leader tying confusion

I need some help on understanding how to tie my own leaders. i have a 6/7 wt reel if that matters, i'll be fishing mostly steel with it for now so lets just figure that leader out first. i've read several of the threads on this board and googled it to death. i just can't understand whats going on. stiff butts, .20 diameter?????

all i'm looking for is the simple explanation:
for example:

3ft of 12lb
2ft of 8lb
2ft of 6lb
then tie the tippet

maybe its just me and i'm not getting it or maybe some of these sites are just a little to scientific about it.

any help will be appreciated guys, thanks

talk slow, so not to confuse me.

in my opinion, you throw out all the scientifics of leader diameter, etc.  i stick to one simple formula, one that is in nagy's steelhead guide.   since you say you will primarily use it for steel, here it is.  all you need for this leader is sunset amnesia in 25, and maxima chameleon in 20, 15, and 8.

nail knot a 12-15 inch section of the amnesia to the fly line, then tie a perfection loop in the other end.  use a loop to loop connection and connect a 15 inch piece of 20 lb, then double surgeon knot a 10 inch piece of 15 lb to that.  finally, double surgeon knot a piece of 10 inch of 8 lb to that.  not that hard, then you tie on your tippet.  i personally like to use another perfection loop to tie my tippet on.  i usually have about 3 ft of tippet.

when steelhead fishing, i like to have as short as a leader as possible.  i stick between 7.5 and 8.5 feet usually.  but that's me.
my rod is 9.6 also.

anad, good stuff man, 2 good ideas in 2 days from you

I do have a question for you though; why 2x then 1x and not vise-versa?

The primary reason I prefer longer leaders for nymphing is so that I have more fine diameter line present in my leader. I do this to limit the contribution of the heavier diameter lines to prevent its negative impacts as you stated. The more I think about it, there really isn't much of a reason to include 20 or 25# line to the butt section on your leader, especially for indicator nymphing. I guess its time to get out of the limestoner mentality and start fishing shorter leaders for steel per your suggested formula.

Thanks anad for the clarification, although I may need a few cold ones to absorb all of that.

20 lb Amnesia, 20-15-10 lb Maxima Chameleon triple uni knotted, 6 inches Maxima Ultragreen "Adapter", Handshake Connection, Tippet.

anadromous.
Interesting idea with the butt section being smaller then the next link. I was wondering what your tactic is when fishing this set up. If you are fishing with an indicator.It wouldnt seem to matter. The only concern there would be the sink rate from indictor to fly. Also if you are fishing right of your leader aka hi sticking it wouldnt seem to matter. Very interested in how you fish this leader. Thanks in advance.

 I've been tying my own leaders for quite some time and prefer shorter Maxima 3 & 4 pc leaders for steel.
Lately I've gone back to short 5ft Rio knotless tapered leaders and add a tippet to it if I'm nymphing.
 
Dennis, I'm going to give your formula a try.
Do you think it would turn over well enough, throwing a weighted #8 nymph out 30 ft through a 6ft deep run?  

I go straight 6 lb off the fly line for about 8ft then tie on whatever "tippet" i deem necessary.  Usually either around 4lb maxima in winter months or now either 5x or 6x orvis mirage.  No problems getting hits or holding fish....unless i have to use the 6x.
 
MO

Wow, this has blown my mind. I am 31 yrs old, have fished ever since i can remember and about 5 or 6 years ago decided to try fly fishing, so i went out and bought a good rod and reel. I asked around about leaders no one ever said anything about different sizes let alone 3 sections.  Ive always bought the tapered 9' leaders and never had any problem catching fish, even in clear conditions, on my own flies.  I just always tied some tippet to the end of the leader and let her fly.     Man, have i got alot to learn

 what anadromous was saying is that he uses a lighter tippet (higher #) for the butt sections so it pulls down in the water column fast with less drag (thinner line ) and no not all companys have the same lb test rating for their tippets of the same size, you have to be carefull knotting tippets and line with the diameters so the knots hold and tells u what knot to use , correct me if i am wrong here anadromous

Thanks for the info. Still trying to learn since this is my first year of fly fishing.  Picking things up every day.  This forum is very beneficial.

pike,

For steelhead fishing in which you dont have to actually cast, that will work, but have you ever tried turning over a non-tapered leader?

A just-as-simple alternative:

Buy a few knotless tapered leaders, fluoro if you prefer, in an appropriate strength. Tie a perfeciton loop in the end, and then attach tipped by tying a perfection loop in the tippet, and using a loop-to-loop. When the tippet gets short, replace it.

Just as simple, and if you actually have to cast, it'll turn over for you.

Love "Seaguar"