I have been trying various of tippet materials, from drennan double strength to partridge fluorocarbon, but the only one I can fond that still keeps a good strength after putting a dropper into it is Maxima Chameleon, which I find to chunky and I do not like the colour, does anyone have any recommendations as to a leader material with good knot strength and still has a reasonably thin diameter? Or is it just my tying of the dropper knots that are letting me down ( I use a 3 turn water knot )

Cheers Alex

I use Drennan sub-surface @ 5lb for trout and have never had a problem with breakages. I wouldnt really call it thin though, trout dont seem to mind. I read somewhere that Maxima B/S is based on knot strength, dont know how true this is though.

Thanks Stacon, will give Drennan a go. Does anyone know about stroft, is that suitable for stillwater stockies? Apparently it has good knot strength, is this true?

How have you measured your knot strength?

Be careful comparing mono and fluorocarbon knot strengths, as they often do not like the same knots. So, depending on what knots you use, you might find the switch to fluoro successful or a disaster (knot strength-wise).

I use Riverge and it works brilliantly for me. But try and get hold of a few pieces of the likely candidates and test them out (wet of course) with some shock pulls. You can also experiment with different knots too. Then you won't have to take anyone's word for it - you will know what works best for you and your knots.

Try Maxima ultragreen...............super stuff. I use for all types of fishing......................birdsnest

__________________
Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

I've always found flourocarbon difficult to work with, never found one that I really liked, and I've tried a few! Not keen on the water knot either, try a couple of three turn back to back grinners for your dropper knots.

For Copolymers it has to be Frog Hair for me, brilliant stuff.

SF

Edit: Ps Forgot to add, I also use Daiwa Matchwinner which is very good too.

Mono is more reliable than flouro and has better knot strength, use the palomar knot which can be fiddly when tying small flies on but gives almost 100% knot strength and if you practise at home first you will have no problems.

Stroft is good by the way, I spent a month trying different leader materials and came to the conclusion that flouro doesnet improve your catch rate so went with mono as its generaly cheaper, Stroft for pulling lures etc and Shimano Antares for a better presentation when using dries.

I use airflo platinum for everything with a three turn water knot, cant remember being broken since using it, remember to moisten with slavers before tightening knots.

For what it's worth, I experimented quite a bit with knots and F'carbon. To cut a long story short, experiment / test with many knots, and you will also probably find that the thicker F'carbon (and probably the most expensive) knots best!! no surprise there Fine F'carbon is very delicate when knoted and some "pros" say use 10lb most, if not all, of the time. If you get good at your choosen knots, consider using leader rings if you go to finer stuff...Riverge (maybe the best F'carbon?)recommend them in the literature in their packaging.
Finally, I tried Incognito F'carbon (used mainly by Carp men I believe?) and would say it's probably the best value (not cheap either!) all things considered...just my opinion...you will find every angler has their own favourites for one reason or another. Hope this helps