This question may sound dumb but here it goes. What is the difference between Tippet and Leader material and when do you use each?

Thanks, Bud

Go to DDJ's post on June 7.

Nimrod

Hi Birdman...

Don't want to offend, but, just in case, will offer a very basic illustration of the entire "string" part of the flyfishing equation...

One end of the backing is tied to the arbor of the reel spool - the other end of the backing is tied to the butt end of the line - the other end of the line is tied to the butt end of the leader - the other end of the leader is tied to one end of the tippit - the other end of the tippit is tied to the fly.

Tippits and leaders both are made of assorted materials, the choice being up to the flyfisherman. Using a tippit enables the flyfisherman to:

* change flys by clipping them off the tippit - which means the leader isn't damaged or shortened. When enough fly changes have been done to siginificantly shorten the tippit, the flyboy simply removes the balance of the old tippit and ties on a new one.

* the tippit is often a smaller diameter than the end of the leader. This allows the use of flys with tiny eyes. If the entire leader were such small diameter - it might not be able to turn the fly over correctly when casting.
the smaller diameter of the tippit is also a protection against undue disturbance of the water or an "unnatural look" spooking wary fish (eg. Trout).

To explain "unnatural look" a bit more... a trout fisherman is often trying to get his fly (think of a dry fly on the water's surface) to drift on the current so it passes into the "strike zone" of the trout. A common obstacle to that is "drag", which is when the line, or leader, or tippit is beng moved by the current in such a way or speed that it causes the fly to float unnaturally (faster, slower, cross-current) and the Trout says - "Nope, that looks unnatural! I'll wait for a safer morsel to come by."
If the tippit is a small diameter, it's "drag" affects the fly a little less than if the tippit were a much larger diameter. The difference may be measured in only seconds, but if that gives the fly another 4 ft. of drag-free drift, it can mean all the difference between a bite and a rejection.
Slicing things real thin... another way to spook a wary Trout is to "line it" - which is to cast over it or nearly over it so closely the Trout spooks because it sees the line or leader or tippit in the air (or the shadow).
This is pretty easy to do as many Trout streams (or stretches thereof) are not deep enough to offer the Trout "depth" as a protection from overhead predators - thus they are very much in tune to any possible airborne threat. The mistake there is casting like that in the first place but I suppose a small diameter tippit would at least be a little less visible under those circumstances.

Hope this helps,

Best,
5/0

Thanks everyone, appreciate the responses!!

5/0, no offense taken