Tippet connects the end of your fly line or leader to the actual fly when fly fishing.
Tippet is important for fly fishing, as it presents your fly to the fish you’re trying to catch. Fly fishing tippet is an essential piece of gear for your fly line setup.
When shopping for tippet, you want to find the lightest but strongest tippet for the end of your line.
We’ve compiled the best fly fishing tippet in the industry so that you can prepare for this fly fishing season.
Best Fly Fishing Tippets
- Scientific Anglers Freshwater Nylon Fly Fishing Tippet – 3 Pack
- SF Clear Tippet Line with Holder
- Rio Brands Powerflex 5X Tippet Line
- Piscifun Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet
- KastKing Paramount Tippet Spools Fly Fishing Line
- Umpqua Nylon Fly Fishing Tippet
- Rio Fly Fishing Tippet Power Flex-Plus Tippet
- M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet
- Rio Fly Fishing Tippet Holder with Power Flex Tippet
- ANGLER DREAM AnglerDream 2 3 4 5 6X Tippet Line
Scientific Anglers Freshwater Nylon Fly Fishing Tippet – 3 Pack
This three pack from Scientific Anglers is a great choice for anglers who prefer nylon monofilament tippet.
It comes in sizes 3X, 4X, and 5X, or 5X, 6X, and 7X. The latest from Scientific Anglers, this tippet is 35% stronger than previous versions and has greater knot strength. Each spool comes with 30 meters of line.
[amazon box=”B06WVJ7ML9″]SF Clear Tippet Line with Holder
This tippet from Sunshine Fishing comes with a tippet holder for easier tying.
It comes as a three or four pack with various size options ranging from 0X to 7X, and you can choose between fluorocarbon or nylon tippet.
Each spool comes with 30 meters of strong, clear fly fishing tippet.
[amazon box=”B07WTYXDVB”]Rio Brands Powerflex 5X Tippet Line
This tippet from RIO is made from a nylon copolymer, offering better knot strength, abrasion resistance, stretch, and suppleness.
It comes with a 30 yard spool in size 5X, which is a good, versatile size for fly fishing. It is ideal for trout fishing.
[amazon box=”B001A45CLC”]Piscifun Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet
This fluorocarbon tippet from Piscifun is 15% stronger than standard nylon line. It offers low visibility, high strength and abrasion resistance, and great knot strength.
This Piscifun tippet comes in sizes ranging from 0X to 6X and each spool is 33 yards long.
[amazon box=”B0711Z1WCW”]KastKing Paramount Tippet Spools Fly Fishing Line
KastKing Paramount Tippet is made from a nylon multiplex monofilament that offers thin diameters but strong line.
It is super affordable, with three 30 yard spools per pack. This tippet comes in sizes 2X -6X and is extremely abrasion resistant with great knot strength.
The manufacturer recommends using this tippet for dry fly, nymph, or streamer fly fishing.
[amazon box=”B077P8XVF8″]Umpqua Nylon Fly Fishing Tippet
Umpqua is a well known fly fishing brand, so their tippet is highly regarded.
This three pack comes with tippet in sizes 3X, 4X, and 5X, for a good versatile range. It is made with high quality nylon and comes in 30 yard spools.
[amazon box=”B01IUAKXTE”]Rio Fly Fishing Tippet Power Flex-Plus Tippet
Rio PowerFlex Plus tippet is made with a nylon copolymer that is 20% stronger than standard nylon tippet.
This three pack comes with three 30 yard spools in sizes 4X, 5X, and 6X. It was made with trout fishing in mind, but will work for a variety of fly fishing species.
[amazon box=”B01ITRRJD6″]M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet
This Maxcatch Fluorocarbon tippet comes in both freshwater and saltwater options, so anglers can choose the version that fits their needs.
It is made of 100% fluorocarbon and comes in sizes 0X to 6X. These spools are larger and come with 55 yards of line.
[amazon box=”B07KYJT8R5″]Rio Fly Fishing Tippet Holder with Power Flex Tippet
This pack of tippet from Rio comes on any easy to use holder with a rotating line cutter.
It comes with spools of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, and 6X tippet, so you’re prepared for all situations. The tippet included is Rio’s strong PowerFlex brand.
[amazon box=”B06XXRBFJH”]ANGLER DREAM AnglerDream 2 3 4 5 6X Tippet Line
This pack of tippet also comes on a handy holder.
It comes with 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, and 6X nylon tippet, all of which are clear. Each spool is 50 meters long.
[amazon box=”B07FPF7ZB5″]What is Tippet?
Tippet is lightweight but strong line that is used to attach the end of your leader to the fly you’re casting.
Since flies are smaller than traditional fishing lures, tippet is easier to tie with since it has a thinner diameter than standard line or leader.
Tippet is commonly used in fly fishing because it is an extra thin line for tying your fly that won’t scare off fish when presented.
Some anglers use a tapered leader instead that goes from a heavy, thicker line and thins out.
This is less efficient in the long run, however, because if you change flies you’ll have to cut your leader, so over time the cuts will lead up to the thicker, heavier section.
Tippet vs. Leader
Both tippet and leader are important to your fly fishing setup. Your fly rod and fly reel are equipped with a main fly line.
The leader and tippet are attached to the end of your main fly line, and are used for casting purposes.
Fly line is often brightly colored, so leader and tippet are typically clear so that the line doesn’t scare off potential bites.
Leader is tied to the fly line at the heavier end, and then the tippet is tied to the light end of the leader.
Tippet is much thinner than leader, so it’s used for tying intricate knots in small flies and for a more subtle presentation underwater.
How to Choose Tippet
Your choice of tippet depends on a few factors. The main consideration when choosing tippet is the size.
You should also consider the material, the fish you’re targeting, and other environmental factors. Consider the following when choosing fly fishing tippet.
Tippet Size
Tippet’s sizing system can be confusing for anglers. Leader and tippet are sizes through an “X” system, so their sizes are listed as #X.
The larger the number before the X, the thinner the tippet. Tippet size ranges from 03X, the thickest tippet, down to 8X, the thinnest.
This chart shows the size, diameter, and test strength for tippet, starting from the strongest to weakest:
When choosing your tippet size, consider the size of your fly and the size of the fish you’re targeting.
The tippet needs to be strong enough to pull in the weight of the fish without breaking, so pay attention to test strength.
Fly Size
Fly size is also a factor when choosing tippet size. A common rule for choosing tippet size by fly size is the “divide by 3 rule”.
This means that you would take your fly size, divide by three, and use that size tippet. By that logic, a size 15 fly would use a 5X tippet.
The divide by 3 method isn’t foolproof, so take those measurements with a grain of salt and consider other factors like target species and other environmental factors.
Material
Tippet is typically made from either nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon. There are benefits to using both materials, so it often comes down to your style of fly fishing and personal preference.
Monofilament is cheaper and floats better than fluorocarbon. It has more stretch and wears down more easily, but has greater knot strength.
Fluorocarbon sinks faster and is less stretchy, so it is more sensitive. It lasts longer and tangles less, but is also more expensive and has weaker knot strength.
For subsurface fly fishing, targeting big toothy fish, or in areas with weeds that might cause snagging, fluoro may work better.
For surface fishing and smaller fish, monofilament is often preferred. Both work great, so if you’re new to fly fishing it may be wise to try both and see which you prefer.
Target Species
Target species is an important factor when choosing any line, including tippet. If you’re fly fishing for big game like salmon or striped bass, opt for tippet ranging in size from 0X – 03X. If you’re fishing for smaller species, opt for smaller tippet from 3X – 8X.
Also consider target species as it relates to your tippet material. There are benefits to both monofilament and fluorocarbon tippet, but if you know the species you’re targeting it can better inform your decision.
Tying Tippet to Leader
Use this video from RIO Products to learn four easy knots to attach your tippet to your leader.
Find other fly fishing gear here on Fishmasters, from fly fishing waders to sling packs and more!
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