LINE & LEADER

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Choosing the right fly line for your fishing situations can be challenging; your line must work in concert with your rod, reel, and leader. When choosing line, there are several considerations: weight, taper, density, color, backing, and leaders.

Leaders come in several lengths and sizes, and the choice you make on the water depends on the fishing conditions and your fly sizes. We recommend you have several choices available at any given time.

The tippet is the part of the leader to which your fly attaches. Leaders and tippets are typically rated on an “œX” factor from 0X to 8X that indicates their size, where 0X is the thickest and 8X is the thinnest.

For questions about lines, leaders, or tippets, call (907) 586-1550 or email us for more information.

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  • Ideal for all your salmon, steelhead, and big trout fishing in Alaska. Save money when you buy the 3 ...
    Ideal for all your salmon, steelhead, and big trout fishing in Alaska. Save money when you buy the 3-Pack!
  • The legendary leader material among salmon and steelhead enthusiasts. Very abrasion resistant and ri ...
    The legendary leader material among salmon and steelhead enthusiasts. Very abrasion resistant and ridiculously strong.
  • Rio's Salmon Steelhead Tippet matches up perfectly with their Salmon Steelhead Leaders. It is medium ...
    Rio's Salmon Steelhead Tippet matches up perfectly with their Salmon Steelhead Leaders. It is medium stiff, glacial green in color and knots beautifully. 30 yards per spool.
  • Save money when you buy the 3-Pack! ...
    Save money when you buy the 3-Pack!
  • The Rio 6ft salmon steelhead knotless leader is perfect for fishing with a sink tip to get your fly ...
    The Rio 6ft salmon steelhead knotless leader is perfect for fishing with a sink tip to get your fly down where it needs to be quickly.
  • The perfect leader for floating line fishing for salmon and steelhead. These leaders are thicker and ...
    The perfect leader for floating line fishing for salmon and steelhead. These leaders are thicker and stiffer than a trout leader and will keep the fly and fish attached to your line!
  • Airflo's 10' Salmon/Steelhead Polyleaders are ideal for turning your floating fly line into a sink t ...
    Airflo's 10' Salmon/Steelhead Polyleaders are ideal for turning your floating fly line into a sink tip. The 10 foot length is best suited for larger rivers or when you need more sink than a 5 foot Polyleader can provide. They cast well on single hand rods and also can be used on switch or Spey set ups.
  • Airflo's five foot Polyleaders are a great way to add a "sink tip" to your floating fly line. Simply ...
    Airflo's five foot Polyleaders are a great way to add a "sink tip" to your floating fly line. Simply loop the Polyleader on your line, add 3-4 feet of tippet and you are ready to fish. They cast nicely and can be used on everything from light trout rods to heavy salmon set ups.
  • This tippet material matches up perfectly with Rio tapered trout leaders. 30yard spools. ...
    This tippet material matches up perfectly with Rio tapered trout leaders. 30yard spools.
  • FC Leader is our favorite fluorocarbon for fishing beads or streamer flies. It is strong, easy to kn ...
    FC Leader is our favorite fluorocarbon for fishing beads or streamer flies. It is strong, easy to knot, and most importantly extremely abrasion resistant. It also matches up really well with Rio Salmon Leaders if you want to add a fluorocarbon tippet.
  • Fluoroflex Strong is the ideal fluorocarbon tippet material for all your trout fishing needs. We lov ...
    Fluoroflex Strong is the ideal fluorocarbon tippet material for all your trout fishing needs. We love how it seamlessly matches up with Rio Trout Leaders. The smooth finish allows knots to seat smoothly and not pull through and it is exceptionally strong in all sizes. 30 yards per spool.
  • The Rio 9 ft knotless tapered trout leader is our favorite Alaskan trout leader. Rio's tapered trout ...
    The Rio 9 ft knotless tapered trout leader is our favorite Alaskan trout leader. Rio's tapered trout leaders are super strong, stealthy, and easy to cast. They turn over flies like no other leader and come with a loop knot for easy attachment to your fly line.
  • A shorter, more traditional trout leader. Easy to turn over for novice casters, for use off a sink t ...
    A shorter, more traditional trout leader. Easy to turn over for novice casters, for use off a sink tip and as a "starting point leader" for adding more tippet.
  • The Rio Pike leader is our choice for northern pike fishing in Alaska. This 7.5 ft leader tapers dow ...
    The Rio Pike leader is our choice for northern pike fishing in Alaska. This 7.5 ft leader tapers down to 30lb test and then an 18" section of 30lb coated wire is knotted on. A snap link makes changing flies a breeze.
  • RIO’S TWIST CLIPS are ultra-fast, easy connection clips that allow anglers to change flies with ex ...
    RIO’S TWIST CLIPS are ultra-fast, easy connection clips that allow anglers to change flies with extreme ease and speed, and prevents leaders and tippet sections getting too short. Simply tie the appropriate sized clip on to the end of your leader and either twist or clip on your fly. The Size 2 Twist Clips are trout fly focused and are ideal for flies in #4 - #8. The Size 3 Twist Clips are more salmon/steelhead sized and work with flies in the #1/0 - #4.
  • The 10' Custom T-Tips from Airflo are perfect for situations where a short fast tip will get you int ...
    The 10' Custom T-Tips from Airflo are perfect for situations where a short fast tip will get you into the zone. 10 feet is the perfect length when matched with a Skagit Head for Short Spey and Switch rods.
  • Need to get down in a hurry? Rio's 30 foot, tungsten core T-series sinking lines are just for you. T ...
    Need to get down in a hurry? Rio's 30 foot, tungsten core T-series sinking lines are just for you. They are ideal for building a variety of custom head lengths. The 30 foot length is ideal for building one each of 12.5', a 10' and a 7.5' head.
  • The Premier Rio Grand with Slick Cast Coating is the perfect Alaskan line. The fly line is graded a ...
    The Premier Rio Grand with Slick Cast Coating is the perfect Alaskan line. The fly line is graded a full line size heavier than industry standard, so the Grand works best on fast-action rods with big flies. Even with its over sized taper, it is an extremely smooth casting line. Add Rio's Slick Cast to the mix and our most popular fly line just got better.
  • In Alaska you actually need this stuff! Use 20 lb backing for for 8 weight lines and smaller. A t ...
    In Alaska you actually need this stuff! Use 20 lb backing for for 8 weight lines and smaller. A typical 5 or 6 weight reel will need about 100 yards of backing. A 7 or 8 weight reel will hold around 200 yards of backing.
  • Rio's MOW Tips are the ideal way to add a sink tip to your switch or spey rod. Medium MOW Tips are 1 ...
    Rio's MOW Tips are the ideal way to add a sink tip to your switch or spey rod. Medium MOW Tips are 10 feet in length, built on a low stretch base, feature T-11 (8 ips sink rate) in the sinking portion and come in a variety of sinking combinations. They are looped on both ends and laser labeled for easy identification. In general Medium Tips work well on Skagit lines between 475 and 575 Grains.
  • This is our favorite sink tip line for Alaska. The short, heavy head loads quickly and at short ran ...
    This is our favorite sink tip line for Alaska. The short, heavy head loads quickly and at short range, is easy to mend, and gets down in the strike zone quickly. The density compensated tip makes strike detection easier.
  • Fly fishing in Alaska means casting big flies and the Elite Predator Line is designed specifically t ...
    Fly fishing in Alaska means casting big flies and the Elite Predator Line is designed specifically to deliver big offerings. It has an oversized body with a powerful front taper to turn over lead eyed leeches, Dolly Llamas or any other mega fly you might be casting. The Predator roll casts quite nicely as well.
  • The Versi-Leaders are great sinking leaders that come in either 6' or 10' lengths. The welded loop o ...
    The Versi-Leaders are great sinking leaders that come in either 6' or 10' lengths. The welded loop on the end makes it easy to attach to your line and the mono on the other end makes adding a short leader a breeze.
  • The Sharktooth is an ingenious tippet band that keeps your tippet from unwinding  and also doub ...
    The Sharktooth is an ingenious tippet band that keeps your tippet from unwinding  and also doubles as a cutter. Just pull out the tippet you need and pull it across the hidden blade to make your cut. No more fumbling for lost nippers or dealing with a rat's nest of material. 3 per pack. 

    Having tippet problems? Is the Maxima rubber band not getting it done for you. Keep your tippet under wraps with the Sharktooth Tippet Cutters.

    Fits most spools from Rio up to Maxima size. Three per pack.
  • Rio's MOW Tips are the ideal way to add a sink tip to your switch or spey rod. Light MOW Tips are 10 ...
    Rio's MOW Tips are the ideal way to add a sink tip to your switch or spey rod. Light MOW Tips are 10 feet in length, built on a low stretch base, feature T-8 (7 ips sink rate) in the sinking portion and come in a variety of sinking combinations. They are looped on both ends and laser labeled for easy identification. In general Light Tips work well on Skagit lines of 475 Grains and less. Pick individual tips for your needs or get the whole kit with 6 different tips so you are covered in every situation.  
  • Rio's Saltwater 10 foot leaders are perfect for all your tropical saltwater fishing and they come in ...
    Rio's Saltwater 10 foot leaders are perfect for all your tropical saltwater fishing and they come in the heavier weights you want. They are made of medium-stiff materials so they turn flies over in the wind and are very easy to tie knots with. Each leader comes with a hand-tied loop in it for quick leader changes. Matches up perfectly with Rio Fluorflex Saltwater Tippet.
  • We really like Rio's braided loops for creating lead heads such as T11 or T14. Attach to your fly li ...
    We really like Rio's braided loops for creating lead heads such as T11 or T14. Attach to your fly line with either super glue or a nail knot. 2 sizes to choose from with 4 per pack.
  • The SA Titan Long is purpose-built for throwing big flies to big fish.  Can you say Mega Dolly Llam ...
    The SA Titan Long is purpose-built for throwing big flies to big fish.  Can you say Mega Dolly Llama?  If you want to throw big mouse flies or streamers in Alaska, this line is hard to beat.
  • The InTouch VersiTip II should be called the Alaskan Special. With four 15' tips of varying sink rat ...
    The InTouch VersiTip II should be called the Alaskan Special. With four 15' tips of varying sink rate, you are ready for any fishing situation. This line is easy to cast and very versatile. Plus, each tip has loops on both ends for easy rigging.
  • The Rio Gold is one of our favorite lines for trout fishing or salmon fishing with moderately weight ...
    The Rio Gold is one of our favorite lines for trout fishing or salmon fishing with moderately weighted flies. Now featuring Rio's Slick Cast Coating, the Gold is even better. It is an extremely smooth casting line that brings out the best in medium fast rods. From short dry fly presentations to long casts and mends, the Rio Premier Gold is as smooth as it gets.
  • The best nail knot tyer you have ever seen! Quickly attach leaders or backing to fly line, snell hoo ...
    The best nail knot tyer you have ever seen! Quickly attach leaders or backing to fly line, snell hooks and more. Clear instructions are included. Tie the nail knot, needle nail knot, snells and egg loops, nail knot splices, and more.
  • Sale!

    Rio Skagit Max Short – 50% Off

    Original price was: $59.99.Current price is: $29.99.
    We have just a few of Rio's Skagit Max Short heads left.  It is an excellent head for switch rods a ...
    We have just a few of Rio's Skagit Max Short heads left.  It is an excellent head for switch rods as well as your single hand rod. The taper really loads your rod to allow easy casts and the ability to pick up big flies and deliver them. At the same time, the subtle taper generates smooth loops that really fly!
  • This fly line is ideal for nymph style fishing under an indicator, throwing roll casts, and mending ...
    This fly line is ideal for nymph style fishing under an indicator, throwing roll casts, and mending large flies in fast moving water. Whether you are trout, salmon or steelhead fishing, this line will do the trick.
  • Fly line dressing from the folks who know fly lines. Comes with a Wonder Cloth micro abrasive cleani ...
    Fly line dressing from the folks who know fly lines. Comes with a Wonder Cloth micro abrasive cleaning pad that is great for removing salt build up, dirt, algae, and other nasty stuff.
  • Rio's Fluorflex Flurocarbon tippet is the 'Go To' tippet for bonefish, redfish and up to big game sp ...
    Rio's Fluorflex Flurocarbon tippet is the 'Go To' tippet for bonefish, redfish and up to big game species like trevally. It is a medium-stiff 100% fluorocarbon material that is easy to knot and has great abrasion resistance. Ideal for matching up with Rio Bonefish or Rio Saltwater Leaders. 30 yard spools.
  • Looking for a floating line that casts like a Skagit? Take a look at the Airflo Rage. Its scandi/ska ...
    Looking for a floating line that casts like a Skagit? Take a look at the Airflo Rage. Its scandi/skagit hybrid design allows for long casts without needing a heavy sink tip. It casts like a missile into the wind, too! Recommended with Spey or long Switch Rods.

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