Effective Fish Fighting Range with 5X Tippet

How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

The reason I am askingis that I just got done switching lines around
from one small reel to another. I went out in the front yard and
stripped off all the line (AirFlo 3/4 Delta Taper) and backing (30lb
test Greenspot [its all I had on hand when I put it on the original
reel]). I came up with about 75' of backing plus the 90' of flyline. I
was a little taken aback by the apparent paucity of backing when the
thought occured to me that since this particular rod is rarely hooked
up to a leader that tests more than 4lb. (5x) what would be the
effective maximum amount of line and backing that could be removed by
a fish until the weight and drag of the line itself would cause the
tippet to part. So what do you think. I know rod action would have a
lot to do with it but it seems to me that there must rapidly come a
time with light tippets when any extra backing becomes superfluous.


g.c.

George Cleveland wrote:
How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

Almost, but not quite, into the backing.

When you get a lot of line out the line drag can break fine tippet,
especially when the fish jumps.

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

George,

I think 50 yards of high quality 20 pound braided Dacron
(SA/Cortland/Gudebrod) is about right for most normal trout fishing
situations.

Most people tell me they have never seen their backing. This is just a
function of where they fish. There are places where the backing is seen
regularly on a good day of fishing.

I was once (1986) almost spooled ( 75 yards of 20# Micron ) on the Henry's
Fork at the Railroad Ranch by a 20" plus hot Rainbow. I was using my new
Sage 9' # 4 LL with a new Orvis CFO III (with counter balance) and a new
Cortland 444 peach floater. I was using 6x tippet (Aeon?) with #16 PMD
thorax tie that I bought at Mike Lawson's fly shop. At that I chased the
fish about 100 yards down stream till it got tired. It was as close to the
speed of a bonefish as it gets. Smoken'..............


If you want to land a big fish on 6x tippet you should:

Have a softer rod with a soft tip.

Use a smaller line size rod like a 9' # 4 weight.(less line drag)

Have a reel with a very light smooth drag like a Galvan or a 'racket
reel' (click & pawl) like a Hardy or old Orvis CFO.

Use a fresh leader to 4x. Tie some fresh matching 5x tippet to it and
then tie some fresh 6x to that. (triple surgeons)

Retie your fly on occasion.

Maybe cut your fly line down to as far as you can cast.(less line drag)

Use 12# braided Dacron.(less line drag)

Hold you mouth right and pray.

** This is only important on lakes and spring creeks with hot wild Rainbow
trout that are feeding on #16 to #22 'bugs' on top.

Some places they commonly use 7x but I don't like to myself.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"George Cleveland" wrote in message
...

How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

The reason I am askingis that I just got done switching lines around
from one small reel to another. I went out in the front yard and
stripped off all the line (AirFlo 3/4 Delta Taper) and backing (30lb
test Greenspot [its all I had on hand when I put it on the original
reel]). I came up with about 75' of backing plus the 90' of flyline. I
was a little taken aback by the apparent paucity of backing when the
thought occured to me that since this particular rod is rarely hooked
up to a leader that tests more than 4lb. (5x) what would be the
effective maximum amount of line and backing that could be removed by
a fish until the weight and drag of the line itself would cause the
tippet to part. So what do you think. I know rod action would have a
lot to do with it but it seems to me that there must rapidly come a
time with light tippets when any extra backing becomes superfluous.


g.c.

Another benefit of having more backing on is that it makes the spool
diameter a little larger and you can crank in more line per rotation.
I know it doesn't sound like much but the difference is significant.
That's how they promote large arbor reels. Do the calcs and you'll see.

On Tue, 24 May 2005 20:26:48 -0500, George Cleveland
wrote:

How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

The reason I am askingis that I just got done switching lines around
from one small reel to another. I went out in the front yard and
stripped off all the line (AirFlo 3/4 Delta Taper) and backing (30lb
test Greenspot [its all I had on hand when I put it on the original
reel]). I came up with about 75' of backing plus the 90' of flyline. I
was a little taken aback by the apparent paucity of backing when the
thought occured to me that since this particular rod is rarely hooked
up to a leader that tests more than 4lb. (5x) what would be the
effective maximum amount of line and backing that could be removed by
a fish until the weight and drag of the line itself would cause the
tippet to part. So what do you think. I know rod action would have a
lot to do with it but it seems to me that there must rapidly come a
time with light tippets when any extra backing becomes superfluous.


g.c.

Try this: go back out into the yard, strip all the line again, and tie
on the fly of your choice. Hook the fly to the bumper of your car, a
tree limb, etc., and walk the rod out until the line is about tight (not
tightrope-walker, strum-a-tune tight, just "taut") and then walk back
toward the fly about 10-12 feet. Now try to break off the fly without
moving your feet again.

HTH,
R

On Wed, 25 May 2005 14:26:18 -0500, wrote:

On Tue, 24 May 2005 20:26:48 -0500, George Cleveland
wrote:

How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

The reason I am askingis that I just got done switching lines around
from one small reel to another. I went out in the front yard and
stripped off all the line (AirFlo 3/4 Delta Taper) and backing (30lb
test Greenspot [its all I had on hand when I put it on the original
reel]). I came up with about 75' of backing plus the 90' of flyline. I
was a little taken aback by the apparent paucity of backing when the
thought occured to me that since this particular rod is rarely hooked
up to a leader that tests more than 4lb. (5x) what would be the
effective maximum amount of line and backing that could be removed by
a fish until the weight and drag of the line itself would cause the
tippet to part. So what do you think. I know rod action would have a
lot to do with it but it seems to me that there must rapidly come a
time with light tippets when any extra backing becomes superfluous.


g.c.

Try this: go back out into the yard, strip all the line again, and tie
on the fly of your choice. Hook the fly to the bumper of your car, a
tree limb, etc., and walk the rod out until the line is about tight (not
tightrope-walker, strum-a-tune tight, just "taut") and then walk back
toward the fly about 10-12 feet. Now try to break off the fly without
moving your feet again.

HTH,
R


Actually I did that very thing this morning. except I pu;led on the
line and backing until I got the 5x to snap. It took a lot more effort
than I anticipated.



g.c.

On Wed, 25 May 2005 19:48:27 -0500, George Cleveland
wrote:

On Wed, 25 May 2005 14:26:18 -0500, wrote:

On Tue, 24 May 2005 20:26:48 -0500, George Cleveland
wrote:

How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

The reason I am askingis that I just got done switching lines around
from one small reel to another. I went out in the front yard and
stripped off all the line (AirFlo 3/4 Delta Taper) and backing (30lb
test Greenspot [its all I had on hand when I put it on the original
reel]). I came up with about 75' of backing plus the 90' of flyline. I
was a little taken aback by the apparent paucity of backing when the
thought occured to me that since this particular rod is rarely hooked
up to a leader that tests more than 4lb. (5x) what would be the
effective maximum amount of line and backing that could be removed by
a fish until the weight and drag of the line itself would cause the
tippet to part. So what do you think. I know rod action would have a
lot to do with it but it seems to me that there must rapidly come a
time with light tippets when any extra backing becomes superfluous.


g.c.

Try this: go back out into the yard, strip all the line again, and tie
on the fly of your choice. Hook the fly to the bumper of your car, a
tree limb, etc., and walk the rod out until the line is about tight (not
tightrope-walker, strum-a-tune tight, just "taut") and then walk back
toward the fly about 10-12 feet. Now try to break off the fly without
moving your feet again.

HTH,
R


Actually I did that very thing this morning. except I pu;led on the
line and backing until I got the 5x to snap. It took a lot more effort
than I anticipated.



g.c.

And I'll bet that a 100+ weight (or 200+, as the case may be) George
Cleveland Original doesn't have nearly as much flex as whatever rod,
short of an O'Cedar Sweeper Demon Deluxe, you might wish to use. I
suspect if you care to repeat it with the rod, you'll learn even more,
and gain a better understanding of your rig.

TC,
R

On Tue, 24 May 2005, George Cleveland wrote:

How much line has anyone here ever had off their reel while using a
5x or 6x tippet and ended up successfully landing a fish?

5x these days is pretty strong. I've landed a 10 lb steelhead on 4lb
mono.

Mu