What size tippet do I use?

[Frank Whiton]

The size and weight of the fly determines what size tippet works best with that fly. A 3wt rod is for smaller flies and the leader will have a lighter tippet. If you were fishing a size 16 fly a 5X tippet would be used. If you were fishing an 8wt rod with a size 6 fly, a size 2X tippet would be called for. The companies making the leaders size the butt of the leader to match a group of fly lines it might be used on. All you have to worry about is what size tippet you will be using for a particular sized fly.

Tippet Diameter	Tippet Size	Pound Test	Fly Size
.003	8x	1.2	24-26-28
.004	7x	2	20-22-24-26
.005	6x	3	16-18-20-22
.006	5x	4	14-16-18
.007	4x	5	12-14-16
.008	3x	6	10-12-14
.009	2x	7	6-8-10
.010	1x	8.5	2-4-6
.011	0x	10	1/0-2-4
.012	x1	12	2/0-1/0-2
.013	x2	14	3/0-2/0-1/0-2
.014	x3	16	5/0-4/0-3/0-2/0
.015	x4	18	6/0-5/0-4/0-3/0

NOTE: Leader diameters and strengths vary from manufacture to manufacture and with different materials or processes.


Here is a quick way to calculate the best size tippet to use on the water. You take the fly size and divide it by 4 and then add 1. For example, take a size 6 hook, divide 6 by 4 and you get one. Add one to that and you get 2. So for a size 6 hook use a 2X leader. You will note that the chart says 1X or 2X will work. The formula is a guide to get you close to the proper sized tippet on the water. In this case you use the leader that is most appropriate for the size of the fish.