Walter & Group.........
From Nial Logan of Australia. (Nial is a PRO salt water fly fisherman as well) I highlighted part of his answer to question 1.) in bold red italics . (If you read my detailed comment below his message you'll see why ) :-
Gordy,
Just a quick reply before heading off to Christmas Island for 3 weeks. Even though I don’t actively participate in the discussions, I read every message thoroughly and enjoy them tremendously as they provide a wealth of useful and valuable information.
Nial
QUESTION FOR YOU MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE U.S. :
1.) HOW DO YOU MATCH LEADER DIAMETERS TO FLY HOOK SIZE ?
Rule of threes for trout. For stocked impoundments, the thinnest diameter that is available in the selected breaking strain. For the saltwater, choice is governed by the abrasion resistance of the material and the quarries habitat and characteristics.
2.) WHAT SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT DO YOU USE FOR LEADER DIAMETERS ?
a. Fractions of inches.
b. Metric system (millimeters).
Much of the leader/tippet material of Asian origin is labelled in metric while some of the US material (Orvis as example ) is labelled in both mm and inches
c. The, "X" system.
Some of the trout leader material (SA) from the US uses the X system.
d. Other (let us know.)
3.) WHAT SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT DO YOU USE TO QUANTIFY TENSILE STRENGTH OF TIPPET MATERIAL ?
a. Pound breaking strength.
I think that it depends on the age of the angler......those of the vintage of pounds and ounces, mostly use that description. Since the introduction of the metric system in Australia, the younger generation tend to use kilograms. As noted previously, materials are usually labelled with both measurements so it allows you to use the denomination of choice.
b. Kg. breaking strength.
c. Other
4.) WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONVERSION FORMULAE ( IF ANY).
For those not labelled in both metods, convert Kg to pounds, multiply by 2.2 and write in on the spool. For quick calculation, multiply by 2 to obtain an approximation on the conservative side.
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Nial...
Good luck at Christmas Island. I'll bet you'll target the GT's !!!! If you can keep them from tearing your tippet on the coral, you're a better man than I am. (I, "cheated" by catching them off the pilings at Weipa, AU .... no coral.)
Gordy
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COMMENT: We had a discussion during one of our commitee deliberations on the possiblity of misunderstandings when asking questions about tippets while giving exams.
Just to recap what you may know anyway:
# The term, TIPPET usually refers to the portion of the leader with the least diameter usually attached between the end of the tapered section of the leader and the fly. It is the weakest link in the system.
# When fishing, "toothy critters" such as pike and pickerel, Damas fish, tiger fish and gar, etc in fresh water and a whole host of fish with toothy or abrasive mouths in salt water, this can also refer to the heavy, usually large diameter, abrasion resistant nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon short end segment attached to the fly hook. This includes various kinds of wire (mono wire, braided wire, twisted wire, cable, nylon covered wire, etc, etc.).
This is called the, SHOCK TIPPET or BITE TIPPET . It is attached in various ways to the thin diameter tippet material . Knots are usually used for this purpose. When this is done, a distinction between the shock tippet and the low diameter tippet is needed ...... Since his thin tippet is the weakest link in the leader system it is generally called the CLASS TIPPET. This term probably came from the fact that the IGFA classifies catches for record keeping purposes by, "class" based on pound test break strength of this tippet (for fly fishing) as it does for that of line break strength for other kinds of fishing.
Note that I highlighted part of Nial's answer in 1. . Choice of materials for the CLASS TIPPET may partially depend upon the abrasiveness of the mouth parts of the fish AS WELL as the roughness of the rocks, coral, etc. over which the fish may travel. Nylon monofilaments as well as fluorocarbon brands and, "models" have various abrasion resistance. Knowledgable fishermen in waters where this is important, have done their own tests on these materials. Nial knew this well.
For those fly fishermen who wish to fish according to IGFA specs., you need to know a couple of their basic rules regarding these shock tippets and class tippets :-
1.) The length of the SHOCK TIPPET may not exceed 12". This must include all knots !
(One way of attaching a wire shock tippet to the class tippet, is to interpose a short segment of moderately large diameter abrasion resistant nylon monofilament. This helps prevent the wire from cutting through a fine classs tippet. This segment of mono plus its knots must be considered all part of the shock tippet ..... no longer than 12".)
2.) Any material may be used.
3.) This may be attached to the fly with any knot or even a crimp sleeve or snell connection.
4.) The CLASS TIPPET must exceed 15" in length. Wire or cable may not be used for this.
5.) When submitting a line sample in claiming a world record, the angler must submit the fly, entire leader assembly, and at least one inch of the fly line which must not have been detatched. (Must include the connection between the butt section of the leader and the fly line.)
( Many other requirements apart from the leader ...... picture with ruler or measuring tape, signatures of person(s) witnessing the catch as having been made in accordance with IGFA rules, signature of person(s) witnessing the weight of the fish on land on an IGFA approved and certified scale, girth and length measurements, etc., etc. )
NOT easy to comply ! (I still hold the 12 lb. tippet World record for bonefish, now tied .... this despite the fact I've since caught 4 bonefish larger than that one on the same class tippet. Problem was, with those fish I didn't have every single duck in order, so no entry.) All my other records have since been broken. That's life.
Most salt water and some fresh water fly fishermen call their tippet a, CLASS TIPPET, even when no shock tippet is used. ...... especially those going for record catches.
There is a tremendous advantage in having as long a shock tippet as consistent with adequate cast and presentation, once a large tarpon, billfish or shark has taken the fly for the simple reason that the angler is a lot less likely to lose the fish due to abrasion of the leader assembly over the mouth parts, the bill, or even the back of these large fish. For this reason, many salt water guides use shock tippets much longer than 12" when they are aware that their angler is not going for a record.
Why the rule that the class tippet must exceed 15" in length ? Simple: One could rig up with a one inch class tippet. This would be a lot less likely to abraid or break as the leader rubbed over the back or gill plates of the fish ...... or over the backs of the other fish in a school.
Anglers going for records will try to use the shortest knot they can tie between the class tippet and the shock tippet. Sometimes this yields a trade-off between the need for knot brevity and strength.
Gordy