When it comes to nymphing ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lastchance
...As far as nymphing tippet, I use mostly 4X in normal water. When it gets low and clear I switch to 5X. My thinking, I suppose, is that it's thinner in diameter and won't be as easy for the fish to see. I think the part of the country and types of water we fish would have some bearing on our tippet size, too. .
... you can do it with a bright orange thread furled leader and a couple inches of 4X or larger tippet ...
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...005_edited.jpg
( The spot on the very clear running creek where this fish was caught was probably less than 18" deep. )
... but when it comes to dry flies, you might have to go up to 9 inches of tippet ...
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...008_edited.jpg
( This guy was in a small soft water pocket on the edge of the river that was about 6' deep. )
Like you said, Bruce, the types of water we fish have a bearing on what we can do ( some would say get away with ) when it comes to leader color and tippet length.
These were the results of experiments conducted to find extremes. But I'm not satisfied that you really even need tippet. I've thought about substituting the eye of the hook for the tippet ring so the thread furled leader is attached directly to the fly - but that would be taking things to the extreme, and it would make changing flies a bit more difficult. :roll:
John