Hi everyone, I've been lurking here for some time hoping that as a beginner some of the wealth of information will enter my thick skull.

As I suspect with many beginners most of my confusion revolves around lines, leaders &tippets. I guess there just isn't one answer and although the number of possible setups is infinite it doesn't stop beginner mentality wanting to read "the answer" on a single web page or one paragraph of a book.

I think I'm slowly starting to understand enough for a first step but I have one question which is regarding the colour of the line used for the tippet. I have plenty of Maxima Chameleon mono which I use for coarse fishing This is sort of light brown / beige. Is it OK to use for tippets? or in general is only clear used.

I intend to fish a local small river and tributary stream using a 7'6 4/5 rod, 4WF line, 5x tapered leader & dry fly (mayfly).

If anybody knows it? the River is the Bollin and the tributary is Birkin brook both in Bowdon.

Many thanks in advance.

Mike

What a coincidence-just come back from our wee loch.
Fish were rising everywhere but could not get a take on anything.
Tried all different sorts of dry fly on all different types of line.
Decided to go light -picked out a size 20 parachute fly
Dug into my fishing bag and found the very stuff-Maxima Chameleon 4lb also
from my coarse days
Thought I would give it a go.
Instant success – got 3 fish in half an hour all about 3lb lost a couple.
No breaks and the stuff must be 25 years old.
It worked for me- Give it a go.

Maxima is one of the toughest nylons available, i'm sure its strength is higher than it's stated. No special knots needed like with certain specialist, expensive leader material, some of which i suspect is labelled well above it's true B.S. So yeah, Maxima makes good leader material, and is often sold as such.

I used to use Chameleon as a reel line in my coarse days, brilliant, it sank with a flick of the rod tip. That is useful, as you don't want the line to the dry fly to be visible on the surface. When i use Maxima for fly fishing, i use Ultragreen which is matt and of course very strong! All that said, you may be better off adding a tippet of some more poncy line such as Stroft, Riverge Max or Rio, or try Gamakatsu G-Line from Trafford Angling.

I used to fish the Bollin, and i suspect i was a member of the club you are in. Will send a PM regarding trout in that river.

Alan

P.S. Chameleon is s'posed to, and generally does, take on the colour of its surroundings. It doesn't have to be clear, just not too shiny, which it isn't.

__________________
"Angling may be said to be so like mathematics in that it can never be fully understood" - Izaak Walton

Maxima is produced by Bayer - Bayer standard mono is also sold under quite a few other brands and in different finishes - I rate it as the best standard mono available. Some folks undermark the actual bs - some don't .

I sell Clear as do Drennan and Ultimate Fishing . I mark as near as I can judge on wet knot strength .

£3.00 per 100m plus p&p .

Clear rather than Pale Browns/Greens as clear reflcts back the colour of the water it is being used in . I also supply in Pale green if that is your fancy !

Best wishes

Steve Parton

Many thanks for the replies Gents. Looks like I'll give it a go with my spare Maxima Chameleon for tippets but consider other options going forward.

Mike