I have had more than a few requests off list for the Harvey trout leader design, so I thought I would post it for everyone. I apologize for not getting this out last week as promised, but work got in the way. I also apologize in advance for posting it here if your not interested, although I thought it might be a nice tribute to George Harvey too!

Back in 1986 there was a Flyfisherman magazine supplement that had George’s original formula with hard/soft nylon. This is the first place I saw it and have been tying this style ever since, along with George’s later design using all soft nylon that he gave me at the Fly Fishing show in Denver in 2001 (he was 90 that year!). I think this was also printed in one of the fishing mags at the time.

The thought process behind George’s design is a leader that turns flies over accurately but then collapses into a series of soft “S” curves right up to the fly for a great drag free float.

George’s book “Memories, Patterns and Tactics” (DLS Enterprises 1998) is a must have book in my opinion. 

The first basic leader design (1986) is in 4X and 5X.  The first four sections - .017 to .011 - are tied with a hard leader material like Mason hard mono or the Maxima Ultragreen (my preference). The next three sections (4X tippet) are soft nylon like Orvis Super Strong, Rio or whatever flavor you like. One thing to note is that hard nylon in some sizes like .011 may be hard to find. For instance going from .013 to .012 to .010 to get to .008 is OK, just don’t jump more than two sizes at a time, otherwise the leader won’t turn over properly, and blood knots are also harder to tie if you jump three diameters.

Basic 9 ½’ - 4x (.007) leader

10” - .017 hard nylon
20” - .015 hard nylon
20” - .013 hard nylon
20” - .011 hard nylon
12” - .009 (2X) soft nylon
18” - .008 (3X) soft nylon
22” to 28” - .007 soft nylon tippet

To make the above a 10 ½’ – 5X leader cut off half of the .009 (2X) hard nylon and add 12” to 15” of .008 (3X), 18” .007 (4X), and 22” to 30” of .006 (%X) tippet.

In 2001 George gave me the leader design using all soft nylon, which he felt was better for slack leader casts. You may have to experiment a little with this one to suit your casting style to keep the leader from piling up:

10 ½’ – 4X (.007) leader

18” to 19” - .015
18” to 19” - .013
18” to 19” - .011
18” to 19” - .009
15” – 3X
36” – 4X

To go to 5X add 15” of 4X to the 3X then 36” of 5X tippet.

Since I fish a lot of heavily beaten tail waters for spooky trout using midge patterns, I have been tying my own variation of the above for these conditions and flies #18 to #26. I use Maxima Ultragreen for the first five sections to .011, then soft nylon like Rio for 3X and 4X, then fluorocarbon for 5X and 6X. Be careful tying fluorocarbon to nylon. Use a blood knot or it will slip:

14’ – 6X leader

12” - .017
20” - .015
20” - .013
20” - .012
20” - .011
12” - .008 (3X)
12” - .007 (4X)
18” - .006 (5X)
30” - .005 (6X)

I use 10” of 20lb. Amnesia between my leader and fly line on all my lines.  (Tom Vagell)

I used those formulas for years until was with a group of guys who went out with Gary Borger & he showed me his leader designs.  I have been using them ever since.  I have made modifications to them when I need to.  Both leader designs work great, Harvey's & Borger's.  Borger's just take less sizes of materials.  (Bret Reiter)

If I recall, the formula is 60% butt, 20% mid, 20% tip. Ideally one tapers down from the heaviest leader material you can get. I always start with .023.  It ought to be in some significant proportion to your line tip.  Thus you get a smooth transition from line to leader.

Ideally, one ties leader sections stepping down only .002 per section.  Then your knots won't slip.

I haven't bought any new leader material other than tippet material in years, but in the old days Orvis sold really stiff high diameter leaders material made in France.  I  still use their old stuff for butts (and to tie flushometers in toilet tanks to the handle when the chain breaks).   (David Zincavage)

That’s why I use Amnesia from the line tip to the leader, to get that transition. Actually two reasons. I like the stuff in the luminescent style green color, or red. I use it to take the place of a strike indicator, which I hate using. Most of the trout in the western tailwaters are very indicator shy anyway.  (Tom Vagell)

Please read and enjoy this.  (Gary Nicholson)

Just as an FYI. All of these leader designs are contained in LeaderCalc.  (Will McMurrey)