Mike, you live a charmed angling life my friend. In the Tippet Shootout Article, they found that the Line to Line connection almost always failed before the Line to Fly connection did. So much so that they declared that Line to Metal Knots are inherently stronger than Line to Line Knots are.
Perhaps this will be helpful for someone: A sure sign that a Perfection Loop is properly tied is that the Tag end sticks out at a 90 Degree Angle to the Running Line. If you want to run a 2 fly rig, you could tie a Perfection Loop with the Tag End long enough to tie in your Dropper Fly on it, eliminating the need to tie tippet to the bend of the Dropper Flyās hook, which should reduce tangles and hook fish better. The Point Fly would be then tied to the Tippetās end, independent of the Dropper Fly.
This might have to do with your hookās eyes. I used to get more breakoffs at the fly, now I tend to break off at the level line side. The only change I can think of is the brand of hooks I use.
I really appreciate the testing responses. One of the reasons I use a tippet ring instead of a girth hitched figure 8 loop in front of of a stopper is perhaps an unjustified(?) concern that the the tippetās loop will always remain hitched; with no way it could be removed without the loop being untied even after the load has been removed from the tippet. This probably comes from nearly twenty years of climbing and rescue work where knots must - would remain tied and not slip until it was physically untied. Perhaps Iād feel better using a Monkey Fist stopper .
Lance, whether the loop is looped-to-looped to the line or girth hitched to a hook eye or a tippet ring, just cut one loop leg as close as you can to the base knot surface and pull the excess away with the uncut long loop leg. It may be a little jammed and reluctant to let go, but usually loosens up with a little wiggling.
Iāve been reading this thread as it wandered around but YOURS is the one that cuts right to the heart of the matter.
Simply put, there are a LOT of really poorly made tippet rings being sold. Examined under magnification, as you so clearly showed, most rings are not rounded. If this were the eyes of our hooks fishermen everywhere would be screaming.
To my mind, any discussion regarding tippet rings begins with are they round or not.
Fluorocarbon, specifically the older formulations (still being made, still being sold) have issues with sharp turns creating micro fractures in the line.
Iāve eliminated tippet rings with regard to Tenkara. I tie a figure 8 knot on the end of the line, slip knot on the tippet and slide it up to the figure 8 knot, not one lost fish due to that connection, including a few rainbows pushing 19 inches.
I was reading back and noticed this. When did you make that switch, Brent? My rings are from you, so I would have to check the order date on that one to compare.
Thanks. I think I bought mine in 2018. Iāve had plenty of break offs at that connection that I thought shouldnāt have happened so maybe Iāll just replace it. What size do you recommend for 3.5 level line?
All the years I have Western fly fished or Tenkara Fished I have never used tippet rings. I felt it was more stuff added to fishing that I just didnāt want to fool with. I also never used split shot for the same reason. I tied my weighted flies with different colored thread near the head. Red = heavy wt., White = medium wt., orange = light wt. black = X-light wt., and yellow = no wt. I know this is not very scientific but I was trying to make this as simple as possible. I did buy tippet rings, swivels, and split shot thinking I really needed them (all the expects said you had to have all this stuff). However, I was either extremely lazy or decided maybe just do it my way (thanks Frankie). I may not catch the most fish or the biggest fish but I have a lot of fun and employ the K.I.S.S. Method.
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