The fine end of an fishing leader is called the tippet; the tippet is the connection between a fishing fly and a fish. The thickness of the tippet are measured in an X-rating system. This X-rating system tell a fisherman how thick or thin the tippet is.
A 0X tippet is very thick and is used for heavy fish species. An 8X tippet is very thin and is used for fishing species that is easily spooked by visible fishing lines. The hook size of a fishing fly can determine the size of the tippet.
Pick the Right Tippet for Fly Fishing
To calculate the size of the tippet for a given fly, divide the number of the hook size by three. For example, a size 12 fishing fly will use a 4X tippet so that the diameter of the tippet is approximately one third of a gap of the hook. Using the correct size of tippet will allow the fishing fly to have a smooth turnover and a natural movement through the water.
If the size of the tippet is too thick for a small fishing fly, the thick tippet will cause drag on the fly. Such drag will cause the fishing fly to cast poorly. If the size of the tippet is too thin for a large fishing fly, the thin tippet will break when a fish pulls on the fishing lines.
The weight of the tippet, measured in pounds of test, decrease as the X-rating number increases. For example, 0X tippet may weigh 15 pounds, but 8X tippet may weigh less than 2 pounds. Thus, you must balance the strength of the tippet with stealth of the fishing line because both characteristics are important when fishing for fish.
The category of the fish you are fishing for will dictate the type of tippet you use. For example, streamers and poppers are large fishing flies so the tippet should be heavy, such as 0X to 2X. Dry flies and emergers does not sink so the tippet should be thinner, such as 4X to 6X. Nymph fishing flies sink to the bottom of the water so the tippet should be of medium strength, such as 3X to 5X. Finally, midges are small so the tippet must be very thin to match the size of the fishing flies, such as 7X to 8X.
The type of fish you are targeting will dictate the type of tippet to use when fishing. Rainbow trout and brook trout can take 3X to 6X tippet.
Brown trout is cautious so they may require 2X to 7X tippet. Steelhead and salmon are strong and require heavy tippet lines of 1X or thicker. Grayling are small fish so they require 5X to 7X tippet.
Panfish also require 4X to 6X tippet. The context of the fishing environment may also change the type of tippet required for the catch. For example, fish will accept a thick tippet in murky water but will reject such tippet in clear water.
Water clarity will dictate the tippet to use. For example, if the water is very clear, use thin tippet of 5X to 7X and use long fishing leaders between 12 and 16 feet long. If the water is murky, such as from runoff, use thicker tippet of 2X or 3X so that the fish cannot see the fishing line.
Still lakes also use specific amount of tippet; still lakes require 5X to 6X tippet so that the fly lands quiet on the water. There are two materials used to make fishing tippet. The first is nylon monofilament which is strong and will float on the water.
Thus, people use nylon monofilament for dry flies. Fluorocarbon tippet material will sink quick and is very abrasion resistant. You use fluorocarbon for nymph flies because it will sink to the bottom of the water.
Fluorocarbon is also more difficult for fish to see with they’re eyes. Fluorocarbon will also increase the strength of the fishing line by 10 to 15 percent per X size of tippet. Additionally, when you tie a fishing line to a fly, wet the knot before you tighten it.
Trim the loose ends of the knot short. Depending on the time of year, the type of tippet to use will change. For example, during spring when there is alot of runoff, use 3X to 4X tippet to cast streamers.
During summer, the water levels are lower and the water is very clear so use 5X to 7X for dry flies. During winter, when there are midges and the water is cold, use 6X to 7X tippet. The size of the hook will also impact the size of the tippet.
For example, flies with wide hooks of size 2 to 6 will require 0X to 2X tippet. Finally, tiny hooks of size 26 to 32 require 7X to 8X tippet. Using tippet that is too heavy for a tiny hook will bend the wire of the hook.
At this point, you have learned how to determine the appropriate size of tippet for your fishing flies. This information should allow you to prepare for a productive fishing experience. Ensure that the size of your tippet match the species of fish that you are interested in catching and the type of fishing fly that you are using.