I routinely fish small flies and 7-8 x tippet this time of year, I am using a 3 wt rod (IM6 from H&H) , My advice to you is LIFT the rod on the hook set and its almost like majic , they are on. If you set the hook with a exagerated strike (the tip actually drops) you are actually throwing slack in the line and the fish either gets off because of the slack OR you barely hook them and when the line does comes tight it tears the hook out.