I've been using RIO Powerflex for some time now, occasionally buying a spool of fluorocarbon for the last two sections of leader when finicky fish dictate. Years ago I used Maxima Chameleon and at some point started using the RIO PF. I know some now say go fluorocarbon or go fish-less, but I really question the merits of that argument. I have caught a lot of fish using Maxima and still fish with a guide who uses it. What brand of tippet do you like to use and why?
i like rio to i like the strength of it and i can tie some pretty solid knots out of it so i cant complain it does its job i think started using it just because i had rio fly line so i was like why not use rio tippet it matches haha
I generally go with the same tippets you listed. Rio Poweflex for dry flies, & Fluoroflex (fluorocarbon) for nymph/chrironomids. For sinking & sink-tip lines I just tie on a 4-6' section of Maxima Ultragreen to a 12" fixed butt section of 20lb Maxima that's attached to the fly line.
For light, floating work, I've used Orvis Superstrong in 4x-7x for a long time. I'm confident in it, although other premium copolymirs like Rio and Umpqua probably work as well. I used heavier Superstrong, 3x to 1/0, for big fish, but recent experiments have shown me that they're not as strong as their rating, and not compared to old standards like Maxima, Chameleon and UltraGreen. I use 1/0 and 0X Seaguar Grand Max or Orvis Mirage fluorocarbon, and I'm just starting to use 10 lb. Maxima fluoro. I'm hoping that it doesn't put off fish underwater, any more than 3x nylon.
I almost always use powerflex for everything except streamer fishing where I use Maxima 8,10,12,and 15lb depending on the situation. I have a couple spools of flouro for special situations where the bottom is sharp or the fish are weary.
Recent review: http://www.flyfisherman.com/2012/05/07/2012-tippet-shootout/ I use Dai Riki for trout, although it is getting harder to find in shops. Maxima for steelhead. Picked up a few spools of trouthunter while in MT a few weeks ago.
Rio Powerflex or Orvis Super Strong, usually factory tapered knotless etc, then Maxima Ultragreen or Chameleonfor the deep swinging winter stuff. I am no longer using Fluorocarbon.
Stayed with the Rio PF and just bought a 3, 4 and 5x of the "guide size" spools...not much, but a little more savings/inch. I hate running out on the water as I did last weekend on the Deschutes (5x) -- hey, maybe that's why I had such poor success...yeah, that's it!
Maxima Chameleon, 3X and up. Has worked great for me, even in the salt. And cheap! Maxima Ultragreen, 3X to 6X. Old reliable, don't see any reason to change. Again, cheap! Orvis Superstrong for 7X and 8X, when needed, which is seldom. Kenneth
Sci-Ang for all my dry fly fishing. I don't like Rio, and I have tried a few other brands but I always come back to the first one I mentioned. Don't use Fluorocarbon because I just don't. If I want something to sink I just add a weighted fly.
I picked up some Stroft at closeout just to see how well I like it since it came in 100m spools and was really inexpensive. I'm very impressed. I do find that it helps to throw in an extra turn in my knots to keep it tight, but I didn't loose a single fly over the last two outings to the Deschutes Salmonfly hatch using 4x the entire time (unheard of). (the 4x is rated at around 8lb, I think) For steelhead, I usually use Seaguar flouro and sometimes Maxima UG. For salt, it's always SG flouro.
