I realize this can be a broad topic, but what size tippet do you generally use for trout that go grow from 10 to 20 inches? I use 4x under normal flows and colored water. When the water is thin and clear I drop down to 5x. I fish central, PA so I’m not speaking of big rivers such as there is out west. George Harvey, the dean of PA fly fishing, suggested that you never need to fish anything smaller than 4x. Just looking for opnions because I’m always trying to learn.
When fishing big browns at night, I usually use straight 6# mono. Same for steelhead except sometimes 4# on the dropper. But for drys on bigger fish, 4X should be fine.
Bob
I would use 4 or 5X flouro, depending on the size of the trout.
Randy
I’m like you…I’ll drop down to a 5x when I’m using #22/#24 tricos, but usually I’m fishing a 4x.
Ken
Usually a 6X, but the waters are smaller, and incredibly clear. If really spooky fish, will drop to a 7X or 8X. Never had any problem landing the big fish on fine tippet and light rods.:rolleyes:
I forgot to mention my question on tippet was in reference to nymphing. I always fish trico dries on size 6x, fall olives on 6x and sulfurs on 5x. I don’t hink I’ve ever used 7x for any dry fishing. Maybe I should when fishing dry midges. I nymph 90% of the time, but when there’s a hatch, I certainly go after 'em on top.
5-7x.
If the fish are wary 7X is the trick. Landed a 20 inch brown last year on it. Not as fragile as some would have you think.
Now if you are fishing at night, go as thick as you can.
I fish 3X or 4X 99% of the time for nymphs when trout fishing. I never found anything lighter to be necessary and besides; with 3X or 4X I at least have a chance on recovering a snagged fly.
I read in classic fishing manual (LUNKERS LOVE NIGHTCRAWLERS) many years ago to always use the ‘heaviest line you can’ and still catch lots of fish.
That still applies, as far as I can tell, to trout fishing with a fly rod.
Things have changed alot regarding tippet nomenclature versus breaking strength. I have an old spool of Scientific Angler ‘5X’ tippet that lists the breaking strength at 2 pounds. The ‘new’ 5X stuff I have breaks over 4 pounds now. THAT is a significant increase. Also, the advent of flourocarbon with it’s invisibility factor plus an even stronger strength to diameter ratio means that you can use much stronger line than our fly fishing predecessors could and still get the fish to eat the fly.
I’ve always used 5X as the default tippet strength when trout fishing. Over four pounds of breaking strength is plenty for trout up to around 30 inches in average waters. Adding in obstructions, large flies, or heavy current will require a bit heavier, finicky fish, tiny flies, or very clear waters might need finer stuff.
It’s always a balancing act. The key for me is light enough to not spook the fish…I’d just as soon hook them and lose them as not hook them at all.
Buddy
Wow. I figured I was the only guy on this board who read that book.
lastchance,
When nymphing I use two different sizes of tippet:
I start with a 3X Rio Trout tapered mono leader. Then I tie on a length of 4X Rio Fluoroflex Plus tippet and attach the first nymph. Then I tie on a shorter length of 5X Fluoroflex Plus Tippet for the dropper nymph. If I need to use split shot (we do on many western rivers) then the split shot goes on the mono leader just above the knot to the fluorocarbon tippet.
Larry 
—sagefisher—
I use a Hank Roberts Nymph/Streamer Leader (it has a lead core section). All ya have to do is tie on the tippet (3X is standard for the big boys; 4 to 5X for the average size; then I won’t even go into midge rigs). You can work these nymphs around weeds & rocks without getting hung up (like you would on splitshot). Using an intermediate sink tip line, or Full sink for some situations will get your patterns down to the strike zone !!!
I use 5X more than anything. But keep in mind, with a LOOP tie a hook on, you can still get great movement with small flies. That means I use 6X on #32 flies. The fly can wiggle but keep the loop small as possible.
While guiding, I use P-Line 4 or 6 lb fluoro as a tippet for 20+ inch fish waters
and 2 lb for 12" and up.
With the right rod, and the confidence.
5x works always for me unless slamming streamers
Wow, 14 posts and not 1 single correct answer. I’ll keep lurking to see if anyone gets it right.
when nymphing i always use 4x.
My typical rig is 5X to my “lead” fly (whether it be a dry or a size 16 nymph) and then 6X to an 18 - 22 midge nymph. I’ve used 7X in the past but have broken a few off and prefer not to go below 6X.
When I used to fish the trout streams of central Pa 5X was my standard for most nymphs and dries. Streamer fishing usually meant bigger flies and going down to 2 or 3X. However many of my fishing buddies used 4x in the same water and did just fine.
Here in Montana the go to tippet size for most nymphs and dries is 3X. For big dries like hoppers and salmon flies it is not unusual to got to 1x. Streamer fishing is almost all 1x, at least for the bigger streamers. For years I used 6x for most nymphs on the Big Horn. This was my first season guiding on the Horn and I quickly found out that very often fish were breaking off with 5x and when I had my fishermen use 4x many fish were not breaking off, but the flies were simply being pulled out.
There is one thing to consider about using as heavy a tippet as you can when nymphing though. That is the sink rate of say a 3x tippet as compared to a 5x tippet. Somewhere online is a table showing the comparable sink rates of various tippet sizes. This is not to say you should use 8x for nymphs, but if the average size of the fish in the stream is only up to mid teens (inches) I would use 5x over 3x both for sink rate and for a more natural drift.
Despite fishing for mostly stocked trout here in MO and Arkansas - the trout are really finicky. For that reason I use 6X orvis fluorocarbon for most of my fishing. In very low and clear water I go to 7X. High or off color water or for slinging streamers I’ll sometimes sneak it up to 5X.
Greg
I also live here in Missouri and find 6X and 7X is the best and sometimes use
5X. I have 4X and been trying to convience myself to remove it from the vest.