Fluorocarbon Tippet MaterialThe terminal tackle is critical, we can spend hundreds on a fancy rod and spoil it with the wrong terminal tackle, this is where fluorocarbon materials are beneficial. What is it?Materials having a specific gravity in excess of 1.00 are heavier than water, Fluorocarbon has a specific gravity in the range of 1.75 to 1.90 and will sink in theory hence we use fluorocarbon for droppers and just final tippet connection to dry flies. Fluorocarbon usually does not fully break the water’s surface tension, hence can be used for dry flies. Knot strength is critical with fluorocarbon as it actually heats while being tied. Personally we put the knot in our mouth while we tighten the know and then use a drop of superglue to ensure that the dropper is 90 degrees to the tippet and ensures added strength. As a tactic we often use tapered leaders to help turnover and add fluorocarbon tippet to tippet for the point fly and add fluorocarbon droppers because of the refractive index. Fluorocarbon can be used for leader or tippet. Knots used for fluorocarbon include the Improved Clinch Knot or Surgeons Knot. Fluorocarbon can be used with tippet rings if you wish. Available for leaders and tippets as a tippet spool can be stored easily. Why is it different to traditional nylon tippet?For fly fishermen the choice of terminal tackle fluorocarbon tippet material is the often the preferred in the debate nylon and fluorocarbon. The refractive index of fluorocarbon is closer to water, so the material appears almost invisible on or in the water’s surface making your flies more realistic. Fluorocarbon strength excellent however unlike nylon tippet you will find fluorocarbon has little stretch. This means that if you use a "stiff fly rod" consideration is most important on the tippet size, because it has little stretch you risk break off if you do not use an appropriate strength for the fish you are targeting. |
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