Friends:
Based on tie-ability, price, strength, quality etc. which is the best tapered fluorocarbon leader for freshwater? (3X to 6X if it matters) Which is the best FC tippet material?
Miguel
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Friends:
Based on tie-ability, price, strength, quality etc. which is the best tapered fluorocarbon leader for freshwater? (3X to 6X if it matters) Which is the best FC tippet material?
Miguel
Very interesting subject and I'm anxious to see other's responses. I've been using Seaguar and Orvis but I have a lot of unexplained break-offs with both. I wet the knots in my mouth before seating the coils, and always give the completed knot a few jerky pulls to test it. Yet, knots that test like iron sometimes break like butter. My tippets are 4X to 7X and I've used the Blood, Surgeon's and Orvis knots with equal results.
Froghair FC. It is very supple which makes for easy tying.
J Castwell:
Can you tell me if the butt of these leaders (Seguar Grand Max) fit through the Tiemco needle, and also if the butt is stiff or not? In your opinion, what makes it better than Orvis Mirage and Froghair?
Miguel
took a trip once to PA (about a 5 hr drive) was using Seaguar in 4# as a leader on our rigs for steelhead, at the time there were 5 of us.......nothing but breakoffs (all but 1 of us were very expierienced steelhead fishermen) we were so flustered and upset after losing so many fish we switched to maxima all the world was a nicer place, will never use Seaguar again, had the same thing happen the year before while fishing salmon on 8#
The very best fluorocarbon tippet material made today is Seaguar's Grand Max. When dealing with high-grade fluoro you must be sure to properly lubricate all your knots BEFORE you tighten them. I've tried all of the brands out there and in my opinion, the Grand Max is it.
As far as fluorocarbon tapered leaders, go with the Frog Hair fluoro leaders. The quality of the fluoro is very good and the 30% stretch is a GREAT shock absorber.
I typically combine these and run a Frog Hair fluoro tapered leader and finish it off with 36" of Grand Max.
One thing you need to consider is how some line mfr's really under rate their lines to make them appear better. One company in particular will rate a line at say 12lb but it breaks at 20lb. So, the anglers says wow, this stuff is strong. The Grand Max is TRUE RATED. It breaks at what they list, AS IT SHOULD BE. Maxima is notorious for this. For example Maxima's 12 pound rated fluoro leader is .013" according to them. Seaguar's Grand Max 12.5 lb. is .009" according to them. Grand Max in a .013 diameter (Maxima's "rated" 12lb) would break at around 20-22lbs. So if you compare what Maxima calls 12lb and what Seaguar calls 12lb, YES, the Maxima will be stronger BECAUSE IT IS NOT 12LB. The 12lb Maxima is 45 percent thicker than Grand Max's 12lb so which do you think will be easier for the fish to see.
And now you know the rest of the story . . .
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Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
What Dr. Fish says is so true and may explain the breakoffs listed above.
Years ago when using regular mono, wanting to take care of myself, I asked the steelhead guide what tippet I should bring ...he said they were using 8#...so I bought some 8#..I think it was Dii-Riki [spelling?]...supposed to be new hot stuff....well, nothing but break offs....turns out the guides were using Maxima and the diameter would have equaled 15# Di-Riki.."The Rest Of The Story" is so true...I always compare diameters [among other things] when buying tippet or leader.
Glad to help.
Not sure about the "right as usual" but if you feel strongly about that statement perhaps I should have you call my wife http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
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Jeff - AKA Dr. Fish
If it has fins and swims than I must chase it!
Has anyone tried Airflo Sight-free G3? The rated breaking strengths for 5X, 6X and 7X are 5, 4 and 3 pounds, respectively. I'm wondering how well it knots and fishes?