For me, my leader choice depends on the fishing conditions and what I'm casting.

For general purpose use, a 3X leader can be used about 80% of the time.

For warmwater bass fishing using something in the a 3 wt rod range, I'll usually use something in the range of 1x, 0x, or even just 10 lb test. If I'm just targeting bluegill, I may drop down to 3x.

With an 8 wt for stripers on Texoma or bass in heavy cover, I may use something in the 12 lb to 15 lb range. I don't like using anything stronger than 15 lb because fly lines seem to have about a 20 lb break strength and I want my leader to break before the fly line.

For trout, I try to follow the recommendations for the local conditions. Which usually means tying on some 5x or 6x tippet to the end of the leader.

As always, your milage may vary.

Good luck!

For some useless trivia. The "X" system was a measure of the leader/tippet's diameter and not its breaking strength. The higher the X number, the smaller the diameter. To get an estimate of the breaking strength of a leader or tippet, subtract the X number from 10. Traditionally, a 0X tippet had a 10lb strength (10 - 0X = 10 lb). A 3X was about 7 lbs (10 - 3X = 7 lbs). However, leader materials have gotten better and the breaking strength's have increased, so this formula is not very accurate anymore, but it does give you a starting point.

Unfortunately I did Mike. That killer baitfish pattern was lost to something big.
for the most part I haven't had that many issues with it... just when I hook something of heft

If you are bass fishing just use plain mono 10-20lb depending on the size of the fly and weight of the fly rod.. all bets are off if you are chasing trout...

you just tie on the mono just as you normally would tippet? that simple huh...

Many may disagree, but I have never had any issues w/ 4-6' of 12-17# mono for bass. Loop to loop at your fly line. Buy a 330 yard spool of Stren for $7 and save your money for flies. Bass generally aren't picky about line of presentation of tapered leaders. Heck, a have caught a bunch of fish on 50# braid tied directly to a jig or frog.

That's what I did for the first 2 years I flyfished. I didn't know anything about tapered leaders, and had no interest in learning. I was catching bass and that's all I cared about.

It wasn't until I started flyfishing for bluegill, trout and redfish that I had to really learn about tippets and leaders. Biggest mistake ever I ever made.

heavy mono affects the flys action and can be a problem for line-shy fish but for bass I've never had it matter much..

I got some 6 and 10 lb mono layin around..
ill have to check it out. I have some short leaders I may tie a couple variations.

thanks for all the input everyone

i know this professional guide, he is endorsed by bass pro and everything. he uses 4lb vanish. are you saying thats not any good?

I just use ~7 ft of 12lb fluoro with a perfection loop in the end most of the time and it works like a champ.

My post intended to address this �tippets� subject in a perceived positive manner failed, so I deleted my message.
There has been excellent advice given on this thread but IMO, confusing to the beginner fly fisherman.

I tell a beginner that seeks my advice is to pay no attention to the X-rated nomenclature on tapered leaders and look at break strength as on any other fishing line, because that is what it is.

For years I only used �fishing line� leaders, some time loop to loop, butt leader to tippet.
Since braided loops and advent of furled leaders, I now use Robin�s furled leaders and fishing line tippets �.FWIW...

George Glazener

when George speaks, I listen-p-

I tried casting some 6lb mono yesterday. ehhhh I guess Im spoiled with tippet cause that stuff gave me a headache...
didn't cast right, looped weird on back casts and getting the loop to straighten out was impossible against the wind

Just straight 6 lb. mono or was there some leader in between it and fly line?