Tippet Rings

Contributor: Dean Rapp

For me the debate continues over the use of a tippet ring or continuing with the perfection loop knot for my on the stream line to line connections. Tippet rings provide you a convenient way to connect tippet to your leader with out damaging your leader.

If you choose to use Tippet Rings I'd suggest purchasing fine  closed jump rings from  your local jewellery maker or you can find them at a variety of online locations such as: http://www.artbeads.com. These are essentially the exact same thing and are 1/10th of the price. I'd use 3mm O.D. rings for the but section and 2mm O.D. rings for tippet connections. Be sure to get those that are donut shaped and not shaped like a flat washer. The latter (flat washer shaped) will have a tendency to cut through your tippet.

You can use any of the popular knots for attaching tippet to your fly but I've found the Davy Knot to work especially well when I have a tippet ring attached to a relatively large diameter section of leader.

If you dry fly fish with them I'd suggest coating them with a little Mucilin or similiar product.