RIO Toothy Critter 7.5' Leader

Description

The leader you need when chasing anything toothy. A medium stiff nylon leader tapering to 16lb; attached to which is either a shock tippet of nylon-coated stainless steel wire (with a small stainless steel snap to change flies easily), or thin brown Vectran wire you can easily tie a knot in. Ideal for: Pike Bluefish Barracuda

Features

•    Wire Bite Tippet — Nylon-coated wire prevents bite-offs from pike, barracuda, bluefish, musky, wahoo, and similar toothy species. Two wire types: snap (Silver) for fast fly changes, knotable braided (Bronze) for better fly action.
•    Two Class Leader Options — 15 and 20 lb wire attach to a 20 lb class tapered leader; 30 and 45 lb wire attach to a 30 lb class leader. Class leader strength scales with wire strength for a balanced system.
•    Ultra-Stiff Nylon Leader Body — Stiff construction transfers casting energy efficiently, turning over large, air-resistant toothy critter flies at the 7.5-foot length.
•    0.027" Butt Diameter — Heavy butt for strong energy transfer from fly line through the leader.
•    7.5-Foot Total Length — Shorter than standard saltwater or trout leaders; optimized for wire-tipped setups that require shorter overall length for clean turnover of large flies.
•    Hand-Tied Perfection Loop in Butt — Fast loop-to-loop connection to the fly line.

FAQ

Why is this leader only 7.5 feet instead of 9 or 10 feet?
The 7.5-foot length is a deliberate choice for toothy critter applications. Wire bite tippet adds stiffness and weight to the front end of the leader, and a shorter overall leader length maintains better energy transfer and turnover for the large, air-resistant flies typically used for pike, barracuda, and musky. At 7.5 feet, the leader casts cleanly with most 7–9 weight outfits without the energy delivery problems a longer wire-tipped leader can produce.

What knot should I use with the knotable bronze wire?
A Non-Slip Mono Loop (Lefty’s Loop) tied directly in the braided wire is the standard connection for the knotable option. It creates a free loop at the hook eye that allows fly movement without the weight or profile of a snap. 

Is this leader suitable for sharks?
The Toothy Critter is designed and marketed for bluefish, barracuda, pike, and similar species. For sharks, which have abrasive skin in addition to sharp teeth and make sustained heavy runs, the 30 or 45 lb wire with the 30 lb class leader provides a reasonable starting point for smaller inshore sharks. For larger sharks or any serious shark fly fishing, a purpose-built shark leader with heavier class tippet and longer wire section is more appropriate.