I’m relatively new to fly fishing, a converted worm drowner. I fished a Sage DS 2 for three seasons and liked it very much. This year I thought I might like a little faster rod so I grabbed a Sage SLT that was offered me at a great price. First two trips out, I could not keep tippet on the leader, I purchused all new tippet and while better, it still vanishes more often than I can live with. Last trip while sitting around a campfire on the North Fork of the Clearwater the subject of rods came up. I mentioned that I was fishing an SLT and one of the “real” fisherman there said that the rod was famous for throwing away tippet and that was part of the reason it had been discontinued. So I’m wondering what I can do to get around this rather than just pass it on to the next smukk?
My wife and I have been fising SLT 5 wgts for a couple of years now. The only time we lose any tippet is when a large fish breaks us off. By the way, NF of the Clearwater is a great place.
I wouldn’t call the SLT a fast rod at all. I have a 7’6" 3wt and have not had any problems with snapping tippets (unless I hang one in a tree). I’ve had a couple fish break off 7X tippet, but it does not take much of a fish to take a hard run and break off 7X.
I’d consider the Sage SLT a medium-fast action rod because I fish with Sage LL rods! If it’s a knot problem: What knot are you tying your tippet material to your leader with? Are you using flourocarbon tippet with mono leaders? If you’re using mono tippet with mono leader a double surgeon knot should work well. If you’re using flourocarbon tippet with mono leader try a triple surgeon knot or a quadruple sugeon knot. Good-luck!
Don’t tell my SLT that. It has behaved itself from day one. I gotta think its your knot or you are breaking off due to quick starts on your forward our backcast before the line straightens out. After tying on tippet, give it a quick pull to see if the knot is slipping. Be sure to reduce friction when cinching down your knot with saliva or water.
Thanks for the replies, I’m going to change the knot I use and go from there, I don’t think I am “cracking the whip” as I’m loosing all the material and not just the fly. I’ve practiced many hours to incorporate stops in my casting and I never hear the crack that I did with the glass rod I had when first starting. It was just very dishearting to be having the problem and hearing what was said without ever mentioning it, espescially when it was a rarity with the DS.
Make sure you use a lot of saliva when you tighten down the knots. They will seem ok, but let go under a real strain.
Stand sideways and watch your cast on the back stroke. You don’t have to hear a snap for it to still be happening. Make sure the line is almost straightened out before starting forward.
