Tippit Rings

Glenn,

When you look at your line after the loss, does it have a little pigs tail curl?  If so, then suspect your knot.

Have you lubed the line when pulling the knot tight?  I usually grab the tippet ring with my forceps and using my finger nails, tighten the wet line to the ring.

If I lose a fish or fly, it is usually from the tippet ring down.  So the tippet ring is in place and my tippet material and fly are the only things missing.

Where on the leader are you installing the rings?  If I have a 3X leader, my ring is installed where the leader tapers to the 3X material.  Cut the leader there, and install the ring.  U can then tie the tippet you just cut off the leader onto the ring and are ready to fish.  Only have to replace the tippet from the ring down.

Bob

Glenn

Good advise from Bob. I suspect your knots. It can be difficult to pull your knot tight when adding tippet rings. I use my bodkin (needle) from my fly tying bench to hold my tippet ring when I tighten my knot. Make sure you use your saliva or even chap-stick works good to make sure the knot slides tight.  Simple knot would be best – clinch knot or double Davy knot.

But I’ll bet it’s your knot.  Also I now buy 3x – 7 1/2 foot leader, add tippet ring  and add my tippet to the ring. It will have to be a pretty big fish to break off above the tippet.

Has anyone tried the micro-swivels?

I purchased some with the thought that they would keep my tipped from twisting up.  They are very small and I needed my cheaters to tie them to the leader n tippet.  So far they work well and the fish dont seem to see em.

Bob

I have used the micro swivel on my streamer setup this winter and caught several 18- 20″ browns with no problem.  I’ve been thinking of using one on a two nymph setup to see if it will help with twisting tags but haven’t gotten around to that yet.

I am a big fan of tippet rings.  I carry them on a safety pin.  I leave them on the pin when tying them on the leader.  There’s enough space to thread 3X through  a 2mm ring while it is on the pin.  This gives me something to hold the ring while cinching the knot.

I have used swivels when fly fishing for bass in the past when using streamers and long chenile type flys they look like plastic worms. They seem to help.

Bill