What is your Favorite Tippet brand?

I think that the "bad spool" comes from hanging on to the stuff too long like I do. If it has been blasted by UV for long periods of time it may actually become a little stronger at first or at least thats the way it seems to me. Trouble is it also looses knot strength at the same time and therefore becomes no good at all.

If a shop hangs the stuff where sunlight can get at it, in time it will "go bad". The glass windows will filter out much of the UV but not all of it. Solution...rotate stock, keep it out of the sun. Maybe we should insist that tippett material be dated so that we would know. I don't think that the manufacturers would like this idea...(its not their fault after all) but if one started, they would all have to follow suit...and then we'd know.

Another bad habit I have is carrying tippett material in my car where sunlight can zap it. I do carry it in a tin tea box though except for that on my reels and in my vest.

I'm going to check out Fog Hair if I can find it...I've used Maxima for years...and I find Rio to be good. IMHO its all crap but the only stuff we have so far...damn little progress having been made since nylon first arrived in quantity after WW II.

Ol' Bill

[fcch]

Tim,

I'm not sure of the name. It's BROWN!

I like Maxima 'cause:

• I like the way it holds a knot[/*:m:ac29a]
• It's STIFF[/*:m:ac29a]
• I've rarely had a section fail (that wasn't my fault)[/*:m:ac29a]
• I can get it in wt from 40 lb down to 1 lb tests[/*:m:ac29a]
• The water here is slightly yellow, so, imho, it blends in well.[/*:m:ac29a]

Cave man ?? Nope, ... We call it "Traditional"



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Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
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[Jackster]

Christopher, Have you ever had a spool of Maxima that was true to size? Almost every spool I check is +/- .001-.002" off.

[fcch]

Jackster,

Sorry, ... can't help you there. I don't mesure the diam, I don't have a micrometer

I'm not a real technician on my gear. I'll use leader material based on the "feel". I don't follow a real recipe, ... I just tye up my leaders depending on how I feel. I've been using the same layout since I was about 18. I DO use really stiff butts though.

I never really go by the diameter of the material. I guess that's one of the reasons that I don't change manufacturers. If I did, I'd have to spend a few evenings on some water tying and testing spools and spools of different tests.

I use on a typical quick 8 wt (10ft)

• 3ft 40lb + [/*:m:ba9a8]
• 2ft 30lb +[/*:m:ba9a8]
• 2ft 25lb +[/*:m:ba9a8]
• 18 inches of 20, 15, 12 lbs each[/*:m:ba9a8]

I'll simply stop there for BIG salmon or add another foot of 10 + 18 inches of 8lb "tippet" The salmon leader is usually about 15 ft - 20ft.

For trout I'll keep going with 18" 10, 8, 6 to 4 and 2 lb tests. The trout leaders for a 10ft top out at 18 - 25 ft including the tippet.

On a 5wt 8.5ft I'll start with 30lb in 2 - 2.5 ft butt sections and top out at 17 ft.

Sorry, ... I have really no idea of he diameters in Maxima for the lb tests.

Long leaders, ... Yes, ... Personal preference, ... Old habits from Cron fishing in the BC Interiour. Once you try long leaders on appropriate water, ... you'll NEVER go back.


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Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
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[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 28 June 2005).]

[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 28 June 2005).]

[flyfisherjoe]

If you use cheap tippet or regular fishing line, do yourselves a favor, get some good tippet and test it yourself. You don't need testing equipment. The difference is so dramatic you will easily feel the difference.

Test it with knots. Some tippet is much stronger in knot strength. to lb. test. I have found that Frog hair and Seaguar Grand Max is the best for knot strength as well as having high lb. test to diameter (X size.) This chart compares lb. test so you should test knot strength yourself.
[url=http://66.34.45.33/demo/tippet.html:939e6]http://66.34.45.33/demo/tippet.html[/url:939e6]


For example:
I found that even though Orvis Mirage and Seaguar Grand Max are almost the same in all X size lb. test that Grand Max is stronger in knot strength.

I found that Frog Hair is one of the best in knot strength.

I found Maxima to be very weak in lb. test to diameter and even worse in knot strength.

I found that in actually measuring regular mono lines in diameter that they are usually thicker than advertised.

It's OK to use thick mono, i.e. 30 lb. test, in constructing leaders to give the stiffness and other characteristics you want. When it comes to the tippet, don't you want it to be low in visibility and high in strength? Why use something that is inferior and is an insignificant factor in cost per use? Isn't better a good thing?

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Joe

[fcch]

Joe,

I have the perception that yes, Maxima has probably a greater diameter for lb test versus some of the "real" tippet materials.

I guess I'm just old fashioned and never get around to trying some of the new stuff.

I suppose I should, ... then again, if it ain't busted, I wont try to fix it.


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Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
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[Skeet]

Frog Hair

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"..so many fish, so many flies..do I have enough time?"