If leaders are one of the biggest sources of confusion in fly fishing, **tippet** is probably the second. Many anglers use the two terms interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
A **leader** connects the thick, coloured plastic fly line to your fly, while **tippet** is simply the final section of the leader nearest the fly. Although it may only make up the last few feet of your setup, choosing the correct tippet has a huge influence on presentation, turnover and landing fish.
Perhaps the simplest way to think about it is this - **the leader does the casting, the tippet does the fishing.**
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## Why Use Tippet?
Every time you change your fly, you shorten the end of the leader.
If you tied directly to the end of your leader, it would gradually become:
- Shorter
- Thicker at the fly end
- Less effective at presenting the fly naturally
By adding a separate length of tippet, you protect the leader. When the tippet becomes too short, you simply replace the tippet rather than the entire leader.
This makes leaders last much longer and allows you to quickly change the diameter or breaking strain to suit different fishing situations.
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## Is Tippet Only Used with Tapered Leaders?
No.
Although tippet is most commonly associated with tapered leaders, it is also used with several other leader systems.
For example:
- **Tapered leaders** - additional tippet is regularly added as the leader becomes shorter through changing flies.
- **Furled leaders** - these are designed to have tippet added to the end before the fly is attached.
- **Polyleaders** - almost always require a length of tippet between the end of the polyleader and the fly.
The purpose is always the same - to provide the final section of leader nearest the fly while allowing the angler to easily change its length, diameter or breaking strain without replacing the whole leader system.
### Does a Tapered Leader Already Include Tippet?
This is another common source of confusion.
The answer is **yes**.
Every tapered leader already has a **tippet section** built into its design. However, each time you change flies, that section becomes shorter. Rather than replacing the whole tapered leader, anglers simply tie on a fresh length of tippet material.
Over time, most anglers fish with a combination of:
- A leader.
- A length of replacement tippet.
- The fly.
So although a tapered leader already includes a tippet section, when anglers talk about "adding tippet", they are usually referring to adding a separate piece of tippet material to restore the leader to its original length or to change its strength.
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## Nylon or Fluorocarbon?
Tippet is available in two main materials.
### Nylon (Monofilament)
Nylon is the most versatile option.
It is:
- Soft and supple.
- Easy to knot.
- Floats more readily.
- Excellent for dry fly fishing.
It is the preferred choice whenever you want the fly to sit naturally on or just below the surface.
### Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon is denser than nylon and sinks more readily.
It offers:
- Excellent abrasion resistance.
- Greater durability.
- Faster sink rates.
- Good sensitivity when fishing subsurface.
It is commonly used for nymph fishing, streamer fishing, reservoir fishing and many salmon applications.
Neither material is always better. The best choice depends on the fishing method.
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## Choosing the Right Strength
One of the most common mistakes is using tippet that is either far too heavy or unnecessarily light.
The ideal tippet should be strong enough to land the fish confidently while remaining fine enough to allow the fly to behave naturally.
Factors to consider include:
- Fly size.
- Fish size.
- Water clarity.
- Weed and snags.
- Fishing method.
As a general rule, use the lightest tippet that still allows you to fish confidently.
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## Breaking Strain, Diameter or X Rating?
Tippet can be described in three different ways:
- **Breaking strain** (for example 6 lb or 8 lb).
- **Diameter** (for example 0.14 mm or 0.18 mm).
- **X rating** (for example 4X or 5X).
In the UK, most anglers are familiar with breaking strain, while many trout anglers also use diameter.
The American **X rating** system is still commonly found on tippet spools, but it is simply another way of describing the diameter of the material. The higher the X number, the finer the tippet.
Because different manufacturers can achieve different breaking strains from the same diameter, many experienced anglers choose their tippet primarily by **diameter**, particularly when fishing dry flies where presentation is critical.
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## When Should You Replace Tippet?
Tippet should be replaced whenever it becomes:
- Short.
- Abraded.
- Damaged.
- Curled.
- Weakened by repeated knot tying.
Fresh tippet material is inexpensive compared with the disappointment of losing a good fish because of weakened line.
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## Key Takeaways
- Tippet is the final section of the leader nearest the fly.
- It protects your leader from becoming shorter through repeated fly changes.
- Tippet is commonly used with tapered leaders, furled leaders and polyleaders.
- Every tapered leader already includes a tippet section, but additional tippet is normally added as the leader wears.
- Adding tippet allows you to alter the breaking strain or diameter without replacing the entire leader.
- Nylon is generally preferred for dry flies, while fluorocarbon is often chosen for subsurface fishing.
- Choosing the correct diameter is just as important as choosing the correct breaking strain.
In the next article, we'll look at **leader length** and explain how the length of your leader affects casting, presentation and different styles of fly fishing.
