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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:36 am • # 21 
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I wholeheartedly agree with Cliff one of the variables you run into when determining leader/tippet size is Fish Landibility. I'd much rather land a fish and not leave a hook in fish's mouth than strive for the lightest line.

Ran across this interesting chart while poking around not sure if it's helpful or not?

Rod weight X rating tippet diameter pound test suggested fly size

5-7 weight 0X .011 inches 9.0 pounds size-4 to size-6
5-7 weight 1X .010 inches 7.2 pounds size-4 to size-8
3-4 weight 2X .009 inches 6.3 pounds size-4 to size-10
3-4 weight 3X .008 inches 5.2 pounds size-6 to size-12
1-2 weight 4X .007 inches 4.3 pounds size-6 to size-14
1-2 weight 5X .006 inches 3.3 pounds size-14 to size-20
1-2 weight 6X .005 inches 2.1 pounds size-18 to size-26
0 weight 5X-7X .006-.004 inches 3.3-1.2 pounds size-20 to size-28
0 weight 6X-8X .005-.003 inches 2.1-1.0 pounds size-20 to size-28
00 weight 7X-11X .004-.001 inches 1.2-.4 pounds size-26 to size-32
000 weight 8X-12X .003-.0009 inches 1.0-.3 pounds size-28 to size-32


Last edited by flflash on Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:44 am • # 22 
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Very useful chart flflash, although I feel like the pound tests might be a bit off. My 5x tippet is 5lb test (3.3 on theirs) and my 7x is 2.5lbs (their 6x is 2.1). I know tippet types differ in strength, but these seem unusually low.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:35 am • # 23 
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Cliff Hilbert wrote:
pearow wrote:
brim don't care-p-


Gene is absolutely correct. That's why I use 1X tippet because bream and bass are not leader shy. I use a heavier leader than most people because that way I have fewer breakoffs when the fly gets tangled in brush or when it gets frayed. A number of times I have caught nice size bass, crappie and catfish while fishing for bream, fish that would have broken the line if I were using a smaller leader.


The experts speak. Good advice if you have bass hanging around.

You see Cliff admits his casting is atrocious, catching trees and such.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 11:33 am • # 24 
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I'd routinely use 4X to 6X with a 5 weight rod, and I don't think I am alone in this, so I'm not sure I really understand all of the "table" that flflash posted.

When it comes to recommended tippet sizes, I personally think this is a great table for reference: https://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=2202

Fly size is indeed how I determine what tippet size I will use, and an easy way to remember for me is to use the old, "Fly size divided by 3 = tippet "X" size." (Or conversely: tippet "X" size multiplied by 3 = fly size.) Obviously this is a starting point, and conditions, species targeted, etc. may dictate a variance from this formula.

But when it comes to the various species in question with this thread (and fly size permitting of course) I almost always go to 3X or 4X as I completely agree with pearow: "brim don't care". I doubt I'd worry about going even heavier, but I don't carry anything heavier than 3X with me, and I doubt I'd get it through the hook eye of most of my flies.

---David


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:35 pm • # 25 
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Utah, I copied and pasted that chart from here:

http://www.byrdultrafly.com/xfileb.htm

I was'nt sure if it was okay to post a link?

The way I understand it is that those are his recomended Rod, Tippet and Fly sizes that he feels "Balance" best together. I hate using the word balance.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:44 pm • # 26 
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If anyone is interested I'll post the manual from my old Orvis leader Kit that I recently found. It includes the Light-butt leader that jkurtz7 references, among a bunch of others.


Last edited by EKD456 on Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:54 pm • # 27 
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5x--7x since I don't fish anything larger than a 16 anymore for anything except smallmouth and steelhead. (Then I go all the way up to a 12 :)


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:37 pm • # 28 
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nick k wrote:
Dpenrod: Thanks for the suggestions, but I already have 4x, 5x, and 7x Orvis Mirage flouro I was going to use.


p-line halo is just another option. at some point those spools will run empty right?


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:44 pm • # 29 
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Just took a look at that p-line halo. Killer deal no doubt. How dark is the color though, just like nylon with the slight green tint, or obviously colored? Not sure I'd like a deep colored line. Also think a 200yard spool is a little cumbersome to manage. Definitely a great deal and a great tip though, maybe I'll consider it for the future.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:15 pm • # 30 
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Cliff and Gene are experts and right on re bass and bream. They don't care! I have spent a lifetime using different colors and tippet sizes and see no evidence of the need to worry. I just match the tippet to the conditions and size of the fly being cast. We also shorten our leaders sometimes to match the fly size and water...nothing like these fussy trout I chase here. 9X give me a break. I can't see it to tye it!!!!!

So, 4x-5x is my usual for bream and small flies. 0x and up for the bass.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:42 pm • # 31 
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if trout don't care, bluegill certainly won't. just wind some on your empty tippet spools if you don't want to carry the whole 200 yds. around.


nick k wrote:
Just took a look at that p-line halo. Killer deal no doubt. How dark is the color though, just like nylon with the slight green tint, or obviously colored? Not sure I'd like a deep colored line. Also think a 200yard spool is a little cumbersome to manage. Definitely a great deal and a great tip though, maybe I'll consider it for the future.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:02 pm • # 32 
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4-6X in open water, 1-3X around weed or structure. Might try Power Pro soon.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:37 pm • # 33 
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5X copolymer (nylon), almost always, unless really small flies are called for. I've gone down to 7X a couple of times, and up to 3X (not on a 3wt or lighter line). I caution that you can easily break a UL graphite rod using 1X and 2X tippet with too heavy a hand (even 3X with some rods). Tippet choice (weight and length) is more about controlling the fly (for a natural looking float/swim) than controlling the fish.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 4:16 am • # 34 
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I use tapered nylon leader ending in 4x (Stroft), then add a foot or two of 2.7kg break strength fluorocarbon onto that. This is for use on my 2wt as the tapered leader turns flies over easier than a straight section of fluorocarbon (which is what I use on sinking lines, either 4.5kg, 3.6kg or 2.7kg breaking strength, the 2.7 is about a 3x thickness). I am hesitantly going to move down to 5x someday on the 2wt; on the 5wt I use straight fluorocarbon. Also can't find the create Poll option. :/ Maybe user error on my part? ;)


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:54 pm • # 35 
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I use smaller tippet for bream because of the size of the fly; I don't want a big thick tippet on a teensy fly as I think it inhibits the fly's action/presentation, not because the brim will see it. But, I've been badly beaten by fishermen who use really big tippet and tie big ugly knots, so I think its just a personal thing. I have some 2# florecarbon I regularly use for tippet material for bedding brim as it sinks fast and doesn't impede the fly-p-


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:24 pm • # 36 
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I just use 2# or 4# mono, depending on the fly size. If bass are around, I just use 4#. That's like 5X or 4X.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:16 pm • # 37 
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I usually use 3x flouro tippet when targeting bream. When targeting bass I up it to 1-2x because of the flies I'll be using. When fishing for bass in water that holds stripers I go with 0x, just cause you never know when you might spot birds dropping.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:46 pm • # 38 
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pearow wrote:
I use smaller tippet for bream because of the size of the fly; I don't want a big thick tippet on a teensy fly as I think it inhibits the fly's action/presentation, not because the brim will see it. But, I've been badly beaten by fishermen who use really big tippet and tie big ugly knots, so I think its just a personal thing. I have some 2# florecarbon I regularly use for tippet material for bedding brim as it sinks fast and doesn't impede the fly-p-


I'm with Gene on this, only not for the same reason. I have a spool of 5X tippet that I use as tippet when I'm using a tiny fly. Only, I use it because I can't thread the 1X tippet through the eye of the hook, not because I worry about the action of the fly.


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:05 am • # 39 
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I usually use 3x for foam bugs and 5x for nymphs.


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:41 am • # 40 
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3 or 4x for the main, 5x for the dropper.


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