tippet

Question
I'm just setting up a new reel and I'm not sure how long the tippet should be.  It is 4X.

Answer
Mick,
Great question, there is no easy answer. Tippet length is usually dependent upon the type of fishing you're doing, the fishing conditions, and weight of rod/line to name a few. And just to clarify, tippet can be defined as the tip of your leader, which is usually also the thinnest part of it - this part is the part that gets worn down as you change flies, eliminate casting knots, etc. Some leaders do have a very thick part attached in the terminal end depending on the size fish you are after.


For example, if you are fishing a river/stream with clear water, minimal tree overhangs/obstructions on the banks with floating line on a 5wt 9' rod, you will want to have a leader and tippet overall about 8' to 10' in length with the tippet making up about 18"-24" of that length.

Too short of a tippet can be a problem for "line shy" spooky fish while too long a tippet can make casting more difficult. If I am fishing water where I will be changing flies often or anticipate snagging alot, I will typically use a tippet of about 24"-30".

Hope this helps,
Gary