Hi All

I'm looking to improve my catch rate (aren't we all?) and I've been wondering about very light tippets for sub-surface work on a small river.

So far I've seen the Drennan Hooklength and the Shakespeare Superteam (both on bay, both quite cheap) and the more expensive Orvis Mirage.

Is this a good idea; if it is, what's the best brand?

Thanks

That is a question that is very hard to answer. What size flies are you using and what is the river bed like?
I use Frogs Hair Fluorocarbon or Seaguar in sizes 5x to 8x and I like them both.

I use Stroft 0.1mm (comes out just over 2lb) for this.

It works very well - have yet to have a fish break it (up to 2 lb trout, 3lb chub). But I only use it with a soft rod, and lose a lot of flies when pulling them out of weed/branches when 4lb would pull free.

Lots of good stuff on the market but I wouldn't be without Stroft GTM in sizes 0.10 and 0.08.
Paul

Thanks.

The Stroft seems to be a type of Fluorocarbon; any idea how it compares to the "real" (100% pure) - does it sink and have the same refractive index?

It's certainly a lot cheaper (100m for the same price as 30m).

Look like it's worth a go.

Frog's Hair and Fulling Mill fluorocarbon both htick the box for me.

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

The new 2lb Fulling Mill is, imo, great for subsurface river work.

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www.te-ff.org/
Trout Fisherman Magazine.
Hardy/Greys. Fulling Mill.

Personally i try avoid flourocarbon where possible - simply personal choice as i find i get rather a lot of break offs (probably bad technique rather than the fault of the line itself ). But as a general purpose tippet for all my river work I tend to use 2lb breaking strain low diameter mono. No real brand preferences, but maxima's pretty hard wearing stuff. I'm yet to have a break off whilst nymphing with 2lb mono, apart from fish getting into snags.

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"With my silken line and delicate hook, I wander in a myriad of ripples, And find freedom."
My Blog : yorkshireflynovice.blogspot.com

Come to think of it i think i've used this one in the past (comes on a wee blue spool?) and it was pretty good, but i tend to just get 100yd spools of Bayer Perlon now - relatively cheap and it's strong - and i carry a spool of the super fine stuff that match anglers use for pole rigs, just incase the fish are being really picky. That's mostly for dry flies though - for nymphing the Bayer Perlon's been pretty good for me.

__________________
"With my silken line and delicate hook, I wander in a myriad of ripples, And find freedom."
My Blog : yorkshireflynovice.blogspot.com

My guess is that it's all more or less the same stuff, under different brand names.