[yetirydr]

I looked on the search engine and could not find this question:

I had this happen to me a couple of times, I attach a new leader and burn through the tippet because of tangles, or fly changes, but when it is time to attach a new tippet how do I measure the length of the new tippet? Is there a trick, or measurement that you use? (Admittedly I do not keep track of how much tippet I burn through...) I have typically used about the length of my arm, but not sure if that is correct. How do you do it?

Thanks,
Dave

[Nooksack Mac]

It's not bad. From fingertip to elbow of my average-length arms is 18 inches, a good length for sunken-fly tippets. From fingertip to my armpit is 26 inches, about perfect for a dry fly tippet, which should be long enough to land with some squiggles, to delay drag.

[Rip Tide]

Maybe this is obvious to me because I use hand tied leaders, but I've noticed a lot of confusion like this lately

When you buy a store-bought tapered leader, you should always add a tippet to it ... first thing
Say you buy a 7.5' 4x leader, and you add 18" of 5x tippet. You'll end up with a 9' 5x leader.
If you do this, you'll always know when your tippet is short and needs replacement
On top of that the original leader will last much longer as you'll never be cutting off more than 2" at a time whenever you change tippets

And if you use a loop2loop handshake for your connection, you'll never be cutting back the leader ever.

As for measuring tippet length, ...that's really not important. As long as you have 'enough' for a drag free presention

[Frank Whiton]

Hi to all,

The method that Rip Tide suggest works very well. Some people take a 9' 5X leader and then tie a loop in the end and then add more 5X tippet. That doesn't work very well unless you are dry fly fishing and you want the tippet to pile. Even then you may end up with a leader that doesn't cast well.

I use a lot of 9' 5X leaders for Nymph fishing. I usually fish a bit then cut off all but 6" or so of the 5X tippet. I just want enough 5X tippet to tie a Perfection Loop in the 5X section. I then add 18" to 24" of 5X tippet to the Perfection Loop. To make this system work right you need a Mike-Rite leader gauge or some way to measure the diameter of the tippet. The gauge will tell you where to cut off the tippet so you can tie a Perfection Loop.

I like to use the Perfection Loop on the loop to loop connection to attach any split-shot I might want to use. I use the loop on the tippet side not on the line side. This gives me two pieces of tippet to fasten the split-shot too. The knot keeps the shot from sliding down the leader.

Any one tying their own leaders or who add tippets should have one of the Mike-Rite Leader Gauges. Fish Pond also makes one.

Frank

Mike-Rite Leader Gauge

[BigCliff]

In general, add enough tippet to get the leader to the length of your rod, or a little longer if you want a more delicate presentation.

You ride a Yeti hardtail or double boinger?

[yetirydr]

Thanks for the comments.

I have a very nice full suspension Gary Fisher Sugar. The Yeti is a wish, as they are well out of my budget...it's a joke between my wife and myself.

Dave