What is the difference between tapered and level leaders?

Tapered leaders cast smoothly and help turn over flies, while level leaders are a single thickness and less common in traditional fly fishing.

Scientific Anglers - Absolute Permit Leader 10' (3pc per pack).

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Scientific Anglers Absolute Permit Leader 10' - 3pk

Q: What types of fly fishing leaders do you sell?

Drift Outfitters offers tapered nylon and fluorocarbon leaders in a range of lengths and strengths for trout, bass, steelhead, salmon, and saltwater.

Q: How do I choose the right leader length?

Long leaders (9–12 ft) are ideal for clear water and wary fish, while shorter leaders (6–8 ft) are better for larger flies, bass, or salmon.

Q: Which leader brands do you carry?

We stock leaders from RIO, Scientific Anglers, known for knot strength, consistency, and performance.

Q: How should I care for my leaders?

Store leaders neatly coiled in their packaging or a wallet, and replace any that are frayed, kinked, or shortened from use.

$19.34

$19.34 ~~$19.34~~

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Size: 12lb

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Refund available within 30 days, exchange until 90 days.

Product Description

The Scientific Anglers Absolute Permit Leader is engineered for delivering heavy permit flies with precision and reliability.

Made from proprietary copolymer blends, these leaders drastically reduce water absorption while maintaining optimal suppleness for high wet knot strength — up to 40% stronger than competitor leaders.

This medium-stiff nylon leader resists abrasion, making it perfect for saltwater environments. Designed with a specialty taper for streamers, each 10-foot leader ensures accurate, controlled presentations. Now packaged in 100% recyclable, biodegradable paper, these leaders are as environmentally conscious as they are high performing.

Features:

Specialty taper for heavy permit flies
Medium-stiff nylon for abrasion resistance
10′ length, 12–20 lb test
Superior wet knot strength
Biodegradable, recyclable packaging
Designed for saltwater streamers targeting permit

Fly Fishing Leaders FAQ

Q: What types of fly fishing leaders do you sell?
A: Drift Outfitters carries tapered leaders in a wide range of lengths and strengths to match trout, bass, steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fishing. Our selection includes nylon leaders for dry fly presentations and fluorocarbon leaders for subsurface techniques where invisibility is key.

Q: How do I choose the right leader length?
A: Leader length depends on conditions and target species. Longer leaders (9–12 ft) are ideal for clear water and spooky trout, while shorter leaders (6–8 ft) are better for heavy flies, windy days, or larger species like bass and salmon. Matching leader length to your fishing environment ensures better presentations.

Q: Why are leaders tapered?
A: Tapered leaders gradually reduce in diameter toward the tip, helping turn over flies smoothly for more accurate and delicate casts.

Q: Which leader brands do you carry?
A: We stock top brands RIO, Scientific Anglers and more, all known for their reliability, consistency, and knot strength. These leaders are trusted by anglers worldwide for both freshwater and saltwater fly fishing.

Q: How should I care for my leaders?
A: Store leaders coiled neatly in their original packaging or in a leader wallet to avoid kinks. Replace leaders that are badly twisted, frayed, or shortened after repeated use, and always inspect knots before fishing to ensure strength. Nylon leaders and tippet will dry out and become brittle over time, it’s recommended you replace these each season.

When Canada Post lost my package, the guys at Drift Outfitters honored the sale and sent me a new order the next day. It's nice to deal with a company that has great customer service.

Roberto Cornice

Drift is my go to spot for all my fly fishing needs. Super friendly and helpful staff that always steer you in the right direction. Super fast shipping and great prices too.

Nick Lucas

Best fly shop around! Great group of people and they have the best selection of gear! All the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and they do tons of awesome stuff for the community. This shop is a great resource for all anglers in southern Ontario. 10/10 will shop again

Liam McGee

Always get good service from the guys at the shop especially Chris…he is a pro….inventory is the best I have seen I. Any speciality fly shop which is rare in a single fly shop…support Canadian business /highly recommend

Abbas Fadhil Adam

Dope fly shop, crazy selection of flies including big topwater bass flies of all sorts, and big pike flies which are pretty hard to find in person. Chill staff, loads of inventory. I make a point to stop here every time I'm in Toronto!

Ryan Dawsone

This is the best fly fishing store I have frequented in my 30 year fly fishing experience. The owner Rob, store manager Chris and the rest of the team are very knowledgeable about products and local fly fishing locations. They will guide you towards best products for your needs, and will not try to upsell if a lower priced option is better for you...

Simon Chapman

If you are in the GTA Drift is the only fly shop you need. They have an insane amount of quality tying products, packs, waders, boots, rods and reels. They also have the best staff w/ a staggering knowledge base.

Mark Benn