tippet vs leader?????

[byron]

saw in the new cabelas catalog that seaguar came out with a flouro tippet line that is seems very thin for the lb test it has. Its called grand max and the 14.5lb line is .010", a lot smaller than a 12lb flouro leader.
My question is: what is the difference between leader and tippets?????

[Mattman]

Tippet is pretty much a flyfishing only term. Its the tip of your line. The section that is tied to the fly.

Leader is used by both but means two different things.

[Dave S]

I believe a leader is typically of the same diameter and strength along its entire length. In comparision a tippet starting at your fly line has decreasing diameter and strength as one approaches to point where you fly is attached. People who use hand tied tippets usually progressively tie together decreasing weights of line.

[ufda]

I agree with your definition. However, then the Seagur must be mislabled according to this meaning as I can't believe they produced line on a spool that goes from heavier to thinner in a matter of feet and then back up again?
ufda

['eye spy]

Tippets come in pre measured legnths that are tapered. You can use the material for snells. So I don't know how it could come on a 250yd spool.
Good luck.

[EyeBoy]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-01 AT 03:21PM (CST)[p]Gent's;
I use Fenwick tippet for my snells/harnesses, but it is not tapered. It is .011"dia from start to finish, rated @ 12.5#. Works well for me, seems to have good abrasion resistence and low memory. It absolutly disappears in any color of water. Havn't had a snot rocket hit it yet, so don't know how it will stand up to Mr. Teeth. Also, they call the tippet "Zero X," (0X). The existing technology allows for the making of tippet in about any type of taper that one would want. Stop by the fly fishing section of your favorite fishing (toy) store, and check it out, kinda intresting.
ON-PLANE!!!TOM
OBTW to answer your question completely, I don't know if there is any chemical difference between leader and tippet, but the monodiameter tippet is certainly drawn thinner. Maby Gunga Din or ETT could lend some input.:-)

[byron]

that's what i thought but it said it came in 25m spools. Seems pretty stupid to have places tapered and then back to full size. maybe leader wasn't a good enough name for fly fisherman and using the word tippet would increas sales.

[Phil T.]

Good descriptions, but you have them reversed. The leader changes diameter, from heavy to thin, to transmit the casting energy from the line down to the tippet and fly. The tippet is the final portion of the leader, that which is tied to the fly. After changing flies, the tippet obviously becomes shorter, and only that final section needs to be replaced. Even if a factory, one-piece tapered leader is used, a tippet is looped to the end of the leader so one doesn't waste expensive leader material just from changing flies. The expense of replacing leaders can be quite a lot if braided leaders are used.
The flourocarbon tippet and leader material that was asked about is what I call "real flourocarbon" not some alloy that makes it possible to use it on a reel. The real stuff is what the saltwater fly fishermen like because it is not only quite transparent in water, but it sinks slightly below the surface film so it doesn't cast a shadow, and it is almost bite-proof. Berkely Vanish, Stren Flourocarbon, and the other so-called flourocarbon lines that are described as being suitable for spooling on a reel aren't in the same league (pardon the pun). They are also much easier to tie. The tough stuff is similar to wire in more ways than one.

[ufda]

Hey now that makes sense and I am sure you are right. Must have been a senior moment on my part. Thanks for straightening me out. Now spooling tippet material also makes sense since it is level. Thanks again,
ufda

[Gilligan]

OK guys as a former Orvis flyfishing guide here it is.. Flyfishing tapered leaders come in various lengths most common are 7.5' and 9'. Tippet material can come in many different length spools 25 yd/25meter are quite common. This leader is straight and flyfisherman are more aquainted to X sizes (3x, 4x, 5x, 6x etc) these relate to line dia. rather than # test so you can buy appropriate diameter to fit thru the eye of the hook. You cut desired length of tippet and tie it into an existing tapered leader, either to replace the section that has been cut back from trimming frays, replacing flies, to downsize or to add a section of flouro to regular leader. Tippet material is always much stiffer than regular mono to help turn the fly over in the cast. Not the greatest stuff for any other application except flyfishing. I use flouro tippets only subsurface and only when regular tippets wont produce fish.