I was wondering what type of tippet you guys use. I have only used rio powerflex as i mostly fish for trout on the fly, but Im heading back to the green in the next couple weeks so I got some fluorflex to try. Whats your guys opion does it really matter? Is it worth the 15$ compared to the 5$. I know the fluroflex is less visiable so im guessing it might be better for the green with the clearer waters and that the powerflex is good enough on the weber espically with the dirty water thats been the normal lately. Or do you guys prefer another brand?
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I don't believe fluorocarbon is any less visible than most monos. Never seen an unbiased study that says otherwise either. Mono (and fluoro.) is certainly less visible than that dark piece of metal with a sharp point hanging from your beautiful fly. Kinda like folks who think a trout can see your 5x, but not your 6x, all while totally ignoring the gaping hook hanging underneath your perfect winged, 3-tailed, exact-ribbed, color-coordinated, perfectly proportioned mayfly. Right!
Having said that, I have made the switch from mono and found fluorocarbon to be more durable and abrasion resistant than mono. I re-tie less often, and use less overall. Orvis Mirage is my tippet of choice. I still tie it to a mono. or furled tapered leader though. Again, for durability, not visibility. The only time I go to smaller tippet is for a more drag-free drift, but that's another thread.
Steve: Green is still good! low flows. Clouds are letting a few, just a few, bwo's start popping in the late afternoon. Still though, "Hoppers, beetles, and ants . . . oh my!" I use those mostly with 3x on the Green.
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Well, scientifically, we can say that fluoro is less visible than mono, because its refractive index is closer to that of water. What the fish see is up for debate, though.
One difference that may matter is that fluro sinks and mono floats. So I might tie on a fluoro tippet if I were fishing nymphs or wets, but I'd choose mono for fishing dries.
Knot strength, abrasion resistance, stretch, and impact strength are probably a wash, with each one's good qualities offsetting the bad.
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Fluoro does sink but not like a brick just in the film. I only use fluoro for everything including those #32 dries. It is a smaller diameter than mono. The fact it does sink is the beauty to me. It is sub surface (for a long time) so light will not reflect off it.
I think it is a matter of choice, these are why I use it, and have for a long time. I do not buy Tippet except maybe in 6X. All else is P-Line pure fluoro.
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what would be your go to size for the p line fluoro?? i am going to give that a try
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That depends on what water. Provo, 4lb. Snake 4 or 6 Stillwater 6 or 8, Carp 10[
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fluorocarbon is much better then mono Tippett. my got to is 5x on the green. sometimes I will go 4x. I have found at with flourocaron you never really have to go smaller than 4x, except for on very clerk waters like the green.
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awesome most likely go for the 4lb, but when it comes to the p line i have noticed there are many types they offer, what would be the one to use?
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Love the Rio stuff. Yes the extra coin for fluro is worth it. Seems to get nicked up less than mono. Better strength in equal sized diameter when compared to mono if I recall correctly too.
To the post that said fish don't notice The difference between 5x and 6x.........30+days a year for the last 7 years has shown me the opposite. Me and my fishing partner aka my pops have tested it countless times. We fish The same rod, same Rio gold line, same leader and he will tie on 5x and me 6x, same fly.....smaller tippet will catch more fish every time. To the point I've seen the 6x hooking up 5 to 1 some nights. We will switch rods, keep fishing The same spots we were prior to switching rods and the catch rate will flip flop.
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BMarsh . How many breakoffs do you get with 6x compared to 5x?
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i swear by rio and umqua. love the stuff, even for the toothy mouthed fish we hit during the summer.
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I use the Blue box:
[url "http://www.basspro.com/P-Line-Fluorocarbon-Fishing-Line/product/44286/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&om_mmc=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=17kw3123400&SST=00f6eb5b-9c1a-db29-b3cb-00004ef48e51"]http://www.basspro.com/...29-b3cb-00004ef48e51[/url]
One thing, and why I mentioned that I do use tippet on the smaller flies. P-Line will be a little bigger diameter than the Fluoro Tippet material.
For me, at 4 lbs and larger it need not be a problem. I agree totally that having the right size (meaning smaller) for small flies will make the fly move more freely triggering more strikes. I like Mirage 6X for my size 32's.
I also think fluoro makes a difference. Maybe just in confidence, but a difference non the less.
I went on a guide get together with five other guides. We all know the waters and fished the same flies. One other guide besides myself, used fluoro. We were catching 3 to their 2. Might be a coincident, confidence, or maybe the fact it really works. But it works for me.
Not saying you need the whole leader as I use furled, just the tippet.
As far as break offs, you can get that with anything. I have had Carp break off 10 lb.
Break offs are suppose to happen, that way we are not running to Cabela's after every outing to exchange a broken rod.[
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That is also why I like mid flex & full flex rods so much.
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Bmarsh,
Just curious what type of flies you're fishing when you notice smaller flourocarbon tippet outperforms larger fc tippet. I think it matters some with dries. With nymphs I don't notice any difference at all. I can use 3,4,5 or 6x without noticing any difference except more bigger fish breaking off in fast water with the lighter stuff. I only use Mirage so don't know if brands make a difference. Maybe part of the difference could be specific to different waters as well.
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The times we've done it is always with drys. We don't do much nymphing at all. This year I swung a lot of wets and didn't worry about it. But with drys it really makes a difference. As far as break offs......not a noticable difference. All about using rods with good flex that absorbed pres. And getting fish on the real with good drag. I fish a 3wt on big water and have pulled in a lot of nice fish on 6x with it with few break offs just because that rod will absorb so much .
That being said I can't go smaller than 4x swinging wets. The strikes are too violent and will break me off 99% of the time if I'm smaller than 4x. I'm a believer in going small as possible with tippet. Just has helped to produce more fish for me when fishing waters that see a lot of fishing pres. Especially on the south fork of the snake and on The Henrys fork.
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I'd agree with your findings. And yes my breakoffs on lighter tippet is an issue with nymphs and not dries. Nice to see someone else who realizes a 3 or 4 wt rod is more than enough for most trout.
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Pretty sure most agree with the 3 and 4, even a 2.[cool]
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Bmarsh mentioned 3 wt. I'd generally go with at least a 4 wt for those waters. I never owned a premium rod below 3 wt because I tend to fish 2 wt rods only where fish above 15 or 16 inches aren't likely and don't see a need. Now if you want to get me a Helios 2-weight 8'4" Fly Rod—Mid Flex, I'll take you up on the challenge and see how long and how many 20 inch + trout I can land on it[laugh].
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No Helios, just a Sage. I am sorry I didn't realize we were talking about big trout rivers/streams[
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Four weight is good though. Hooked a 12" and a 14" on the dropper with a Hardy Glass 4 wt. That was interesting and in a good current too. Later a nice 21" so four is good with me.
Not saying the 2 won't just a time a place.
I will take you up on the offer to fish 20+" trout streams.[
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I have been fishing more moving water this year than still.
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Wt all depends on the wind to be honest. I like the 3 but on those big waters if the wind is there the 5 gets the nod just because I need the backbone to punch it out there. I still usually fish 6x on the 5. Though especially for dries. Biggest trout of caught on dries came in on 6x this spring. Was just over 25 inch rainbow on Henrys fork. Still felt confident landing it , all about good drag.
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I get that[cool] I think the rod flex too. I caught a 24" out of the Provo on a #32 and 6X, but I was using Bamboo.
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