For obvious reasons, I've been fishing with mayflies over the last couple of weeks using a 9' Rio powerflex tapered leader, 6X at the point, to which I've then attached about 2' of 6X tippet.

I'm having problems with the leader and the tippet twisting over and over on itself because of the mayfly spinning while in the air. Any way of solving this? Maybe a leader and tippet which is a little thicker, 5X say?

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Tha mo bhàta-foluaimein loma-làn easgannan.

I'd suggest that your mayfly might be the problem, but 4 pound Maxima would be my choice in any case.

I've pretty much given up Fluro with no noticeable negative effect on catches.

It's not fluoro - it's co-polymer. I don't get on with thin diameter fluoro at all on rivers and gave up on it a long time ago.

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Tha mo bhàta-foluaimein loma-làn easgannan.

I'd second the thicker tippet suggestion, as it's simply down to casting such a large fly. I used to experience the same issue when using large klinkhamers, etc and the leader-twist is a pain. When using larger flies on my local small streams, for example, I now use 4X/5X tippet and don't experience the problem as much.

Good luck

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Isn't the rule of thumb to divide the fly size by 3 to get the approx tippet size?
With a Mayfly being size 10/12 and quite large and wind resistant, I use 4x and don't have that problem.

Thanks guys. Using a thicker tippet was my best guess to solve the problem. I was just a little concerned about the thickness putting off the fish, but if they're going mad on the mayfly, that might not be such a problem, particularly if I can get 18'' or so closest to the fly to sink. Thanks again.

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Tha mo bhàta-foluaimein loma-làn easgannan.

I use Orvis mud on the last part of copolymer leader and it seems to make it sink enough.

EiB,

The common formula I've come across is "divide hook size by 3". So a size 12 divided by 3 = 4. Therefore 4X. I'm using the Varivas 7.5 foot tapered leaders at the moment. The fish are not scared of 4X tippet. At least not the ones I've caught yet ... not sure about the ones I haven't caught

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Cheers,
Lawrence

You definitely need to use a heavier leader / tippet when casting big mayfly patterns. 4x works for me and anything lighter gets twisted. You don't need to worry about the thickness issue when the trout are really on the mayfly as it won't deter them.

Cliff ,
thicker tippet is defo the way to go , with my big extended body jobs have been using 9lb bs Stroft , not puttin the fish of at all .
have fun !

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Andy Wren
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