Choosing
The Proper Fly Fishing Leader and Tippet
by: Cameron Larsen
Selecting the correct tapered leader and tippet for the
type of fishing you are about to do is crucial. Nothing
can spook fish quicker than an oversized tippet for the
particular situation. On the other hand, and undersized
tippet can result in the fly fisher losing their trophy
before they even get a photo opportunity. We will start
at the very basic of leader and tippet selection and
then get more specific, and hopefully conclude with
enough information so we’ll always have the proper
leader and tippet for all upcoming fishing scenarios.
What is leader and
tippet
Leader and tippet is the
final connection between the fly fisher and their fly.
It is the section of line after the fly line and before
the fly. It’s purpose is to transfer energy from the fly
line down to the fly, allow for natural presentation of
the fly, and then be strong enough for the fly fisher to
retrieve any fish that might strike at the naturally
presented fly. Sounds simple enough, but this is fly
fishing, and fly fishers have been around a long time.
And as a group we seem to think about everything related
to our sport a lot, and therefore probably have over
complicated things a tad.
The leader in fly
fishing is tapered. It is thicker at the butt section,
then at the tippet section. It is usually divided into
three sections, the butt is tied directly to the fly
line, and is the longest portion of the leader, about
60%. The mid-section is next and its purpose is to taper
down to the tippet without losing a lot of strength. The
final section is the tippet, it is the actual section
that is tied to the fly. It is the thinnest section, it
needs to be strong, yet allow for a natural drift,
without alarming the fish that your offering is
connected to a person that will pull back.
Commercial leaders by
and large achieve all this in one smooth product.
Although there are still knotted leaders out there, by
and large knotless leaders are the choice. It is
possible to construct you own leaders and many people
do. But that is the topic of another article. A fly
fisher does, however need to know how to attach new
tippet portion to the fly line, I prefer the double
surgeon’s knot, but the blood knot is also popular.
Learn how to tie these knots before fighting that
monster! A poorly tied knot will reveal itself at the
most opportune times.
X factor
Now comes the fun part.
A new set of numbers to learn. Different numbers then
choosing flies or fly rods. Fly fishing is overwrought
with numbering systems, and unfortunately leaders and
tippets you are just going to need to learn. They are
sized on the X numbering system. So when you hear
someone say they are switching to a 6X, you now know
they are talking about their tippet. X measures the
diameter of the leader minus .011. So a 6X would measure
.005. A 0X would actually measure .011. One really only
needs to remember the HIGER the X, the smaller the
diameter. The other number worth noting the test, or
breaking factor, a 4lb test leader will break when more
than 4lbs pressure are applied. This is worth noting,
and many a trophy are lost when violating that #.
There are many variable
to consider when selecting the right X, but the two most
common are the size of fish you are going after, and the
size of fly you are using when going after them. A quick
guide is as follows:
X Fly
0 2-6
1 4-8
2 4-10
3 6-12
4 6-14
5 12-16
6 16-20
7 20-24
8 24 and smaller
Length
One must also think
about the length of the leader itself. Leaders are sold
these days anywhere from 4 feet to 15 feet. There are
many things to consider when deciding on length, some
are variable like wind and water clarity. Other variable
are static like size of fish, current, etc.
Typically the easier it
is to spook a fish, the longer the leader you will need
to use. So
The industry seems to
have settled on 91/2 feet as a good all-around length.
For everything from trout to steelhead to tarpon. It is
a good length to handle for all levels of fly casters,
and it gives enough distance between the splash down of
the fly line and the fly as to not spook most fish under
most circumstances.
From this standard we
can then begin to think of reasons we might need to
adjust. Spring creeks or spring fed lakes will probably
require 15 feet of leader. Whereas sinking tip lines
used in spring run off will use as leaders as short as 4
feet. A weed choked largemouth bass pond will require a
shorter, stouter leader, and therefore you will be able
to muscle your fish away from snags. But a trout caught
in a spring creek will have the advantage because your
leader will easily break off due to its lightness. Windy
days might require one to shorten up a bit to ease in
casting. When switching from nymphing to dry flies one
might need to lengthen a bit.
Summary
I hope this has
clarified and not complicated things a bit. What all
this means is one must carry a good assortment of
tapered leaders and even more importantly tippets with
them at all times. There are many times I switch sizes
in the same day. If I am fighting fish deep in faster
current during the day, I might go down one X factor,
and then in the evening if I am dry fly fishing in
shallow slow water, I’ll go up two X factors.
Not having the correct
tippet can handicap one’s ability to land fish, either
by breaking off if too small, or spooking them if too
large. It is a nominal expense compared to the rest of
your equipment, and a bad place to start watching that
fly fishing budget. So make sure you’re well stocked for
every imaginable situation before you hit the water. I
guarantee you at some point you will be glad you are.
