On 14 Jun 2005 08:47:15 -0700, "Wayne Knight"
wrote:

If you look back at past threads there is one on small tippets, people
fly fishing 20+ years can't agree on it.


In my short time here, I haven't found much that anyone agrees on!

7x tippet is fine and very easy to bust off. Without seeing you break
it, how *hard* are you setting the hook? Are you tugging to set it or
are you just kind of raising the rod and tightening the line? Tugging
too hard, especially with a fast action rod and a reel with the drag
set too tight is a prescription for popping the tippet.


Slight tug - less than the BassMaster "jerk 'em into the boat"
approach, but more than just raising the rod. I should try to be less
excitable...

What position are you placing the rod when trying to play the fish?
Overhead in the traditional "Orvis" pose or otherwise straight up tends
to put more pressure then playing the rod off to the side.


Not straight up, maybe about 15 degrees off either direction. Again,
I'm only experiencing this when setting.

How is the drag on your reel set? If there is a lot of start up inertia
when the line gets pulled off there may be too much pressure there.


The drag seems okay (again, only in reference to playing the fish) but
if this continues I'll play with that, too.

And Lastly, what kind of rod are you using when fishing this tippet?

A 5wt Orvis Trident TLS, mid-flex.

My thoughts, others will disagree.

Thanks for the advice.