Replacing my tippet

C

ChuckofWagon

New member
Joined
Jun 8, 2024
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21
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SW Pa
I honestly don't know the last time I bought new tippet line. All I know is I've fished a few times this year and have lost half-a-dozen flys because my knots just broke. They broke when a trout hit, they broke just casting, they broke when I just (post spit) cinched them up. I'm no pro but I'm not a newbie. I just think I'm going to pitch my current tippet material and get new.

The knots I tie are (at times) nail knot.....but mostly Clinch knot, double clinch knot, the 16-20 knot (because it's easy).

So...that being said, what brand should I look for? I have Orvis and I looked at their website. Flurocarbon tippet is pricy and Nylon tippet is much less. Is the price difference worth it? Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks!!
 
You are going to get a different answer from every poster. The reality is that it doesn't really matter. I use Rio Powerflex 90% of the time. Couldn't tell you why. I do have a couple spools of Rio Flouroflex. Don't use it often, mainly because its expensive and a luxury that I really can't explain.

I have used the cortland fairplay stuff from walmart too. Nothing wrong with it.
 
I have Orvis and RIO 5x tippet, but I also have Berkley Trilene 4lb mono that I most often use, because it's much cheaper than name brand tippet, and works just as well. I also use a tippet ring, so I only have to replace an actual leader once every year, or so.
 
I use nylon for everything. I don't care what brand it is. Heck, I'd use Cortland Fairplay from Walmart, and the only reason I don't is because their dispenser sucks so bad. Orvis, Rio, SA - it doesn't matter. They are all fine.
 
I've been using Fulling Mill Master class. It comes in 50m spools. The dispenser seems to work better than most. In addition to that, I like the 4.5x.
 
ChuckofWagon said:
I honestly don't know the last time I bought new tippet line. All I know is I've fished a few times this year and have lost half-a-dozen flys because my knots just broke. They broke when a trout hit, they broke just casting, they broke when I just (post spit) cinched them up. I'm no pro but I'm not a newbie. I just think I'm going to pitch my current tippet material and get new.

The knots I tie are (at times) nail knot.....but mostly Clinch knot, double clinch knot, the 16-20 knot (because it's easy).

So...that being said, what brand should I look for? I have Orvis and I looked at their website. Flurocarbon tippet is pricy and Nylon tippet is much less. Is the price difference worth it? Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
What size is the tippet you are using?
 
I only use fluorocarbon and the only brand(s) I use Are Seaguar & Orvis. I never had a problem with either.

In my Nylon days I only used Orvis Super Strong since the day it first appeared on the market.

The ONLY tippet I ever used that gave me problem was Rio FluoroFlex.
 
Solardini seems to be the best bang for your buck in fluoro right now (I don’t really use monofilament nylon anymore for nymphing or dries except for building leaders). Combine that with the fact that their 6x is >5lb test and their 5x is almost 7lb and it’s definitely worth trying.

tacticalflyfisher.com

Soldarini S-Power Elite Competition Fluorocarbon Tippet

This tippet has an excellent performance to cost ratio. It is up there with any of the other premium fluorocarbon's that I have fished (Devin) The highest grade of fluorocarbon tippet offered by Sandro Soldarini of Italy - Made in Japan - 50 m spool
tacticalflyfisher.com tacticalflyfisher.com

Never understood the Seagaur thing- we spend so much money on rods, reels, waders, accessories and yet you’re cheaping out on the one thing between you and the potential fish of a lifetime. I catch enough high teens upper Delaware rainbows that would laugh at that 3lb test during their first run downstream. Now I’m out 2-3 nymphs. Who’s saving money again?
 
dudemanspecial said:
Out of curiosity, what was the problem?

I have had issues tying good knots with it.
Click to expand...

Knots breaking, tippet breaking...

That was a long time ago, it could have been a one-off problem and I'm sure they sorted it out by now. However, it was in my "experimental" days with fluorocarbon and it only took that one spool to loose confidence in the brand.

Bottom line, once I settle on a product (tippet, hooks, fly tying thread, fly line, etc.), I never try anything new or even old unless I have a problem so I doubt I'd try Rio again.
 
jifigz said:
I use nylon for everything. I don't care what brand it is. Heck, I'd use Cortland Fairplay from Walmart, and the only reason I don't is because their dispenser sucks so bad. Orvis, Rio, SA - it doesn't matter. They are all fine.
Click to expand...
Agree, they are all fine. And if you want cheap fluor, use temu.
 
Your scenario is when I usually think it’s time to buy new tippet material. And I now put purchase date on the spool with a sharpie.
I have no favorite but end up buying Orvis super strong because that’s what my fly shops usually carry. I’ve been pleased with it.
On advice from members, I have also recently gone to using tippet rings. It definitely saves the end of your leader and I see no difference in casting or fly presentation.
 
I pretty much agree that you could take all the current top tier tippets, shake them up in a bag and make a blind choice and whatever you came up with would be fine and as good as anything else in the bag so long as it was of Japanese manufacture and not Chinese.

I started on Cortland Nylorfi. That became unavailable and I went to something called Aeon which, even 45 years later is still the worst stuff I ever used. After that, it all kind of becomes a blur. Orvis SS, Dai-Riki, Climax (not very good, IMO), Umpqua, Rio, Sci Anglers (in several incarnations), Frog Hair (I didn't like it), etc. etc.

These days, I mostly fish Rio and Trout Hunter. I think Trout Hunter is pretty good stuff.

I don't believe in fluorocarbon, but one of the leading fluoro brands, Seaguar, used to make a nylon tippet. 8-10 years ago, I bought several spools of it while grilling a fly shop guy in Bangor for local info. I really liked it quite a bit, but I don't see it anywhere any more except maybe on EBay. I don't do Ebay.

That's about all I know...🙂
 
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