Thread: Hi newbie from Cornwall looking for advice?

So has anyone know what would be the breaking strain for the co-polymer used in this blog. Is it 3lb?

Dry Fly 'Expert': Leader linguistics, tippet talk and tips...

Ignore the X system of tippets, it is old fashioned and relates to how many times the leader was passed through something or other to reduce the diameter, hence 4X being thinner than 3X.
Stick with lb breaking strain and mm diameter and you'll find everything a lot easier!

Thanks Chris that was cofusing me. So would I be right in saying in that blog 6lb should do in relation to the rest [22lb and 15lb]?

Originally Posted by in the surface

Wives, kitchens and long grass all want to stop us fishing!

Yes that needle knot method would be fine for stillwater and wet fly. If you're not fishing dry all the time, what I'd recommend is needle knotting some heavy mono to your fly line as described in the blog. Then I would tie a loop on the end of the heavy mono and use loop-to-loop connections when attatching leaders. The perfection loop is a good knot for this.

You might find better solutions but that's what I'd do.

How heavy would heavy be. 20lb? or would it be best for less?

Yes, I'd say 20lb would be fine.

About the X ratings on tippets, don't worry too much about it. Unfortunately people use it because other people use it so you will see people talking about it, so a passing knowledge of it wouldn't hurt. But it would be way down the list of things to learn. As far as I can tell, there is nothing to be said in favour of the X scale over the mm scale. When you say your tippet is 0.12mm, there's no mistaking what you mean.

I believe it is primarily anglers in the US that are still using the X system, most people in the UK talk in mm for diamater along with lb breaking strain.

Ok so in the blog it says 3x but their is no info on what the breaking strain is or even what mm it is. Can anyone enlighten me just to know that leader size in the blog. I now understand to note mm and lb's but just need the ball park figure.

Thanks to all that have helped me so far it's going in and is all valuble [to at least sound like I know what I am on about to my son lol] next will be perfecting the casting. Though I now realise I should've started with a lower breaking strain on my line but thought that 8lb would do. I suppose if I can cast good with that with a shakespeare oddyssey rod then should be on a winner [heard they're not the best to cast with though still good rods for the money].

3X is about 8lb and about 0.203mm.

Yes the casting will be the big thing to learn. The main thing is to persevere, you will get there. It's not as hard as everybody thinks it is.