t use all the time. So I actually clip at the tippet ring on the end of the Stren and roll that up on a rigging foam. Then I often add a different tippet section from there. You certainly COULD add that third ring. But for me, changes don’t happen there.

Basically, I’d say add a tippet ring wherever you plan to make your changes. And that may be different than my own system.

Make sense?

Dom

Question: on your standard ole reliable mono rig, you’ve got your 20# and your 10# and then a tippet ring, the amnesia and stren, and another tippet ring. i would typically love to put a ring after the sighter, in your rig i guess that would be the RIo 2 tone 1x. but that’s 3 rings. i like the ring after the sighter for if I’m changing the final tippet ,4x,5x,6x for depth or thickness or flies or if it gets fouled up, nice to have a tippet ring after the sighter before the tippet mono.

are 3 rings too much? feels a bit much? other ideas suggestions?

I’m eighty and dexterity presents a bit of problem for me and simplicity plays a good deal of importance. With that in mind, could you speculate on how a Rio euro nymph leader attached to the maxima 20 pound butt section would turn over. It would provide for transition and sight sections and alleviate some knot tying for me.

Thx in advance. Gearing up for our semiannual trip to Virginia’s Jackson River where I plan to put much of your teachings to work…..if my wading staff will keep me vertical.

Thank you

Hi Steve,

Oh my, I think you read that wrong. That’s 36 inches to the first fly and another 20 to the point fly. Tag goes at the junction. Make sense?

I like the tags about 5 inches, on average. And you’re right — a 36 inch tag would just be impossible!!

More on tags and trailers here:

https://troutbitten.com/2016/03/18/tags-and-trailers/

Hope that helps.

Cheers.
Dom