Book excerpt: Design, materials, knots, casting Includes LeaderCalc CD with tables for every variation of leader Fly fishermen often pay too little attention to the eight or nine feet of monafilament that connects their hundred dollars of gear to their fly. But this least expensive component-the leader-is the one most directly connected to fishing success. To fool a trout, a leader must drop a fly lightly on the water and then let it drift naturally, without drag. This groundbreaking work reveals the principles behind leaders that catch fish and provides everything you need to start tying your own, including the ideal proportions of butt, taper, and tippet, the best materials and knots for various applications, and how leaders can be modified and adapted. It also covers techniques of casting to minimize drag and enhance presentation.