Tippetfly fishing glossary
The thin, terminal section of the leader to which the fly is tied.
Tippet is the final, thinnest section of your leader system. It's the part that's directly tied to the fly. As you change flies and re-tie knots, the tippet gets shorter — so you add fresh tippet material to extend it.
Sizing
Tippet sizes use the "X" system: higher X = thinner diameter.
- 0X–2X: Streamers, heavy nymphs, bass
- 3X–4X: General trout, moderate flies
- 5X–6X: Small dries, technical trout
- 7X–8X: Ultra-light, tiny midges, spooky fish
Materials
- Nylon: Floats, stretches (good for dry flies)
- Fluorocarbon: Sinks, nearly invisible (good for nymphs)