Stroft Tippet Material

[haresear]

Yep half blood knot with 4-5 turns depending on diameter.  Never had an issue (touch wood!).

That is interesting. I have been using the uni knot for years now after having knotty problems with Frog Hair. The trouble with the uni knot is it leaves a single annoying kink near the fly (or at least it does the way I tie it).
I have been going to try the Davy knot as an alternative, but maybe I should be comparing the half blood against the Davy for knot strength.....

I will post my results in another thread.

Alex

[Highlander]

Stroft is not for me I tried a few spools when it first appeared on the scene some years back but soon found it to be wanting with a few unexplained breakages with larger fish (Rainbows) & quickly moved back to the more reliable nylon, maybe I just had a bad batch I don't know. Some like it but not me, today I only use Maxima & Drennan Sub Surface & have few if any bad things to say about these two.

Tight Lines

[rannoch raider]

I've been using Fulling Mill FC for for the last season and I've been reasonably satisfied with it. I have had the odd 'failure' for reasons unknown here and there and I've always had a wee niggly thought that while it is not too bad, it is still not 100 per cent reliable.
I think the Brown 'Chameleon' Maxima is a great line, the colour puts me right off. I've tried the clear Maxima but It isn't the same as the brown. The Finalists for me so far are the Rio Co Polymer, The Sigh tfree G3 and possibly one of the Stroft lines. I use fulling Mill tapered leaders and I'm wondering how compatible these various tippets will be for knotting with the FM leader? Does anyone do this or do you just construct a leader from your chosen material in different breaking strains or diameters ?
Forgot to add, I use Seagaur for pike and saltwater leaders and I try to use a palomar knot where possible. Never had any issues with it at all but I don't fancy it in smaller diameters.

[sagecirca]

Stroft is not for me I tried a few spools when it first appeared on the scene some years back but soon found it to be wanting with a few unexplained breakages with larger fish (Rainbows) & quickly moved back to the more reliable nylon, maybe I just had a bad batch I don't know. Some like it but not me, today I only use Maxima & Drennan Sub Surface & have few if any bad things to say about these two.

Tight Lines

I wouldn't use it for rainbows as they tend to smash take you and I think stroft fails easily if loaded that quickly.  On rivers that generally isn't an issue for me.

[sagecirca]

That is interesting. I have been using the uni knot for years now after having knotty problems with Frog Hair. The trouble with the uni knot is it leaves a single annoying kink near the fly (or at least it does the way I tie it).
I have been going to try the Davy knot as an alternative, but maybe I should be comparing the half blood against the Davy for knot strength.....

I will post my results in another thread.

Alex

Never used any other knot Alex than the half blood knot.  I think we spoke about this at Camps?  I did very, very briefly try the rapala knot for nymphs when fishing in Bosnia as our guide reckoned it made the nymph move more like a natural but I didn't really persevere with it.  You need to show me the Davy knot when we are out next  :

[sagecirca]

.....compatible these various tippets will be for knotting with the FM leader? Does anyone do this or do you just construct a leader from your chosen material in different breaking strains or diameters ?

As long as you reasonably step down in diameter from the end of the tapered leader to your tippet I don't see it being a problem.  I go from a 5X leader to a 6x tippet for most of my river fishing and in the height of summer and fishing wee, wee stuff I go from 6X to 7X.

[rannoch raider]

Yeah, I think that as long as the step down in diameter was not too steep then that wouldn't be an issue. I'm wondering how the different surfaces and densities of the materials would go. very hard to soft for instance.

[haresear]

Yeah, I think that as long as the step down in diameter was not too steep then that wouldn't be an issue. I'm wondering how the different surfaces and densities of the materials would go. very hard to soft for instance.

. If you use a water/surgeons knot you can knot thick to thin without any bother. Being old school I tend to think in pounds rather than diameters but I have successfully knotted 8lb to 4lb in the past with no problems.
That said I would be less confident knotting a FC butt section to  fine copolymer because FC is so stiff. In the reverse of that, which is more likely anyway, I wouldn't want a big step downbin diameter.

Alex

[haresear]

Never used any other knot Alex than the half blood knot.  I think we spoke about this at Camps?  I did very, very briefly try the rapala knot for nymphs when fishing in Bosnia as our guide reckoned it made the nymph move more like a natural but I didn't really persevere with it.  You need to show me the Davy knot when we are out next  :

I will have to learn the Davy knot first myself
Aye, I remember at Camps res. being surprised that you had jad no problems with the old half blood on modern fine diameter lines, but hey if it works why try to fix it?

[Billy]

I use Maxima ultra green for all of my fishing.

A slight deviation from the thread but what is the best time for Camps. I have been in touch with Gerry White about fishing down there but I will be looking for more info in the new year.

Billy