It is not just line, choose your tippet wisely.
One of the most debated issues in fly fishing, and in fly shops, "Do I really need fluorocarbon? Can't I just use nylon?"
(Food for thought - they are both monofilament.)
The simple answer is yes, you can just use nylon in any and all fishing conditions, but you may not get the most out of your fishing.
Nylon's benefits
- It floats
- It's cheaper
Nylon is the best all around leader and tippet material that you can buy, it will do it all, and even excel in some situations. When fishing dry flies or poppers, or subsurface in shallow water, nylon is our go-to tippet and leader material choice.
Not all nylons are produced equally; each product has specific properties that are ideal for certain situations. Click on the images below to read up on how they differ. Some are more supple for better dead drifts; other are made with power in mind to turn flies over.
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| RIO Powerflex Plus | RIO Suppleflex | RIO Bass Tippet |
Fluorocarbon's benefits
- It sinks
- Less visible underwater
- Does not deteriorate nearly as fast as nylon
- More abrasion resistant than nylon
- Less stretchy
Fluorocarbon has big benefits over nylon. For nearly all sub-surface applications, fluorocarbon just makes sense; it sinks, it is nearly invisible, and it is tougher material. Fluorocarbon is even an excellent tippet material for fishing dry flies to fussy fish, just make sure your entire leader is not fluorocarbon, only a short length of tippet. Adding on a couple feet of fluorocarbon as your terminal tippet will sink your tippet just below the water's surface without dragging your dry fly down. Sinking your tippet removes any impression on the meniscus of the water which may be putting off very selective and spooky fish. When removing tippet impression on the surface matters, it matters!
Not all fluorocarbons are made equal either. Like their nylon counterparts, some are more supple for better dead drifts; other are made with power in mind to turn flies over. Check out some of the different options below.
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| RIO Fluoroflex | RIO Fluoroflex Strong | RIO Fluoroflex Salt |
Q: My Uncle Bob's friend's cousin told me I can't tie nylon and fluorocarbon together? Is this true?
A: No. You can attach fluorocarbon to nylon, no matter what incorrect popular opinion your acquaintance told you. Use a double or triple surgeons to perform the task - assuming lines are of similar diameter.
Regardless of the monofilament you use, always lubricate your knots when seating and tightening them.
Still don't trust it? There are always tippet rings to make the connection!