Question

[Meskel]

:help:

What is the benefit of tapered leader?

And then when do you use Tippet?

Thanks for the info. Sorry for such a basic question.

[Blue Tip Spinner]

the benefit of a tapered leader (in my eyes) is that i don't have knots that get caught on each other when i am flinging my fly around on windy days. i also believe that the tapered leaders (i have heard this from other people as well) also have better turnover for the fly. in other words the fly will extend out better away from the main fly line.

i use tippet to extend my fly line when i have cut it back to where the taper starts due to changing flies often. i sometimes use it to extend my leader if i am not getting deep enough.

hope that answers your questions.

[lilnorthfork]

What BTS said... to turn over the fly. Try using a 9' length of the same size mono for a leader and cast a fly with it... the results will likely be less than desireable. Your 'tapered' leader can simply be 3 sections of progressively smaller mono tied together. I like the surgeons knot for tying leaders and adding tippet. lnf

[Chromaflage]

Meskel - tapered leaders, be they knotted or knotless, help the fly turn over when casting. By that, I mean that you want the fly to land ahead of the rest of your line. It acts like a whip in the sense that energy is transferred down the line wen casting. You want that energy to be reduced gradually down the line. With level lines and straight leaders that energy is lost all at once and you get a big pile of line on the water with your fly landing who knows where.

FWIW - I use mainly 9' 4x or 3x for trout. Cabela's has a good deal on these - 4 for $7 and change. Tippet is used for a number of reasons. First, as you cut back your tapered leader when changing flies, you're bound to get into the heavier part of the line. So tying a tippet on will get you back to a smaller diameter leader. You might want to fish different depths. So adding tippet can get you into deep water. It's easier and less expensive to add and remove tippet than to put new tapered leaders on all the time.

I hope I've answered your questions.

CrF

[Steve L.]

What BTS and lilnorthfork said. Plus convenience to go along with performance. With the demands on my time I can either spend time at the tying bench or I can be splicing up leaders. Personally, I have a ball wrapping stuff on tiny hooks :grin:

[Meskel]

Thanks all for the information. I had an idea that was what tippet was used for but I did not know the major advantages to tapered leader other then buying it saves a lot of time.

Thanks!
:grin: