How to determine leader/tippet size?

[Mike29]

Hello,
I am wondering what types of things should be taken into consideration when determining leader/tippet size. I have a 5wt line and will be fishing for trout in Central Pa. Is this all preference? Or is there a method to the madness?

Thank you in advance,
Mike

[This message has been edited by Mike29 (edited 12 March 2005).]

[Hans Weilenmann]

Mike29,

Good rule of thumb is hook size divided by three gives tippet size in 'X'. E.g. #14/3=5X

Cheers,
Hans W


------------------
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

[AgMD]

Ultimatly this will come down to personal preference, but -- for myself on #12 and #14hooks I usually use 4X, and move up and down from there as hook size increases and decreases. As summer gets on and the water becomes lower and clearer I move to progressivly smaller and longer tippets. Slow movinig clear water may need finer tippets than fast turbulent water. I think it is a matter of how much time the fish has to inspect the fly. Heavier stuff like streamers may need heavier and/or shorter tippets to get the whole thing to turn over, tho with some rod/line combinations I can cast #8 unweighted streamers with a 4X. The key is to watch the way it casts. If it will not lay out right the leader is too light/long for the weight.
Kimk AgMD

[Ray]

Here is the formula I teach & use:
For Dry Flys: hook size divided by 3=tippet size
For wets & nymphs: hook size divided by 4=tippet size

[Garic]

I may have asked this before, not sure, but how does these sizes equate to breaking strain?? can someone put me out of my misery please??

------------------
Work is a means for people to afford their fishing.

[rainbowchaser]

Hi Garic
the x value of a tippet material is that number subtracted from .011 to determine the diameter of the material. So a four x tippet is .007 . breaking strength varies by manufacturer. these numbers go back to when silk tippet materials were sized by drawing the raw(size 0x) silk fiber through a set of incrementally smaller holes so that a fiber drawn through three holes was said to be drawn three times or 3x.

------------------

all leaders tangle; mine are just better at it than most. Jim

[Mike29]

Thank you for all the replies everyone. I hadn't really taken the size of the fly into account on this issue.
Thanks again FAOL,
Mike

[Ray]

The tippet's "X" value has nothing to do with the breaking strength. The "X" is strictly used as a quick reference as to the diameter of the tippet. When pairing fly to tippet it's the diameter that is most.