Tippet?

[Off in the Bushes]

Do you typically replace your spools of tippet every year?
I don't want to lose a good fish to old tippet.
Is there a date of manufacture on the spool so you know if it is old or not, wouldn't want to buy new just to find out it was old stock.

[badger]

I will throw away tippet that has been in the vest after a few years. Some of my tippet is several years old, new on the spool and kept in a sealed container, shows no reduced strength. Best is to test it.

[Scott N]

I'm on the same page as badger... after a couple of years, I would normally throw it away. That being said, I have tippet spools that are several years old that appear to be as good as new.

[Don Andersen]

Off....

Mono will deterioate if exposed to light and strength drops.
Florocarbon will last for thousands of years.


Don

[kinwahkly]

Ive had tippet spools for a number of years in my vest, as long as they are not exposed to sunlight i think they are fine.

[braggadoe]

I start the season with fresh tippet/leaders. give the old stuff to your friends

Depending on what i'm fishing for.

Trout i replace the tippet after every fish.

Salmon/steelhead i replace the entire leader after every fish, or after several fishless hours.

By doing this, rarely break a fish off.

[Flyfisher87]

I have never had an issue. I keep them out of the sun, and in the house.

[King Salmon]

I had a spool of fluorocarbon tippet for the last two years, and when I was using it in November, it would break everytime my fly would contact the bottom. I got curious as I heard that fluorocarbon doesn't break down, so I put on some lighter fluoro to test. Turns out the heavier stuff was rotten, and the lighter stuff was actually stronger and not breaking off. I had stored it in my backpack or vest and never exposed to light (only when I was changing tippet). So, yes fluorocarbon does break down. That being said, I do what everyone else is saying, and replace the spools only if the tippet is showing obvious signs of deterioration.

[greylynx]

Originally Posted by King Salmon

I had a spool of fluorocarbon tippet for the last two years, and when I was using it in November, it would break everytime my fly would contact the bottom. I got curious as I heard that fluorocarbon doesn't break down, so I put on some lighter fluoro to test. Turns out the heavier stuff was rotten, and the lighter stuff was actually stronger and not breaking off. I had stored it in my backpack or vest and never exposed to light (only when I was changing tippet). So, yes fluorocarbon does break down. That being said, I do what everyone else is saying, and replace the spools only if the tippet is showing obvious signs of deterioration.

WOW

Interesting post

[Lornce]

I find my tippet last much longer if kept in a dark place. Especially when fishing I never use a tippet carrier, instead I keep it in a vest pocket. My extra spools and tapered leaders I have stored in a sealed mason jar in a drawer. They last for years.

[Off in the Bushes]

Thanks for all the great posts ad info, I think for the few $ it costs for a new spool annually. I will be replacing mine.

[greylynx]

Originally Posted by Lornce

I find my tippet last much longer if kept in a dark place. Especially when fishing I never use a tippet carrier, instead I keep it in a vest pocket. My extra spools and tapered leaders I have stored in a sealed mason jar in a drawer. They last for years.

Psst. Lornce.

I have some Aeon tippit still in my vest.

Some of these posters were not even born when I bought it.