The tippet is a piece of monofilament used to extend (or repair) the leader, which is finally the final link and sometimes fundamental in the presentation of a fly in fishing. Therefore, it is relevant to know the alternatives, what are their characteristics, and how to get the most out of it.
In English, the word represents the small tip of the leader. Having a small coil with a few meters of material from the leader's tip. Just take a piece of tippet and tie it to extend or repair the worn out part of the leader.
How is it Used?
Just when the new fly musketeer has his correctly selected and balanced fly fishing equipment ready, and even having selected a set of leaders suitable for the expected fishing conditions, an additional accessory appears: the tippet.
What is Tippet For?
Personally I see two great functions in the tippet . First, replace worn sections at the leader's tip.This wear is due to knots, to tie and cut flies, to rub against the rocks.
Second, it is possible to find fishing conditions that require changing the leader, either in thickness or in length. For example, fishing for a river, mainly presenting dry flies on the surface with a 9-foot leader in 5x, until surface activity disappears. This is the time to fish with nymphs, seeking to achieve depth, so it is required to extend the leader half a meter and it may also be reasonable to use more thickness. In that case, the final and thin section of the leader is quickly cut and replaced by a meter or more of tippet in 3x. A maneuver that can take a minute, but allows you to tackle fishing in the best possible conditions.
How is Tippet Added?
As indicated in the knot guide for fly fishing : "To change the tippet and add a new piece to the leader (knot that joins nylon with another nylon), three alternatives are recommended: the Barrel or Barrel Knot , the Surgeons Knot or Knot Surgeon , very easy to learn and perform on the ground. Finally my favorite, the Blood Knot , which allows a very firm union with a minimum of lump, making this union seem a more regular extension of the leader .
What Types of Different Tippet Are There?
From the point of view of manufacturers, there are different makes and models, all offering greater resistance with the same thickness. It is even possible to compare them when reviewing the list of world records of fishing that each one owns. Personally I have not found substantial differences in the material of each of them, so my choice is based primarily on the convenience of the small plastic reel that stores it, always looking for the same brand to facilitate mounting them together.
One aspect that really makes the difference when deciding between makes and models is the use of Fluorocarbon . These tippet, being more expensive, offer the possibility of being practically invisible in the water, due to a refractive index very close to this one. Therefore, it is feasible to use tippets of greater thickness in conditions of extremely suspicious fish. I personally walk with a 3x or 4x tippet spool of fluorocarbon along with my set of tippets in other thicknesses.Enter your text here...
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