Newbie Question....How much Tippet?

[Snow Fly]

Like Kicknbass said it is a personal thing. Like I said earlier the loop/leader and double clinch knot for the tippet has worked over the years for me and I feel confident with this set up. Do what works and makes you happy.

[Steve Smith]

I definitely agree that it is a personal thing. Like most people, the way I was taught by my Dad many moons ago is the same way I do it today. I loop to loop the leader to flyline, loop to loop Tippet to leader, and everything else UNI knots. Don't break what's not broke

[All_Tangled_Up]

I definitely agree that it is a personal thing. Like most people, the way I was taught by my Dad many moons ago is the same way I do it today. I loop to loop the leader to flyline, loop to loop Tippet to leader, and everything else UNI knots. Don't break what's not broke

I'll give the loop to loop knot a try with my leader to tippet and see how that works out for me. Like I said earlier, I tend to get technical, and sometimes that's just not neccessary. Being new I can't help to be curious as to why people use/do some of the things they use/do.

[damselfly]

lot's of talk about knots, but i noticed no one answered your question about tippet size on the leader. i've always been told that you should not tie on tippet that is more than two sizes smaller than your leader. doing so could present problems with the leader turning over or, you may have trouble with the connection remaining secure due to the difference in the diameter of the two. hope i'm saying this right, but for example if you use a 5x leader, you should use 6x or 7x tippet, but no smaller. same as with 4x leader, use 5x or 6x tippet. hope this helps. others may do it differently, but i've always stuck to this and never had any problems.

[All_Tangled_Up]

lot's of talk about knots, but i noticed no one answered your question about tippet size on the leader. i've always been told that you should not tie on tippet that is more than two sizes smaller than your leader. doing so could present problems with the leader turning over or, you may have trouble with the connection remaining secure due to the difference in the diameter of the two. hope i'm saying this right, but for example if you use a 5x leader, you should use 6x or 7x tippet, but no smaller. same as with 4x leader, use 5x or 6x tippet. hope this helps. others may do it differently, but i've always stuck to this and never had any problems.

Thanks damselfly! I'm not sure anyone had ever told me to watch the size differences of the leader and tippet. Makes sence though. Based on the responces I've gotten, my plan is to try a loop to loop for my leader and tippet knot, with about 2' of tippet. If that doesn't work to well, I'll try the uni-knot. Then if all esle falls, I'll go to plan C and/or D.

[UAK squirrelpie]

if you use loop to loop on fly line to leader, make sure you use a braided one. the mono ones tend to make the tip sink, making fishing a dry fly harder.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I agree with never deviating more than two X sizes on my tippet, and for the record, if you are not using one of these Mike Rite gauges.. you could be making mistakes that will cost you fish.

Like Phil - I generally add 2 feet to the end of my leader.

I am not a fan of the Loop to Loop connections anymore.. because I think they tend to allow sinkage prematurely. I now use a nail knot coated in Flex-Seal to keep it completely dry.

I usually start with a 10ft leader and cut off the last 6 inches.. then add the 2 foot or so to drop down a size. Sometimes I add more tippet just to make sure I am matching tippet to fly size (dealing with 20's and the like). Sometimes I find I am operating with a 4X leader that finally tapers out to 8X with the dropper fly.

screaming reels - Brian

[All_Tangled_Up]

I agree with never deviating more than two X sizes on my tippet, and for the record, if you are not using one of these Mike Rite gauges.. you could be making mistakes that will cost you fish.

Like Phil - I generally add 2 feet to the end of my leader.

I am not a fan of the Loop to Loop connections anymore.. because I think they tend to allow sinkage prematurely. I now use a nail knot coated in Flex-Seal to keep it completely dry.

I usually start with a 10ft leader and cut off the last 6 inches.. then add the 2 foot or so to drop down a size. Sometimes I add more tippet just to make sure I am matching tippet to fly size (dealing with 20's and the like). Sometimes I find I am operating with a 4X leader that finally tapers out to 8X with the dropper fly.

screaming reels - Brian

I'll have to get a leader gauge. I don't think I've seen one before. Ok, now for a stupid questions: Where do you measure the leader if it's a tapered leader? With a 5X tapered leader, is it the tip that's a 5X or the head that attaches to the fly line?

[Snow Fly]

It's the tip and I also buy a 10ft. leader and cut off 6-8 " of the leader.

[All_Tangled_Up]

Well I tied a loop to loop for my leader to tippet connection earlier today and I guess I'll have to fish it to see. On my rod, everything looked good a 5X leader to a 6X tippet. On My wifes though, I don't know??? I couldn't get the leader/tippet loops to lay the same as on my rod. I tried several times and finally gave up. I thought I'd trade her rods for a while and try hers out to see what I thought. I may end up changing knots. Particularly on hers.

It's the tip and I also buy a 10ft. leader and cut off 6-8 " of the leader.

Why cut off 6-8" of the tip?