Tippet Size
 

I was out and about today and was speaking with a fellow fly fisherman and
he was discussing a local fishery where the fish were easily spooked. "I
always use a 7X tippet and I favor a size 16 Adams pattern." Without
thinking (I do that a lot), I responded, "With a 16 you would really want to
use a 4X tippet with that."

Well the discussion went on and it turns out that tippet has nothing to do
with the size of a fly (hook size to be precise and I guess a heavily
dressed fly would effect the choice of tippet as well?). Anyway, I always
used the rule of 4 on determining tippet size (size of fly divided by 4) --
I am gearing up to take on some smallies soon and will be using size 8 flies
so I be using a 2X leader/tippet. I didn't hold my position in the
discussion because I got to wondering if things have changed some with the
new leader materials etc.

So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway? If I am throwing
a size 4 popper would I use a 1X leader/tippet? Would using a furled or
poly leader allow me to select a smaller tippet than the previously
mentioned rule?

Chris

Padishar Creel wrote:

So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway?

"Rules" like this one are made to be broken. It's more like a "rule of
thumb." You could certainly use 7x tippet with a #16 Adams. It would be
best, I think, to use a fly tied with no wings (or clip off the wings)
because any asymmetry in the wings might twist the tippet. Also, keep
the false casting to a minimum.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 00:05:19 -0700, "Padishar Creel"
wrote:

I was out and about today and was speaking with a fellow fly fisherman and
he was discussing a local fishery where the fish were easily spooked. "I
always use a 7X tippet and I favor a size 16 Adams pattern." Without
thinking (I do that a lot), I responded, "With a 16 you would really want to
use a 4X tippet with that."

Well the discussion went on and it turns out that tippet has nothing to do
with the size of a fly (hook size to be precise and I guess a heavily
dressed fly would effect the choice of tippet as well?). Anyway, I always
used the rule of 4 on determining tippet size (size of fly divided by 4) --
I am gearing up to take on some smallies soon and will be using size 8 flies
so I be using a 2X leader/tippet. I didn't hold my position in the
discussion because I got to wondering if things have changed some with the
new leader materials etc.

So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway? If I am throwing
a size 4 popper would I use a 1X leader/tippet? Would using a furled or
poly leader allow me to select a smaller tippet than the previously
mentioned rule?

Chris

I would think unless the Adams was perfectly tied it would twist the
heck out of a 7X tippet. I use 5X on most size 16 flies. Rather than
going to 7X in water like that I'd add 2' of additional tippet to the
leader.

g.c.

http://www.flydealflies.com/hooktippet.html

Padishar Creel wrote:
snip
So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway? ...

I use the biggest tippet that will fit easily through the
eye of the hook. It's rare, *very* rare, when tippet size
puts off fish when everything else, ie presentation, fly
selection etc., is correct.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Padishar Creel wrote:

snip
So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway? ...


I use the biggest tippet that will fit easily through the
eye of the hook. It's rare, *very* rare, when tippet size
puts off fish when everything else, ie presentation, fly
selection etc., is correct.

It's not particularly rare at all. Water with complex braided currents
often require very fine tippets for dry-fly fishing, and quite a long
length of it to boot. It isn't the *size* of the tippet that's really
important. It's the *suppleness* of the finer tippet that allows a
drag-free drift. I usually use at least three feet of 6x or 7x in those
conditions.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Padishar Creel wrote:
snip
So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway? ...

I use the biggest tippet that will fit easily through the
eye of the hook. It's rare, *very* rare, when tippet size
puts off fish when everything else, ie presentation, fly
selection etc., is correct.

It's not particularly rare at all. Water with complex braided currents
often require very fine tippets for dry-fly fishing, and quite a long
length of it to boot. ...

With a little experience you'll learn to fish dry flies with
4X or 5X. I use 6X maybe twice a season.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 18:55:40 GMT, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

I use 6X maybe twice a season.

Once in each of your two trips?
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

rw wrote:

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

Padishar Creel wrote:

snip
So what is the thought on fly size to tippet size, anyway? ...


I use the biggest tippet that will fit easily through the
eye of the hook. It's rare, *very* rare, when tippet size
puts off fish when everything else, ie presentation, fly
selection etc., is correct.


It's not particularly rare at all. Water with complex braided currents
often require very fine tippets for dry-fly fishing, and quite a long
length of it to boot. ...


With a little experience you'll learn to fish dry flies with
4X or 5X. I use 6X maybe twice a season.

A little experience -- that's funny. I've fished about 100 days/year for
the past six years, and I started flyfishing 46 years ago at age 12,
which is probably before you were born. In the time I've fished in your
presence (thankfully, a rather short period of time), I've caught two
fish and you've caught ... none, although you were always smartly turned
out in your funny hat and your fussy gear.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
With a little experience you'll learn to fish dry flies with
4X or 5X. I use 6X maybe twice a season.

A little experience -- that's funny. I've fished about 100 days/year for
the past six years, and I started flyfishing 46 years ago at age 12,
which is probably before you were born. ...

Well, OK then, you probably won't learn how to fish dry flies.
But maybe you can write a treatise on the "suppleness" of 3 ft.
of 6X versus 3 ft. of 4X. I mean if you can't fish you may as
well bloviate.

--
Ken Fortenberry