Hello again. So, with a tapered leader you have the thick end and then the thin end. Let's say the leader is 8 pounds. Does that mean the thin end is also 8 pounds? I'm asking this, because it would seem like the thinner end has a easier breaking point.

It tapers down to 8#. The thick part will have a higher strength. So when you use a tippet, you should use something lighter than 8#.

With those tapered leaders once you use up the thin part by changing flies don't toss the remaining thicker part. Tie in a new tippet on the remaining part. Several knots are used for that, my favorite is the blood knot.

And would not get too stressed about how long your tippet is. Say you start with a 9' tapered leader and you use 2 feet of it up. Just tie 2-3 feet of 8 Or 10# mono or fluorocarbon leader material. It doesn't have to be labeled fly tippet.

The one advantage in actual "tippet" line is that it usually has a smaller diameter than regular mono. Your 8# test mono will be about as thick as your 12# tippet line. The difference is not as big if you use flourocarbon, but it is still thinner.

The trade-off is price. A tippet spool will be about 4 times higher than mono, and at least twice the price of flouro. But your tippet spools are still less expensive than replacing tapered leaders.

Or you can used a tapered furled leader and tie a tippet onto it. Simple and easy and works a treat.

So if I'm reading this correctly, the 8 pounds listed on a tapered leader is the very thin part, not the entire leader as a whole correct?

Correct. The thin end is 8 lb test. As you use up some of that thin end by tying on new flies, it starts to get gradually thicker, and hence stronger. You can tie on new "tippet" multiple times before the leader has to be tossed.

If I can find the stupid things to get some Tippit rings and be done with it later will last much much longer.as well as you can now tire and improved Clint tonight which is much stronger than blood or double surgeons

Amazon sells tippet rings. I've never used them, but I hear lots of folks do. I've never had a blood knot fail, though. I've put fish over 10# on the tippet. I have had tippets fail, but not at the knot.

Thank y'all for the help But one last thing. Would 5 weight floating fly line be able to cast a 3X leader well?

I am able to cast it fine and I've only been fly fishing for a little over a week.

I use rings for nymphing because I'm breaking off a lot, changing flies often, and using small tippets. You don't have to worry about knotting 2 very different sizes of line together in case you eat into your leader. Plus blood knots in the cold are a pain. I like the Davy knot.

Small gauge tippet may be a necessity for trout in the high mountain streams - but warm water fish mostly are not leader shy. Carp may be different, carp guys would have to tell you that.

I use 20 lb mono for tippet and catch everything in the Brazos all day long except carp, and I have caught a few of them here and there too.

When someone is new to fly fishing there is a tendency to worry about doing it "right". I was there and I think others once new to the sport might have felt the same. Now, I look at it as there are a lot of "rights". There might be multiple leader set ups to get the same job done. Store bought Tapered, hand tied with Butt, mid-sections, and tippet, furled with tippet rings, Straight sections of mono or fluorocarbon. All of them could work and do work depending on the situation, person casting them, flies, etc.

I just roll with what I like and if I run into problems with the cast (fly not turning over or something along those lines), or fooling the fish (leader shyness or impairing the natural presentation) or keeping them on (abrasion resistance, knot strength), then I adjust accordingly. I haven't had a lot of leader problems (although I never liked the store bought tapered leaders as being a waste of money) and go with hand tied leaders with a butt section, sometimes a mid section, and a tippet. The only problem I have had with those is sometimes losing fish on oyster shell, but I have decided that's just part of the deal due to where I enjoy fishing.

I would recommend just rolling with a store bought leader appropriate to the flies and fish you are dealing with. Then if you run into problems, make an adjustment. There are plenty of formulas for tying your own leaders, too. Try the furled with ring and tippet, the straight piece of mono. Experiment. You will lose fish. You will hang a leader in a tree or on a submerged log. No biggie. Eventually, you will find what works best for your situation. Make it fun to figure it out.

It's just like dry fly fishing. Some say that only fine mono, 5,6,7, or 8X tippet mono works. Others swear by fluorocarbon and cite data and articles supporting fluorocarbon. There are huge debates about knot strength of the relative materials, light refraction, water adsorption, abrasion resistance. It can get pretty ridiculous. try stuff out, see what works.

Some folks might tell you have to master a nail knot to join the fly line to the leader. I just haven't found that to be true at all. I have never used a nail knot and don't have any plans to start. My determination to never use a nail knot hasn't kept me from catching tons of different fresh and saltwater fish on a fly. In fly fishing, there might be absolutes, but I'm real careful about those. Some declarations possibly presented as absolutes are more along the lines of personal preferences. That's fine, we all have our favorites. Some people like uni to uni knots, some blood knots, some double or triple surgeons. Just remember when you read anything about fly fishing it is generally is a perspective based on someone's experience, and that can be extensive but seldom comprehensive, and possibly and probably not an absolute.