Rules of Thumb
Need a starting point for your tippet? Tippet size is based on your fly and the fish that you are targeting. There are also physical limitations like the fact that a 0X tippet will not fit through the eye on a size 22 fly. So start with a tippet selection that fits the rule of three. Fly size divided by three, rounded up, will give you the starting point for tippet selection.
Tippet diameter is equal to tippet size subtracted from 11. A 2x tippet is 9 thousands of an inch - (0.011 less 0.002(x) = 0.009inch)
and
Although tippet breaking strain is dependent on the materials used you can estimate it in the field. The breaking strain is roughly equal to the tippet size subtracted from 9. A 2X tippet has a 7 pound breaking strength - ( 9 less 2(x) = 7)
Taken altogether, try this table:
Fly size |
Tippet Diameter |
Tippet Size |
Approx Breaking Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
# 2 - 4 |
0.011"
|
0X |
9 |
# 4 - 8 |
0.010"
|
1X |
8 |
# 8 - 10
|
0.009"
|
2X
|
7 |
# 10 - 14 |
0.008" |
3X
|
6 |
# 12 - 16 |
0.007" |
4X
|
5 |
# 14 - 20 |
0.006" |
5X
|
4 |
# 16 - 24 |
0.005" |
6X
|
3 |
# 18 - 28 |
0.004"
|
7X
|
2 |
# 18 - 28 |
0.003"
| 8X
|
1 |
