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jdecoudres

tippet question

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I was wondering if I could buy regular fluorocarbon line like for example 2lb test and use it for my tippet. Its much cheaper that way. I use a lot of 5x and 6x size tippet? Thanks for the help Also I have been using alot of tippet that's not fluorocarbon and I personally haven't noticed that much difference in fluorocarbon vs. mon

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I use a lot heavier leader and tippet these days. I usually use 8 to 20# line for my tippet, and make the rest of my leader from standard fishing line. There is no reason not to try fishing line. In the 5 6 and 7X tippet sizes just be sure that your getting the most supple line and a similar diameter. Break strength shouldn't be too much of a factor. Mono line does degrade over time, and if left in the heat or sun, can break down (loose strength,) fairly quickly. Fluorocarbon doesn't break down nearly as fast, and it is supposed to be less visable in water. The fact that fluorocarbon lines take decades to break down is (to me) a problem. Many areas already have a significant problem with the build up of mono line. This broken off or otherwise discarded line is a hazard to fish, and other wildlife, and a problem for anglers. I usually return from most fishing outings with my pockets full of line discarded by other anglers. In one popular great lakes river, I once snagged up on a log, when I waded out to see if I could retrieve the fly, or at least break off with the least amount of line attached, I was able to pull the log over to shore. There were hundreds (maybe thousands,) of yards of line and dozens of flies tangled around that one log. I ended up cutting off a grocery bag full of line, weights, and flies to carry out. I once retrieved about 40 yards of mono shooting line and a shooting head fly line.

 

Fluorocarbon can take 10 times longer to break down and to me its a reason NOT to use it.

 

Fluorocarbon line can be purchased in 100 to 250 yard spools for about the same price as a 30 yard spool of tippet. Yes you can save money buying it that way. Fluorocarbon does offer some advantages, but for me at least, they are not enough to offset the increased costs or the environmental costs. Since I continue to catch all the fish I want with it, I will continue to use mono line, and build my own leaders.

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I use regular mono for my leaders/tippets all the time. The only time I can even notice is with the tiniest dry flies. I do use maxima for the butt section but the rest is suffix mono. Like utyer said use the most supple, zero memory lines and they work fine. The diameters/breaking strengths are a little different sometimes between mono and tippet( tippet usually being smaller dia. for same mono breaking strength). So if you are using a leader recipe go by the diameters. And utyer I agree on the line. Some people just have no respect. I pulled more line out of the water and trees and banks this year than I have used in a lifetime. A blue heron died this past winter in a local creek because it got tangled in someone's line. I warn people whenever I see them swimming in the creek because I know how many rusty hooks and line is in there. I could go on for days about that.

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Agreed that fluorocarbon does have problems vis a vis environmental impact, but it also has several advantages as well (durable, less stretch, shelf-life etc.), so I use it myself, but not exclusively, and I am very careful where my clipped tags and spent leaders go.

 

The only real difference between the "fishing line" and the tippet material sold to fly fishers is the diameter of the line...and if you believe what the label says on your tippet spools, take a micrometer to them and odds are you'll be surprised. Maxima makes a great fluorocarbon line that is affordable in the 200m spools (as much as Rio in the 27m spools) and down to 2#, and it is my favorite of the different lines I have tried. YMMV.

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Also I have been using alot of tippet that's not fluorocarbon and I personally haven't noticed that much difference in fluorocarbon vs. mon

 

The only time I use fluro is when midging still water. It seems like when the fly is just suspended there, not moving at all, the fish have more time to check it out.

 

A local guy spent a while under water filming trout eating natural midges and midge imitations in this lake near me. He found significantly more fish rejecting the same midge using mono vs. fluro.

 

Kind of off-topic, but he also noticed more fish rejecting midges with the classic "J" shape (natural and artificial) as opposed to midges that were just straight (tied just on the shank of the hook, not down the bend at all). I thought that was pretty interesting.

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Kind of off-topic, but he also noticed more fish rejecting midges with the classic "J" shape (natural and artificial) as opposed to midges that where just straight (tied just on the shank of the hook, not down the bend at all). I thought that was pretty interesting.

 

Definitely off topic! But also definitely interesting. It has been my impression that larvae and nymphs are normally extended when submerged but "curl up" when removed from the water.

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