7pts lost due to bad tippet

[ezlehappy]

I fair hooked my first carp today, only to lose it to faulty 4x rio grande tippet. It wasn't a huge carp, only about 16 inches or so. The 4x tippet I'm assuming should have been able to handle it.

This wasn't the first time that tippet spool has broken off. In fact, I lost about 8 or more flies in 2 about 2 hours of fishing using that tippet.

Oh well, I still got a white bass at the airport hilton, and a catfish at willard bay today. I'm up to 35 points, but I would have been at 42 if that carp hadn't broken off. Oh well, perhaps I'll go back tomorrow. I caught on that black body and mylar border fly that cheeck gave me at pelican.

BTW, since I've brought up the issue of faulty tippet, what tippet brand do you folks recommend? Are there any you'd recommend avoiding?

[bigshane]

I use Umpqua myself, but I have noticed after a while the tippet seems to weaken. I have only had a problem with 5x and smaller, and it is usually on a second trip use. To solve the problem I cut off my tippet at the end of the day and then retie every outing. It has worked for me, hope this helps.
Shane

[Quill Gordon]

Same problem with Rio 5x, used it on the Middle, kept losing my dropper. Solved that prob. tying on some fresh Rio 4x, that worked so well I snapped my rod in half but the tippet held up fine.

[Fred]

You snapped your rod in half with 4x tippet?

i think that the upqua and rio leaders and tippets can get brittle if they get too much sun exposure or get too old.

I recently tried the frog's hair tippet and I think I will keep using this product. it stretches a little bit and if you fish a fast action rod like me, it seems to help with the break offs.

[Mr. Loopy]

I've been using Climax tippet for a long time and haven't had any problems yet. Knock on wood....

[Quill Gordon]

Large fish Fred and probably a defecto rod. I've also used Climax and have experienced no problems.

[Mike]

I'm a fan of Varivas tippet personally!

That aside, you are going to get sections of bad tippet on your spools no matter what brand you buy. Sometimes there's a foot of bad tippet, sometimes more. If you get into a section that seems bad, keep pulling it off and testing it until it stops breaking. I've rarely gone more than 3 feet before everything gets sorted out. Sunlight, age and the elements in general don't do much for tippet. So if you hang your tippet outside your vest, leave your spools in a car all summer or have the same tippet you were using in 1998 -- you should probably expect to have more problems than you might with newer tippet.

[Jeff Camomile]

Mike,

I love Varivas tippet also. Where do you find it? Most places are out of it because it sells so quickly (but it has been awhile since I tried hard to look for it!)

[JayMorr]

Jeff,

Here is a link for you. I have purchased it here. Hope this helps you out.

Varivas (http://www.ultimateflyfishing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=UOC&Category_Code=VTP)


JayMorr

[flyfshr8]

Umpqua. Climax to limber, Rio too brittle. 'Sep for moose, then Rio is fine! :^) -Clete

[Grizz]

I used to use Rio tippets exclusively until I got a couple of bad (brittle) spools. I think Umpqua is the most popular threrfore the freshest & I always inspect before I buy! I like the 100 meter spools for 4 & 5x and the 30 meter spools in 3 & 6x. I do like the Rio flouroflex, but I don't feel the need to use flourocarbon that often. I've heard good & bad 'bout frog hair, but have no personal experience. I've used Climax leaders & had 0 problems, but not their tippet. Like Mike said, take care of it. Keep it inside your vest or pack. If'n ya let it dangle out in the elements it's gonna breakdown. I know it looks cool to have all your spools hangin off some fancy lanyard or other contraption, but its better off in a safe place away from the sun & other destructive elements. $0.02.....peace

[Mike]

Originally posted by Jeff Camomile
Mike,

I love Varivas tippet also. Where do you find it? Most places are out of it because it sells so quickly (but it has been awhile since I tried hard to look for it!)

I used to get it at Spinner Fall. After Spinner disappeared, I think that enough people asked Western Rivers to carry it that they started to. Unfortunately I don't know if they still do or not... I haven't bought any tippet material for about 6 months or so. As you note it does tend to disappear quickly unfortunately -- especially in 4x - 6x. So if you see it, snatch it up! =)

Alternately Jay's link looks like it'll do the trick. I always try to buy locally if I can but don't have any reservations about buying online if I can't get what I need locally.

Does anyone have experience with Varivas leaders? Anything special?

[Rockstar Caddis]

I myself have used umpqua for the last 7 years or so. I love it. I never seem to have problems except for the usuale wear and age. I recently started using frog hair and find that it seems to be stronger yet cast just as nice. My $0 .02

[JayMorr]

Alternately Jay's link looks like it'll do the trick. I always try to buy locally if I can but don't have any reservations about buying online if I can't get what I need locally.

I will always try and buy local. It is a good thing to support local shops! Internet is great for certain items and closeout specials.

SpinnerFall flyshop not around anymore? I thought they just moved is all. I thought they were right off Parleys.

JayMorr

[ezlehappy]

I've had some umpqua 5x that really didn't impress me. It seemed to stretch too much and caused pigtail like ends when put under any kind of stress.


Clete!!!!!!

It's been ages since we've fished. we got to go sometime soon.

how bout big cottonwood next wednesday. Or maybe we should go visit bullwinkle again:-) lololol

[flyfshr8]

What up William!! I'm working during the week, but fish the Provo and Weber late evenings fri/sat/sun (when I can stand the heat...) E-mail me your phone # and we'll go. I need to call Mike @ fshnfanatic too. Sorry I've been a sneaky selfish little trout hermit for a while. ;^)

[jccollier]

Rio Powerflex..never had issues and haven't tried (haven't had to) anything else. Picked up some 7x Rio Flouroflex this spring for my midge droppers and love it...

My $ .02

J.

[Anthony]

Hey ezlehappy,
Are there really white bass in the hilton? You sure it wasn't a crappie, because Ive been fishing there for about 8 years and never seen one. Just bass, crappie and warmouths, with a few carp mixed in. You should let me know next time you head up there, and I'll try to meet you, love fishing for those guys, not huge but it scratches the itch. Just wondering, you ever go over to NPS just up the street and look at their stuff. One day, they had a pretty nice fly rod for just above $100. Thats cool if there are some white bass in the hilton, and your probably right, because I think the jordan river flows into there.
Anthony

[ezlehappy]

the fish that I caught was about widespread palm size, had no horizontal bars from what I could tell, had now noticeable color on the sides, had spines both on its back and on it pectoral fins.

From all I could understand it appeared to be a bass species. It didn't look anything like the crappie I've seen caught at pineview, so I don't think it was a crappie. It definitely wasn't a largemouth or a small mouth, therefore I can only suspect it was a white bass.

It'd be fun to hit that spot sometime. I work just 15 min away or so. Perhaps we can hit it on a monday, wednesday, or friday before about noon.

I haven't heard of NPS so that's something you'll have to show me sometime.

e-mail me and we can try to hit the Hilton sometime.

[MOKE]

How many of you experiencing bad tippet issues wear your leaders spools exposed in some way? Lanyard, vest attachments.......

The sun will trash that stuff at warp speed rates anymore!!

MOKE

[Anthony]

I was up there two or three weeks ago, and the fishing really wasn't too great. It seems to get good right before the sun goes down, but yes, I would like to hit it as well. Maybe around UEA for me, which is the 16 and 17 of october. Sometimes you can have some great fishing in october for the largemouths. Uno that little tiny pond in between the two main lakes, last year I caught 7 largies and a crappie out of it in about 30 minutes, but that was with spinning gear. I head out there a lot, but recently Ive been heading to camp williams for big largemouth. Will have to try to set something up, the hilton is about the only place I have ever hooked a carp, and I would like to land one. By the way, what were you fishing with? Did you catch any crappie, bass or warmouths? Right before the sun sets, the warmouth go crazy, but the mosquitos come out and you have to leave because its unbearable. Lets keep in touch, if we cant setup something this year, might as well make it next year.
Anthony

[Ouzel]

right; heat and sunlight (UV) degrades any polymer. Have you noticed many tippet spools are a dark color.

Dangling tippet spools holders are just a gaget; how often do you need tippet material that you can't better keep it in a pocket in your vest or chest pack out of the sun.

Do you leave your vest, etc. in the trunk of your car or the cab of your truck? Especially in summer?

[Jason B]

Originally posted by Ouzel
Dangling tippet spools holders are just a gaget; how often do you need tippet material that you can't better keep it in a pocket in your vest or chest pack out of the sun. [/B]

I use the "gaget" every day. Expecally when i guide. I am always needing to tie on new tippet and my tippet T really helps so i don't have to go threw all my pockets to find it. I actually made mine from a pen tube. Very helpful

[carpman]

Hmmm.......

I have this "gadget" as well. I don't recall any tippet problems caused by the Tippet "T". Course, I fish fluorocarbon, maybe there is light at the end of the fluoro tunnel.....