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The Mad Duck

Question For You Bass/Panfish Guys

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What do you guys use for Leader/Tippet? I have been using 12/10/8 lb tests to build my leader/tippet for Bass and Panfish, and occasionally tie on a length of 6lb if I an using a fly that 8lb mono wont fit through. I just don't see the need to use trout tippet material for Bass and Panfish.

Thoughts?

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I use 8/6/4 Fluoro. when I build mine. Can handle what I catch with the 3wt and 5wt. YMMV

Tight lines, Rick

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I'm sure what I do is wrong but it works for me. I have a loop to loop connection from fly line to a 4ft piece of 25lb mono to a tippet ring then finished off with a piece of 4ft 12lb mono. Turns over the flies fine and hasn't stopped the bluegill, bass, catfish and gar I've been going after the last couple years. I just don't think they are as leader shy as other fish. Plus when you have to be careful on spending money as I have to be on fishing stuff. A large spool of mono doesn't break the bank and last forever. 

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43 minutes ago, rodgersbsw said:

I'm sure what I do is wrong but it works for me. I have a loop to loop connection from fly line to a 4ft piece of 25lb mono to a tippet ring then finished off with a piece of 4ft 12lb mono. Turns over the flies fine and hasn't stopped the bluegill, bass, catfish and gar I've been going after the last couple years. I just don't think they are as leader shy as other fish. Plus when you have to be careful on spending money as I have to be on fishing stuff. A large spool of mono doesn't break the bank and last forever. 

Its NEVER wrong if it works for you!!

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Depends where I'm fishing, the size of the flies,  and what's in the water.   I use furled leaders with a 5 to 6 foot tippet.   The minimum size fly I throw for pan fish is size 8 and they range up to size 4.  Tippet will range from 10 to 15 lb fluorocarbon as long as there aren't any toothy critters in the water.   For bass, chain pickerel, pike etc.  20 to 25 lb test even if I'm fishing for pan fish in the lake or stream.  The heavier tippet hasn't stopped the pan fish from taking the fly.  There is some logic to my madness.   I was fishing for bluegills and pumpkinseed  off a dock and the second picture was what was hiding under the dock.

 

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I don't use material marketed as tippet material for much. I'll carry 3, 4, 5 and sometimes 6X tippet to make minor adjustments to my leader on the water otherwise  I use mono (which is all tippet material is unless you buy into the minutia BS) between 4 and 40lb test depending on the weight of the rod and the flies I'm fishing? Tippet spools are less bulky to carry then 300 yard spools of mono and I use very very little actual tippet material.  In the 4, 5, 6 weight range I start with 20 or 25lb butt section and step it down incrementally using some, all or none of 17, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 lb test or variations thereof depending what I'm chucking. Generally ending up with an 8 to 10' leader. For 6 weight and up I'll have a 25lb up to a 40lb butt section thats tapered down from there. 

A leader is part of a balanced system between the rod, fly line, leader and fly, not necessarily what your hoping to catch. If your system is balanced, casting is far easier and accurate. If not, casting becomes more problematic. knowing what weight rod your using and what flies your fishing would be a great help. Unless your fishing a 3wt or under for bass your leader seems under powered at 12lbs in the butt. I know the weight and bulk of many bass flies would collapse a leader with a 12 lb butt. 

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14# test leader, anywhere from 4 to 8 feet.  Then I attach 10# test tippet, usually I start with 2 feet or so and replace when it gets to about 12 inches. 

I can't prove it bothers the fish or not, but it casts well enough to get a fly to where they are!

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For bass I use an 8wt and use a 2ft section of 30lb (Cheap Zebco Walmart stuff) and then another similar section of 20#, then a 10lb tippet section of 2-3ft length of whatever line I have around. I don't seem to cast well without some sort of downsizing leader to tippet but I don't get too involved with them. I also loop to loop mine. Throws poppers, mice, frogs, streamers and wooly buggers pretty good. 

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