Which Fluorocarbon Tippet?
What are your opinions on the best overall fluorocarbon tippet material??
I have used Rio and Seaguar.
Anyone have any experience with Cabela's or Airflows Sightfree???
How about what they are calling third generation fluorocarbon?
What is/are the recommended knot(s) to connect tippet to leader or tippet to tippet or tippet to fly?
Fluorocarbon Tippet and Knots
Orthoman,
I use fluorocarbon tippet on all my flies, wet, nymph and dries.
Many years ago I started using the original yellow labeled Airflo fluorocarbon tippet material but it kept breaking.
So, I then switched to their Generation 3 Airflo Sightfree with the blue label and used it for many years, with no problems.
Last spring I switched to the new Rio Fluoroflex Plus tippet. The reason I switched is because it is stronger pound for pound than almost any other tippet material so if you are using a 5X tippet you have more strength in that size than the other brands. I have noticed that many of the guides I use have also switched to the Rio Fluoroflex Plus tippet material.
No matter what fluorocarbon tippet you use, you must use the proper knots to achieve the best strength available.
I start with a mono leader then tie on fluorocarbon tippet, at least 18 inches. I use an Orvis Cinch Tie tool, one is also sold by Cabela's.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0001323312797a&type=product&cmCat=sear ch&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=cinch+knot+tool&N=4887&Ntk= Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=cinch+knot+to ol&noImage=0
A fantastic tool for many knots but I use it just to tie an Improved Surgeons knot. Since I am tying fluorocarbon to mono, I twist the loop three times rather than the suggested two times. This makes a very strong knot. If you are using larger leaders and tippets, then I would suggest a blood knot.
http://www.animatedknots.com/bloodknot/index.phpLogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animat edknots.com
I use a Turle knot to tie the fluorocarbon to my fly or hook. Here are several websites that try to explain how to tie a Turle knot. It is an old knot but is really a strong knot, and easy to tie, but difficult to explain. The below web site explains it best. Since fluorocarbon can cut into itself, a knot like the Turle knot prevents that.
http://shoreangling4u.tripod.com/knotguide/id24.html
If you don't like the Turle knot then I would suggest using the Orvis Knot, which is similar to the Turle and won't cut in on itself.
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html
and click on Orvis Knot not the Orvis Tippet Knot, but it looks like a good knot for tippet to leader also.
Larry :D