Photo Credit: https://www.orvis.com/p/super-strong-plus-tippet/2fc0

Introduction:

Something that is unique to the fly fishing world is tippet. Tippet is not something that is utilized in traditional spin fishing and is a funny word that many beginning fly fishers may be intimidated by. When it comes to tippet, there is NOTHING to be intimidated by. Essentially, tippet is just a thin/sensitive fishing line. There will be some tippet that is thicker, but the majority will not be. Tippet is typically used to connect flies to each other, or will be tied onto a leader and then eventually, have flies tied on to it. The following topics will break down what tippet is and why it is important to the fly fisher. 

What does the 1x, 2x, 3x, etc... mean?

When looking at tippets, every tippet will have a number and an X. What does this mean? In simple terms, this describes the diameter of the tippet and essentially how strong it is. The way the numbering system works is the smaller the number, the stronger the tippet. So, 0X and 1X are going to be much stronger than 7X or 8X. The most used tippets for a trout fly fisher are 5X-7X. 

What is a Tippet Ring? 

The tippet ring is not a requirement for fly fishing, but is highly encouraged. A tippet ring is a very small, metal, circle that serves as a connecting point between your fly line and leader, your leader and tippet, or something such as your sighter and tippet. Putting it simply, your tippet ring is the bridge betwen your tippet and something else. Tippet rings are very useful because they will increase the life of your leader, which will be discussed in the next post. Rather than constantly cutting your leader, you are able to just tie tippet onto the tippet ring. Tippet rings can also be attached to other sections of tippet, if you desire to vary your tippet size. For example, a tippet ring could be tied onto the end of 5x tippet and then have 7x tippet tied onto the ring. This creates an easier transition between the two tippet sizes, rather than trying to attach the tippets together with something such as a Blood Knot. Tippet Rings in general are not very expensive and brand name is not important when considering them. The only important factor is ensuring that you buy the right size. Like all things, some will be bigger or smaller than others. 

Photo Credit: https://www.amazon.com/TroutHunter-Fluorocarbon-Tippet-50m/dp/B01NCQZKH8</p>

What size tippet should I be using? 

This question will vary from individual to individual. What I am about to say is my opinion, some will agree and some will disagree. On the water, I take a minimilstic approach. I am not someone who will have several different tippet sizes on me and at any given moment. Generally, I will only have 5x and 6x with me. 5x is my go-to for stocked trout and if someone only owned one tippet size, I would recommend 5x. 5x will be slightly more noticable than 6x, but will also be stronger. 

If the trout are not stocked, then I will use 6x every single time. 6x will be thinner, not as noticable to fish, more sensitive and will aid in your drift. As expected though, you are losing some strength when going to 6x. 

Having said this, for those who fish for larger fish such as Salmon and Steelhead, 5x will not be enough strength for them. For those people they will have setups that utilize stronger tippets. Likewise, for people who are fishing for highly pressured trout in clear water, it is not uncommon for them to use 7x-8x tippet. Tailwaters are known for their clarity, large fish, but also selective fish. In many situations, using 5x or 6x tippet will give you limit success on tailwaters when using nymphs. That is because the fish are highly pressured and the water is crystal clear. When it comes to what size tippet you should be using, I have the mentality of start at 5x and size down to 6x or 7x only if I have to. However, if you talk to local people about the water you are fishing and they say to use a certain tippet size, I would advise to go with local knowledge until it is proven wrong. 

For streamers, I do not personally use tippet. Some people opt to use stronger tippet when using streamers, but I believe in keeping it simple and using fluorocarbon line. For small water streamers, 6lb fluoro works great. For larger bodies of water, I would recommend 10lb fluoro.

How much tippet do I need to tie on? 

It is impossible for me to answer this question for you with 100% certainty. The amount of tippet you need, will vary from trip to trip and water to water. The amount of tippet you are using, reflects how long of a setup you are running, how skittish the trout are, and how deep you are wanting to fish. When fishing for native Appalachian brook trout, I will only use 4-5 feet of tippet from fly line to dry fly. Then, tied under the dry fly on the hook shank, I will have 18”-24” of tippet and a nymph tied at the bottom of that. That is the setup that works in my personal brook trout water. Then the next day fishing my stocked river, I may use a total of 7-8 feet of tippet because I am fishing much deeper. 

To try and give you some general guidance on this topic, I will give you this information. The amount of tippet from your fly line to your first fly, should be enough to where you are not spooking the trout, but not so much that you are unable to cast. If you tie on too much tippet, you will quickly realize that you are having a difficult time casting it. If that occurs, simply cut off some and continue fishing. Remember, it is easier to cut of excess, rather than adding more. 

If you are opting to use two flies, the amount of tippet tied between them will vary based off of depth. I try to ensure that my bottom fly is essentially sitting on the bottom of the water. This will result in a few snags on rocks, but it will produce more fish than it would if it was not low enough. Many times if you are not catching fish, it is because you are not fishing deep enough. As a general rule, I will always tie on more tippet than I probably need. Then based off of how I am able to cast and if I am catching fish or not, I will cut off what I feel necessary. The best way to learn how much tippet you need, is fishing with others and experimenting on your own water. 

Does the Brand Matter? 

In this situation, I would say that yes, brand does matter. If you buy the cheapest tippet on the market, no matter how well your knot is tied, the tippet will not always perform as well as others. Some of the biggest names in the tippet world are Scientific Angler, Rio, Orvis and Trout Hunter. These are not the only manufactures of company, but they are some of the more reputable ones. 

Here I will say a brief word about Cortland tippet. Cortland products can be found in nearly every Wal-Mart in the United States and will be priced low compared to other tippets. In my experience with Cortland, for the beginning fly fisher or fly fisher on a budget, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CORTLAND. Just because it is in Wal-Mart, doesn’t mean it is a bad product. I would not place it on par with some of the brands I have mentioned, but if you are someone on a budget or just starting out, do not be hesitant about using a Cortland product. 

Based off of discussion with other fly fishers, personal testing and research on the internet, the general consensus is that Trout Hunter is the best tippet on the market. In that same breath, it is also one of the most expensive tippet’s on the market. However, if you are someone who is taking fly fishing seriously and wanting to do well, I would recommend Trout Hunter tippet. The difference in Scientific Angler, Rio and Orvis is honestly minimal and comes down to a personal preference. In my experience, Rio has not done well for me. However, there are many quality anglers who will live and die by Rio tippet. In the end, experiment and find which brand you trust. Many times, fishing with confidence is more important than fishing with the exact right thing.