Bambooflyguy
Life of the Party
I cut off all loops….I don’t like the bulk and cringe if it got caught in a small snake guide on my bamboo rods. My .02
Do you mean 15 lb? Max usually goes 8, 10, 12, 15, 20. I don't think they've ever made a 13. Here's the Fluoro selections-Interesting idea with the acetone. I'll give that a thought. I was using 12# fluro for my leaders but I didn't like how it was getting nicked up, so I switched to 13# maxima which I like a lot better. It seems more durable even though fluro is supposed to be more abrasion resistant.
I meant 12# actually. 10 felt too light for whatever reason.Do you mean 15 lb? Max usually goes 8, 10, 12, 15, 20. I don't think they've ever made a 13. Here's the Fluoro selections-
View attachment 98605
The loop on my my barely used, new from store 5/5' T11 MOW tip pulled apart when I got hung on a rando rock using 15 lb for kings. The loop came unwelded, but somehow the perfection loop (25lb Max Ultragreen) held onto the broken loop so I got everything back except the fly. It was even a turle knot.
The rest of the tip was fine (for now) so I just clipped off the loop and nail knotted the leader onto it. The heaviest I use for steelhead is 12 lb, but prefer 10 lb specifically for ease of breaking off a hung fly.
15 lb Max is tough stuff! Also Fluoro will cut more than Ultragreen.
A full set of 10 and 12 foot OPST tips and a couple of MOW tips is probably all you would ever need for 2 handed fishing.I forgot to put in a good word for OPST tips. I've only had them a couple seasons, but they seem to be holding up very well.
Yep. This is my current collection of tips for my 2 handed 7wts. One is a 12'6" spey (475gr Skagit line) and the other is a 11'6" switch (400gr Skagit line)A full set of 10 and 12 foot OPST tips and a couple of MOW tips is probably all you would ever need for 2 handed fishing.
I was using 12# fluro for my leaders
The coating cut in your first photo looks like what's happened to me sometimes, when I get hung up hard on brush. My tippet had cut into the flyline coating just like that, because the fly whips around at a very high speed, as it tangles. Tippet is much harder material than flyline coating.I am definitely hitting the ground on my D loop sometimes, as well as being hung up in a tree or bush on the bank here or there.
I couldn't agree with you more on that second loop. Very sloppy looking.Wait, I guess nobody has asked if you're looping the 12# fluoro directly to the tip. Are you? If so, that will cut bad. Even 12# Ultragreen will cut.
Needs to be at least 20# Ultragreen tapered (I use blood knots) down to 12 or 10. I usually do 1-2' of 20#, 1-2' of 15# and then 2' of 12#. In fact, I've been using 6" of 40# looped to 1' of 20# and then tapered down lately to really try to give those loops a break.
And just some frank advice. That loop in the 2nd photo is not good. I would suggest either going with 30 or 40# nail knotted to the tip (and then perfection loop at 6-10") or loop the tip and secure using nail knots over the doubled tip. Both ways will cast a hell of a lot better and not get stuck in the guides.
So you're talking about an up to 6 foot diy tapered leader after the sink tip?Wait, I guess nobody has asked if you're looping the 12# fluoro directly to the tip. Are you? If so, that will cut bad. Even 12# Ultragreen will cut.
Needs to be at least 20# Ultragreen tapered (I use blood knots) down to 12 or 10. I usually do 1-2' of 20#, 1-2' of 15# and then 2' of 12#. In fact, I've been using 6" of 40# looped to 1' of 20# and then tapered down lately to really try to give those loops a break.
And just some frank advice. That loop in the 2nd photo is not good. I would suggest either going with 30 or 40# nail knotted to the tip (and then perfection loop at 6-10") or loop the tip and secure using nail knots over the doubled tip. Both ways will cast a hell of a lot better and not get stuck in the guides.
In the coating.Btw, where is the tungsten? Is it in that small core, or the coating?
Yep. I'm usually at about 6' for my 10' 2.5' sink T11 tip and only about 4' when using 10' sink T11 or 12' Run tips. And about 9-10' when using the floater.So you're talking about an up to 6 foot diy tapered leader after the sink tip?
If you're looping to the core of the tip, I would just loop on some tippet, 4-6 feet. If you loop your leader onto a welded tip, I would build my leader accordingly: 50% 20# Maxima, 50% 10# Maxima. I use a no slip loop knot to loop to the tip, and a double uni knot to join the tippet to the butt section. Some folks use a double or triple surgeon knot instead of the double uni.So you're talking about an up to 6 foot diy tapered leader after the sink tip?