RIO 6-24591 Fly Leader Review
Our verdict
The RIO 6-24591 Fly Leader is a 9 foot, 5X nylon leader sold as a 3-pack for $19.99. Its 4.6 star rating across 525 reviews and 100+ bought last month place it in the middle of this comparison on both price and demand.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Fly anglers who want a 3-pack of 9 foot, 5X nylon leaders from a recognized brand, backed by a substantial 525 review sample, without paying the premium of the priciest option here.
Skip if
Skip it if a lower price is the priority, since the Maxima MLC20 costs $4.99 and the Trout 87481 costs $7.32, both with 4.7 to 4.8 star ratings well under this leader's $19.99 price.
- Material Nylon
- Length 9 Feet
- Line Weight 18
- Technique Fly
- Size 5X
- Color Clear
- Priced 57% above the category median ($12.77 across 22 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.6/5
4.6 average across 525 owner ratings
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Popularity3.2/5
525 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Rigging up before a day on the water goes faster with a few spare leaders already sitting ready in the vest, and the RIO 6-24591 is built around that exact need as a 3-pack. Each leader in the pack is a 9 foot, 5X nylon leader rated to a line weight of 18, finished clear, and sold under RIO's Powerflex Plus name for $19.99 total.
Its 4.6 star rating across 525 reviews sits close to the Trout 87481's 4.7 stars and just behind the Maxima MLC20's 4.8 stars, though its review count of 525 is nearly identical to the Maxima's 529. On recent demand, 100+ bought last month beats the 50+ figures posted by both the Maxima MLC20 and Trout 87481, and far outpaces the TroutHunter TH Fluoro Tippet 5.5X's 0+.
For anglers who want three ready-to-use 9 foot leaders from an established brand with strong recent purchase activity, the RIO 6-24591 at $19.99 is a reasonable middle-ground pick in this comparison. Buyers focused purely on the lowest price per leader should still consider the Maxima MLC20 or Trout 87481 as well.
Pros
- Sold as a 3-pack, giving three 9 foot leaders for one $19.99 purchase
- 4.6 star rating across a substantial 525 review sample
- 100+ bought last month, the highest recent demand figure among the alternatives compared
- 9 foot length and 5X rating suit a wide range of general trout fly fishing
- Clear color finish and nylon construction from a recognized leader brand
Cons
- At $19.99, it costs about four times the Maxima MLC20's $4.99
- 4.6 star rating trails the Maxima MLC20's 4.8 stars slightly
- Nylon construction rather than fluorocarbon, unlike the Trout 87481 or TroutHunter TH Fluoro Tippet 5.5X
- 525 reviews, while substantial, is still fewer than a single-leader budget option might accumulate per dollar spent
Specifications
| Material | Nylon |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 Feet |
| Line Weight | 18 |
| Technique | Fly |
| Size | 5X |
| Color | Clear |
| Pieces | 1.0 Count |
| Feature | One RIO Powerflex Plus 9Ft 5X Leader 3-Pack |
Performance notes
At 9 feet and 5X with a line weight of 18, this leader is built as a general-purpose trout leader, a length and taper suited to a wide range of freshwater conditions rather than a specialized technical setup. The nylon material differs from the fluorocarbon used in the Trout 87481 and TroutHunter TH Fluoro Tippet 5.5X, which are typically chosen for lower underwater visibility, while nylon is often favored for its supple handling and knot strength. Sold as a 3-pack under the Powerflex Plus name, the $19.99 price works out to roughly $6.66 per leader, positioning it between the Trout 87481's $7.32 single-leader price and the Maxima MLC20's $4.99. For anglers who want backups rigged and ready without retying from bulk spool material, the 3-pack format removes a step from streamside prep.
What buyers say
A 4.6 star rating across 525 reviews is a large and stable sample, on par with the Maxima MLC20's 529 reviews and well ahead of the Trout 87481's smaller demand figures despite that leader's slightly higher rating. The narrow spread between 4.6 and 4.8 stars across all leaders in this comparison suggests the category as a whole earns consistently positive feedback regardless of brand or price point. What sets this leader apart is its 100+ bought last month, the strongest recent-purchase figure of any alternative here, ahead of the Maxima MLC20 and Trout 87481's 50+ and far ahead of the TroutHunter's 0+, pointing to active, current buyer interest in the 3-pack format.
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Frequently asked questions
How many leaders come in the RIO 6-24591 pack?
It is sold as a 3-pack of 9 foot, 5X Powerflex Plus leaders for $19.99 total, working out to roughly $6.66 per leader. That compares to $7.32 for a single Trout 87481 leader or $4.99 for a single Maxima MLC20.
Is nylon or fluorocarbon better for this leader?
This RIO leader uses nylon, which is generally valued for supple handling and knot strength, while the Trout 87481 and TroutHunter TH Fluoro Tippet 5.5X use fluorocarbon, often chosen for lower visibility underwater. Neither material is stated as better, just suited to different priorities.
Does the 100+ bought last month figure mean this is the most popular leader here?
Among the leaders compared, it is the highest recent purchase figure, ahead of the Maxima MLC20 and Trout 87481 at 50+ each and the TroutHunter at 0+. Only the RIO 6-26056 in the wider comparison shows a higher figure, at 400+.