" It is often the big fish, lying in the most difficult spot, that requires the finest tippet. In many of the small spring creeks and the eastern limestone streams with super-slick water you need a 6X or 7X tippet to get strikes, both because the small size of the fly requires a small diameter tippet to go through the eye of the hook and also to allow the fly to float right. With such a tippet it is very hard indeed to avoid striking too hard, especially if you have been watching the fish rise, and are all tensed up. With such small flies, the trick is not to strike at all. The points of the small hooks are needle sharp and will esily penetrate the mouth of the trout if you just lift the rod tip gently. "
Joe Brooks "Trout Fishing" [1972]
