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  • New answer sheet / Pitzen knot attachments



    Walter & Group...

    For some reason unknown to me, the attachments to the previous message didn't come through to some.  These included Mark Milkovich's answers.

    I've placed the ones on the Pitzen knot in an attachment to this message.

     

    Here is the answer sheet from Mark Milkovich :

    Gordy,

     

    Here is my submission on the leader quiz.  Thanks, Mark

     

    Brings us to a little quiz :  ( Short answers.  Longer answers only when needed.)

    1.)  We have talked about mass profile as being of primary importance in determining the turnover of the leader.  Name some other factors which have influence on leader turnover.

    Material stiffness and diameter, overall leader length.

     

    2.)  A fly fisher can purchase ready made leaders or he can tie up his own.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of each ?

     Ready Made:

    Advantages: ease of use & no knots to snag grass/moss

    Disadvantages: flexibility of the butt, taper and tippet are solely governed my material diameter.

    Hand Tied:

    Advantages: virtually complete control of performance characteristics including the use of knots to hinge or right angle the leader when/where needed.

    Disadvantages:  More work

     

    3.)  When (if ever) would you recommend the use of a commercially available tapered leader combined with a segment which the angler adds?

    Although information like butt diameter and mass profile are not printed on the package once you are familiar with their performance characteristics you can identify applications where they would function well and they save time building leaders from scratch.  They simplify leader building for beginners and fewer knots reduce the likelihood of wind knots.  

     

    4.)  Describe your choice for a leader when fishing a spring creek for wary trout on clear day.

    A George Harvey style leader tied with soft materials.

     

    5.)  How would you tie up your own leader for fishing tailing bonefish?

    Typically start with standard 9 foot powerful leader which can present even large flies accurately to a single fish which is really rooting the bottom in windy conditions and add tippet for more delicate presentations of lighter flies to tailing schools, or in especially calm or shallow waters  

     

    6.) Name as many materials as you can for tying up fly leaders.

    Primarily Nylon and Fluorocarbon less commonly polyurethane. Historically gut and silk were used.  Airflo poly composites are now available in the US through Rio.   

     

    7.)  Approximately what percentage (length) of the leader would you use for the butt section when tying up most salt water fly leaders? 50%

     

    8.)  Your student has heard about "bite tippets", "class tippets" and "shock tippets".  He wants to know what these are.  What do you teach him?

    The terms Bite Tippet and Shock Tippet refer to the same thing, a cut or abrasion resistant tippet fashioned from wire, or heavy Mono or Flouro  which when attached to the fly can stand up to toothy fish like Pike and Barracuda or abrasion from fish bills or scales.  The class tippet is attached to either the fly or the shock tippet and is the weakest section of the leader thus determining the leaders breaking strength.

     

    9.)  What leader would you favor for fishing a placid shallow lake on a clear day for very spooky trout taking # 18 midge patterns?

    A long George Harvey style with 6X or finer tippet.

     

    10.)  What leader would you consider for fishing brook trout on a very small stream in New England?  You are fishing with your 2 wt. outfit.

    A 6 to 7 foot 5X.

     

    11.)  Your Florida salty guide says he's going to take you out to fly fish for Spanish mackerel in the morning.  You are rigging up your leaders in advance.  What bite tippet would you use?

    Cortland Toothy Critter tie able stainless of something similar. 

     

    12.)  Tomorrow has arrived.  You are out with this guide.  Lots of mackerel.... but they follow your fly and won't strike.  What do you do now?

    Change retrieve, fly and/or use lighter leader and bite tippet. 

     

    13.)  What bite tippet would you use for large Northern Pike?

    Single or multi-strand wire about 9 inches long. 

     

    14.)  How do you attach it to the rest of your leader?

    Single strand wire needs a loop like that produced by a haywire twist to which the mono leader can be tied.

    Multi strand wire can be attached with standard fishing knots like the double surgeons.

     

    15.)  Your student is going largemouth bass fishing using poppers on a lake in Texas where there is lots of cover including lily pads.  He wants to know how to rig his leader.  What do you tell him?

    Something akin to the 8? Scientific Anglers Bass leader in a heavy test ? 12/14#

     

    16.)  What knots would you use when assembling and attaching a leader for steelhead fishing?

         a. Connecting the butt section to the fly line. Needle or Nail Knot

         b. For the segments of the tapered section. Blood or surgeons knots

         c. To attach the fly. Clinch or Loop knots

     

    17.)   You are using a sink tip line to fish for King salmon (Chinook salmon) in a 10' deep pool in an Alaskan river.  The fish are moving deep near the bottom.  What leader design would you consider?

    I would seriously consider a short level leader.

     

    18.)  Approximately what percentage of the length of your entire leader would you choose for the butt section for most salt water fishing? 50%

     

    19.)  Without getting into the complexities of rigging a leader for large tarpon, tell us what size material you would choose for the butt section. 50# Ande Mono

     

    20.)  Design a leader to use when fishing for pan fish with a 4 wt. outfit.

    Maxima

    .017 (20#) 30?

    .014 (15#) 20?

    .012 (12#)  14?

    .010 (8#) 12?

    .008 (5#) 10?

    24? tippet 5X

     

    21.)  When (if ever) would you use fluorocarbon material for part or all of your leader?

    With leader shy fish and or when a slightly sinking leader section (e.g. tippet) is desired.

     

    22.)  If you did decide to use fluorocarbon for part of your leader, how would you attach it to the nylon monofilament of the rest of the leader?

    Surgeons loop has some advantages but with trout leaders I have never had problems with blood knots.

     

    23.)  Would you ever use a fluorocarbon tippet when dry fly fishing ?    Briefly explain.

    To slightly sink the tippet to reduce glare.

     

    24.)  Is there any advantage to using segments of the same brand of nylon monofilament when tying up leaders?

    Consistency in flex and to avoid knot complications from dissimilar materials.

    Mark

    Attachment: Tying the Pitzen Knot.mht
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    Attachment: Fishing Knots, Learn To Tie The Pitzen Knot, Knot Tying Techniques.mht
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