Firstly , sorry for all the q around the site, i'm doing a lot of reading and the Q i'm asking are to fill in bits i don't quite get or to reinforce what i think i have taken in .

so here goes.. I have been looking up leaders/tippit etc . Now i found charts that vary slightly which isn't a huge problem in itself for me ..

What i'm not sure on is say for example i decide to use a 5x leader ( lets say it's 3lb for arguments sake) and using a 14/16 hook ( again for arguments sake ) would the tippit be the same BS as the end of the leader ? in this case 3 lb

and if so how much smaller would you go in hook size before you changed to say a 6X in other words do we get a bit of leeway with leader/tippit sizes ..?

The answer is yes if the leader and tippet are the same material and from the same manufacturer.


I tell beginners to use the rule of 4. Divide the hook size by 4 and use that tippet size. It gives a slightly thicker tippet than the rule of three that you have used. Leaders with a slightly thicker tippet are easier to control for beginners.

So a size 16 hook using the rule of 4 would use 16/4 or a 4X tippet. You used the rule of 3, which is what I recommend as the fisher becomes a better caster with greater control of thinner tippet. So 16/3 = 5X which is the size tippet you used. Staying with the rule of 3, do the reverse calculation to answer your question for 6X tippet. 3x6 = 18 so for a size 18 hook, you would use a 6X tippet.

Got it?

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Silver Creek- "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought"....Szent-Gyorgy

Yeah Mojha generally the tippet diameter will always reduce as it approaches the hook , I have heard of alternate tapper configurations but dont get them to be honest, and there is certainly some tolerance regarding tippet size and hook size however large heavy flies do not cast well on very light tippet and equally small flies do not behave in a natural manner when tethered by one which is too large ,one consideration which you may not have made is that rods which handle heavy fly lines (7/8#) are unlikely to to provide enough cushion to protect a very fine tippet for me this and the likely size of your quarry should also be kept in mind . Tightlines PJ

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When you can see without being seen,strike without knowing why,and guess correctly where the best fish lie,they have taught you all they can.
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