when you fly fish how long should the leader be that is connected to the fly line? What is a tapper?

Answer 1

From FlyFishing with Doug McNair -"The leader is important in fly fishing. For a simple definition, I like to think of the leader as the length of clear monofilament that hides the fly fisher from the fish. That, however is a tad too simple. Because of the many dimensions of fly fishing - not the least of which is the fly cast - the subject of leaders can be as simple or as complicated as you care to make it. The right tippet and leader contribute to success on the water; the wrong combination can ruin your day. I tend to believe the misunderstandings about leaders and tippets stem from experience acquired in spinning and bait-casting. In both of these fishing methodologies, the leader is usually a length of steel wire or very strong monofilament used between the line and lure to prevent the fish from breaking-off. About the only thing at variance is the length of the leader, the material it’s made of and, of course, the breaking strength. Generally speaking, the leader’s strength is far greater than the line to which it is attached.

Not so in fly fishing. By design, the end of the leader - the tippet - is the weakest part of the fly fishing system. That, however, is not the only difference. There are a number of variables. Once you begin your fly fishing experience, you will soon be asking these questions about leaders and tippets. How long should it be? How short should it be? Which type of mono is best? What is the best diameter? To stretch or not, that is the question -- which to choose? You will find the answers here.

Always keep in mind that the tippet is of the leader. It is the finite part of the leader assembly. As such, the tippet joins the all important fly to the rest of the system. When you think tippets, think of the last 15-inches of the leader as the very minimum. The tippet can be longer, of course; but if it’s less than 15-inches, it could cost you a record under the IGFA rules. More on this a little later. The bottom line is that leaders are made in varied lengths, in varied diameters and of varied material. Nothing is constant in leader selection other than the water being fished and the chosen fly.

Tippet & Leader Selection: The Variables: I believe the criterion for a good leader/tippet combination is covered by two points. First, the leader/tippet combo must unroll properly turning over the fly at the end of the cast. Second, the leader/tippet combo must continue to work in harmony with the fly once both are on, or in, the water. With these two points in mind, the variables listed below should affect your choice. Taken together, the sum of these factors usually dictates the leader and tippet to be used. Simply add a smidgen of logic, and selecting the right leader/tippet really is not difficult at all.

Tippet size.
Leader length.
Butt diameter.
Water conditions.
Wind.
Line weight and rod.
Line type.
Fish pursued.
Sizing the Tippet: For fly fishing freshwater - where fly fishing had its beginning - start your search for the right tippet in terms of "X," where "X" is always preceded by a number -- such as 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X, etc. Not so many years ago when the dry fly was King of the Hill (and still is in the eyes of some), thinking of the tippet in terms of "X" was convenient. There is, after all, a direct correlation between the tippet and the hook size of the fly. As I’ve already mentioned, the wrong combination of tippet and fly can be bad news. Select your fly, but tie it to the wrong tippet, and I promise you disappointment and sorrow as you make one poor presentation after another.

To help you in the decision-making process of matching tippet to fly, a couple of aides are available. But before going further, I want to reiterate -- nothing in fly fishing is absolute except for the AFTMA standards. Any "how-to-do-it" guide is just that -- a guide. Since I believe something is better than nothing, try the 4-Rule.

The 4-Rule: The 4-Rule works this way: let’s say the fly you’ve selected is a #12 Royal Coachman. To apply the 4-Rule to tippet selection, divide 12 (the size of the fly hook) by 4. The product, 3, suggests the right tippet to use is 3X. It’s the same thing as saying, "tie a #12 dry fly to a 3X tippet." Don’t, however, become confused. If logic suggests a 5X tippet is bigger or heavier than a 3X tippet, you are dead wrong! The larger the "X" number, the smaller the tippet. If you remember my tongue-in-cheek story about Hermann Smuck and the giant trout, recall that Herm’s #64 Black Wasp was attached to a "gossamer" leader. Apply the 4-Rule and his tippet is 16X. Unfortunately, a 16X is not for us common folk. It doesn’t exist! Most fly fishers will never use anything with a number above 6X. I can barely see a #24 fly, much less thread a tippet through the hook’s eye. Even when I succeed, I need a magnifying glass to tie it off.

One other thought, what works going one way is apt to go the other when the lanes are reversed. If you happen to have a 3X tippet on the end of your leader and wonder what size fly might be the best, apply the 4-Rule: multiply 3, the tippet size, by 4. The suggested fly size is a #12.

You should understand that the 4-Rule is highly criticized by a number of fly fishers. Many prefer the 3-Rule. It works the same way. For that matter, you might want to use both -- the 4-Rule for bulky flies and the 3-Rule for slender flies. Whichever you prefer, be aware the numbers will not always come out even. When you apply the 4-Rule to a #10 fly, don’t expect to tie-on a 2.5X tippet. Half-sizes don’t exist! What to do? If the fly is slender, go with a 3X; if it’s bulky try a 2X. The odds are, one of the two will properly tip over the fly before it settles to the water.

There are, of course, those folks who prefer no rules at all. I think of them as being one of the chosen few who are able to divine tippet size by communicating directly with the ancient Fish Gods or the Knot-Tiers. Unfortunately, I don’t happen to have either talent. I need rules. Besides, I learned a long time ago that any rule is nothing more than a guide. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't!

Next up: More "Of Tippets, Leaders and Knots." The saga continues. Coming up -- leader/tippet diameters, breaking strengths, materials, knotless leaders and the other kind, the ones with lots of knots."

Answer 2

If you are just getting started at fly fishing, go to a sporting goods store and buy yourself some tapered tippets (leaders). They come in lengths from 7` to 9`. Generally speaking, the shorter tippets will work better with the lighter weight, shorter fly rods, say up to a 5 weight line. If you are fishing a narrow stream the 7` might be best. If you are fishing in a large stream or on a lake, then go with the 9`. Tippets come in different line test weights so read the package carefully. Some brands of tippets have a real good knot tying diagram on them to help you along. I always keep some round toothpicks in my fishing vest, just for tying the the knot that connects the tippet to the fly line.

Answer 3

For tippett, there are actually some differences. The biggest one is stretch. Since your fly line itself doesn't provide much stretch, there is very little shock absorption which you often need due to the thin diameter of terminal end line you use in fly presentations. Stretch also prevents your fly from snapping off as you false cast. Normally it's not a big deal especially with larger size tippets. Some guides I know use standard flourocarbon line as tippet material when their clients are nymphing more than a couple feet under the water but you rarely see fly fishermen use it for presentations that require long false casts.. Another difference is how limber tippet material is compared to standard mono. Tippet is very supple while mono is relatively stiff. This is probably more significant toward the fly end of your leader. The other difference is strength. Mono tippet is usually a bit stronger than the same diameter mono line. Or, you could say that the same strength tippet is thinner and therefore less visible than the same diameter line. Either way, this is a very good thing when fly fishing. For example, your standard 4x tippet has a breaking strength of about 6.5 lbs, but a line diameter of .007". Likewise, my favorite inexpensive mono fishing line is trilene XL which comes in a 6 lb (slightly less strong) test that is .009". It's almost 30% fatter to go with standard mono of the same breaking strength, you could go down an entire "X" size in fly tippet for that tradeoff and have a much stronger line. I've used plenty of standard mono and flouro as tippet material in my day though, and you can certainly get away with it, especially when fishing less than precise conditions. But in clear tailwaters and some other situations you need every advantage. For leaders, if that's what you are tying, then I suppose you could get away with bass line for the butt sections if they don't spring open your loop too much when casting, but consider using tippet at least for the tippet area to protect your fly. They make it distinctly different from bass line for a reason, and if it were a gimmick it wouldn't stand the test of time and become one of the essential materials in any fly fisherman's vest (though many products you see in fly shops will be gone next time you look). Hope this helps.

Answer 4

About a metre for the leader and a tapered line is the thick line to which we tie the leader. Tapered lines just fly better; that's why they're used.

Oh, and as I'm the only one who's answered then I may as well tell you that you know you have a bite when you see the tapered line dart away. Quite a sight.

Answer 5

Use about 6 feet if your not using a tapper... A tapper is a custom leader that is thick (say 10 #) at one end and then it "tappers" down to a thinner (say 2#) at the other end..