8X Tippet?

[Gavin]

Can't remember the last time that I had to drop below 6x to get bit. I'm usually fishing with 3 or 4x. Occasionally 5x. Different story if you are fishing parks or tail waters.

[ruthead]

NoLuck touched on a factor that makes a big difference for me. I have noticed since using a fiberglass rod some that i break tippet much less frequently. I fish 2 different Fenwick fiberglass rods and hardly ever break it off. These newer fast rods are quick but i find that I give up some forgiveness with them. I have one 5wt graphite that I can't keep from breaking 7x. But I have a 4 wt graphite orvis that handles it just fine as well as the Fenwick FF857 as well as the FL102-8 fiberglass. What tippet works for one rod may not necessarily be the best on another. I never use 8x and do use 7x some. On the other hand I konow a guy that only throws 2x fluro at Bennett and catches more fish than most anyone there. He is mostly stripping but will use it on top also.

[JCW355]

#32, and 8x? That's hardcore. I do admire people that have the patience for that kind of thing.

The way I fish a tiny hatch like that is by pretending it doesn't exist and tying on a #16 Hare's Ear Nymph. There are usually a few fish with enough sense to ignore the tiny stuff.

This was in West Virginia on the Elk river. 28's and 32's are a normal thing there. Those guides there really know there stuff. It is a limestone spring fed river with many types of aquatics insects. Ive never used anything smaller than 6.5x for Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas trout fishing. For some interesting reading check out this link, http://www.elkfishers.com/the_elkfishers_story_book_modern_tales_offrom_the_elk_

[Ham]

One thing to consider is the knot. There are some comparison charts showing the percentage a particular knot reduces the strength of the line. There are some knots that are around 100% of the line test (tippet) where others the knots will cut into the line. If the water is moving, you can obviously get away with large tippet. It is the calm clear pools where the fine tippet is needed. 8x is small, but I have used it for the stocker trout at the park. 7x works even on 6lb trout but you HAVE to get them in calm water, you are not going to be able to handle any decent fish in current.

The main thing to consider is that I'm a bass fisherman and I set the hook WAY TOO FORCEFULLY. It's a character flaw.

[NoLuck]

If you were to use 8x it may be helpful to tie in a small section of shock gum tippet. Seen a few bamboo rod users utilizing it also. I know even on size 24-26 flys its possible to use 6x. I even tied on a dropper through the eye of the first fly size 24 with 6x.

I have fished a few #28 rs2s at Bennett but I used 6x flouro with those too. So I can't even imagine that I would HAVE to use 8X. Possibly 7X on some tiny tricos but that's about it.

[Corky 69]

Try using a tipped ring...it helps from breaking off where you join lines.