After much searching and frustration in digging out the individual
manufacturer charts, I gave up. I didn't find enough tippet charts to
make it worth our while. However, I did find the following, which
gives much of what we need to know about tippets.
Fly Tippet Sizes
Tippet sizes are referred to by "X" designations ranging from 0X
(largest) to 8X (smallest). The X designation is based on the tippet
diameter. To remember how "X" and diameter works, simply subtract the X
number from 11 and express in .001".
Example: To find the diameter of a 4X tippet.
Solution: 11- 4 = 7 or .007"
Test strengths vary by manufacturer. However, tippet diameters should be
consistent throughout a length of material, subject to each
manufacturer's level of quality control, and parameters that determine
actual breaking strength.
Fly Size TippetSize Diameter (inches) Approximate Pound Test
1/0-4 0X .011 13
4-8 1X .010 11
6-10 2X .009 9
10-14 3X .008 6.5
12-16 4X .007 5.5
14-18 5X .006 4.5
16-22 6X .005 3.5
18-24 7X .004 2.5
22-28 8X .003 1.75
I rarely use much tippet material, for on the streams I fish. I prefer
to continue using my current leader until the break-offs finally put the
tippet section of my leader out of commission, causing the fly to cast
and set roughly onto the current. When these break-offs have been
numerous and the action is really off, I sometimes tie on a length of
tippet material to the leader to replace the tippet. More often than
not, I find myself just tying on a new leader. Guess that's why I have
so many extra spools of tippet material laying around. :-P I'd be
better served to tie on a new piece of tippet, for it's a helluva lot
cheaper than a new leader. Color me hard-headed!
A lot of newbie fly fishers don't realize that tippet material even
exists. When they get their first outfit, they get the fly rod, fly
line, files and buy a bunch of leaders, while not even knowing about
tippet and how it is used. It happened to me many years ago when I
first started fly fishing, and I didn't really know much about the use
of tippet until I got back into fly fishing in 1990 after a 41 year
hiatus during my chunking and winding thing. :-[ The tippet section of
a leader and tippet material and are both tippets. One is an integral
part of the leader, while the other comes on a spool and is used to
replace the broken tippet section of the leader.
A little more on leaders: "The three basic parts to a tapered leader
are the butt section, tapered section, and the tippet. The butt section
makes up about 60% of the leader length and is made of larger
diameter stiffer material. This section starts the transfer of energy
from the fly line into the leader. The mid section (20% of the leader
length) is made up of short, graduated strands of monofilament stepping
down quickly in diameter. It dissipates the energy transferred from the
fly line to allow a gentle presentation.
The final section, the tippet, is made of softer smaller diameter
material, which enables the fly to to set gently down and ride the
current in an unrestricted manner as possible."
Cheers!
JIMMY D
