Recently the good folks at Hatch Magazine published an article entitled “Let’s Stop the Tiny Tippet Nonsense.” Essentially, it argues that 6X and 7X tippet isn’t a necessary or ethical choice for fly fishers pursuing trout.
I want to be clear: the intention of the article is good and there are some good, thought-provoking areas of emphasis. At the same time, I think that it represents a narrow frame of reference at best and a black-or-white perspective at worst.
As someone who endeavors to use the heaviest tippet I can get away with, but also fishes a lot of tiny midges on spring creeks, I have thought a lot about tippet. Consequently there are some things in the piece I agree with. But I also object to some statements that are made.
See two true points and two false assumptions, along with a link to the original article, below:
True: There is no inherent virtue in using lighter tippet.
The article rebukes anyone who tries to get away with the lightest tippet possible simply for the particular challenge of using the lightest tippet possible. It is a great point. Overtly bragging about a fish is a questionable practice. Making an intentional choice of a specific tippet weight an aspect of that flex? Few will be impressed. A detail like this may be an interesting incidental side note, but it shouldn’t be a major plot line. Because at the end of the day, your “big move” only changed the pound test by a few degrees.
False: 7X is unnecessary.
4X is great to use. But good luck getting it in a size 20 fly. And if you do happen to thread the proverbial needle, that knot is going to be about half the total size of the midge. With a 20 (dry or wet), the debate should be between 6X and 7X… 4X is an unreasonable expectation. 3X is probably impossible.
True: It is important to consider the fish.
Fly fishing is not a risk free activity. Every hook in each fish, every trout slid into each net includes risk. Unless you’re particularly clumsy, the vast majority of the risk falls onto the fish. Some of the risk can be avoided, however. Don’t fish if the water is low. Don’t fish if the weather is hot. Don’t grab fish with dry hands or keep them out of the water. And don’t use gear that is far too light to play and land a fish in a reasonable amount of time. That last one is a judgment call. No regulation book has a formula. It takes discernment and humility.
False: Tippet doesn’t impact presentation.
On glassy surfaces or smooth currents, tippet length and diameter significantly impact drift. The best positioning and cast won’t be worth much if the fly is pulled or swung rigidly over a trout. Especially with surface or surface film patterns, a supple and long length of tippet contributes to the natural presentation of an imitation. The situation or fly size may warrant that tippet be light, too.
Again, the article from Hatch (read it here, by the way) makes some very valid points. But the issue is much more nuanced than never 7X. At the end of the day, anglers need to use the right tools for the job rightly. It will make their lives, and those of the fish, better.