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Post by brandon on Sept 15, 2014 8:07:31 GMT -6
I was at LMF this weekend and several times had an aggressive take resulting in my rig snapping off about an 1/8th inch under my knot (triple surgeons) connecting 5x fluoro tippit to my leader. Is that just a normal thing or could I be doing something wrong?
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Post by mirvc17 on Sept 15, 2014 8:13:18 GMT -6
Well at least your knot wasn't at fault. Sounds to me like maybe you needed to use 4x, or ease up on your hook set. What was your 5x tied too?
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Post by golferjeff on Sept 15, 2014 8:14:43 GMT -6
Got to 3x or 4x, then tie 5x to that if you need to. 5x to leader butt section won't hold that well
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Post by dannys on Sept 15, 2014 13:40:36 GMT -6
Could also just have bad or old tippet. I've started on a new tippet spool and had break-off after break-off; as you describe (not at the knot). After deciding it was not me, I ditched it and started with a fresh spool--no problem with the fresh spool.
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Post by Fenwick on Sept 15, 2014 18:27:47 GMT -6
Brandon, thanks for asking that question. At last I'm not alone with that as I've been vexed by the same break roughly that 1/8th below the leader / tippet knot and as Danny mentions it was finally changing to another spool of tippet that made all the difference for me. As for why the tippet likes to break right there just below the leader / tippet knot and not in the knot itself or at random spots anywhere along the length of the tippet well, I dunno. If it was aged or a bad blend of mono or flouro ingredients it oughta break anywhere all the time so maybe our fly fishing nylon / polymer chemists in here can explain tensile issues etc. Hmm, maybe the answer is within this previous discussion on mono vs. flouro: beaversbendflyshop.proboards.com/thread/116/fluorocarbon-tippet-mono - Fenwick
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Post by dannys on Sept 15, 2014 18:40:52 GMT -6
While on the topic of breaks, another cause I have read about and had folks tell me about, comes from connecting fluoro tippet to nylon leader or tippet sections. Apparently, the fluoro (all brands or some brands--I don't know for sure)can actually cut through the nylon and leave one to think they are tying bad knots.
The reason I don't have personal experience with this problem is because I use a tippet ring to make the connection, so the fluoro never has any contact to the nylon.
And lastly, fluoro does not always have the same knot properties as nylon. As an additional measure when making connections with a surgeon's knot, try a quadruple surgeons rather than a triple. Of course always wet before anchoring. This, I can attest, makes for a stronger knot.
Just for what it's worth.
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Post by mirvc17 on Sept 15, 2014 19:23:22 GMT -6
Good points Danny. In the smaller sizes (4 and beyond), I normally use triple surgeons (unless I'm using a tippet ring on some of my leaders). I tie flouro tippet to nylon leaders all the time (I don't even have any flouro leaders). I'll try a quad surgeons sometime, but I can honestly say I've never had any issues with tying fluoro to nylon. As long as you wet the knot, pay attention, set the knot properly and TEST it...
FWIW, all of my tippet is Rio brand...although I do have an unused 5.5x spool of Trouthunter fluoro.
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Post by dannys on Sept 16, 2014 3:57:10 GMT -6
I used Orvis Mirage at the time of the breaking problems. From what I read on many forums, Rio is a top rated tippet. I also use the Trouthunter 5.5--great tippet and never experienced any problems with it.
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Post by golferjeff on Sept 16, 2014 8:04:03 GMT -6
Danny - tell us you caught those beast steelhead on 5.5x
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Post by dannys on Sept 16, 2014 9:36:00 GMT -6
OK--I did--but I lie! But what a feat that would be, especially in the currents of the Pere Marquette! Seriously, the 5.5X I use for our Guadalupe and other tailwaters. Those steelhead were on 10 lb test--largest leader I've ever used. But the steelhead didn't mind, seemed all they wanted to do was eat, eat, eat.
Will be back up that way this coming spring--can't wait!!!!!!!!
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Post by breeden3 on Sept 16, 2014 17:47:20 GMT -6
If it is breaking right below the tippet knot, I would agree that it is probably just a bad spool and another spool should do the trick. And I saw somebody mention trout hunter, I am a huge fan of Trout Hunter tippet. I use it quite frequently and have landed trout over 10lbs on 5.5 and 6.5x. That stuff is awesome.
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Post by jcw355 on Sept 17, 2014 16:18:45 GMT -6
If it is breaking right below the tippet knot, I would agree that it is probably just a bad spool and another spool should do the trick. And I saw somebody mention trout hunter, I am a huge fan of Trout Hunter tippet. I use it quite frequently and have landed trout over 10lbs on 5.5 and 6.5x. That stuff is awesome. I just switched to trouthunter for 5.5 and 6.5x.
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Post by mirvc17 on Sept 17, 2014 19:30:35 GMT -6
Breeden,
Good to know about Trouthunter tippet. I bought a spool at the fly shop in downtown Dallas when I was on vacation... more out of curiosity after I had read the Yellowstone Angler 2012 tippet review. Rio flouro is "ranked 5th" on the list, but I had not even heard of Seguar or Stroft brands. I have yet to bust out my Trouthunter spool, although it's always with me...perhaps when my current 5x runs out. I'm assuming there are no issues joining 5.5X to 4X? Seems like they shouldn't.
Going back to the bad spool discussion...if I had 3 break offs on one spool, I'd try to get my money back or a replacement. $15 bucks for 30m of bad flouro is worth the effort IMO.
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Post by brandon on Sept 18, 2014 8:09:09 GMT -6
thanks for all the replies and suggestions....i'll follow up after next trip.
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Post by mirvc17 on Sept 18, 2014 16:26:52 GMT -6
Sheesh...my memory is bad... my spool of Trouthunter is 5X...in NYLON...
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