Thanks, LRHF.

Can I just tie 24" (or less?) of 3x tippet onto my 9' 1x leader? Or even cut back 1' of my leader and then tie on 24" of 3x?

I would definitely cut off the last 12" and discard on an extruded leader, not worth losing a whole nymph rig breaking off.

I just tied 1x to 3x and the triple surgeon knot looks fine. I wouldn't hesitate to do this in the field if it was my last leader but, I wouldn't start off the day doing this. If you need 3 and 4x for the flies, I would start with a tapered 3x leader. If you need 5 and 6x, I would start with a tapered 5x leader (again cutting off the last 12" and replacing with quality tippet.

You can add as much tippet as you want when tying your first knot but it will make your overall leader length longer. Not a bad thing per se but if too long, may become difficult to cast.

Good luck!

Thanks again. Sounds like I need to pick up a bunch of different sizes of leaders. Been getting Rio Powerflex mostly.

Beautiful day to be out on the river.

rather be fishing said:

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Beautiful day to be out on the river.

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No doubt. Was shocked not to see anyone out there.

Nice work Lt and beautiful fish! Thanks for sharing, posts like this give us something to look forward to! Cool way to start tour day of fishing seeing a small herd of elk on the way to your local trout river.

Need a fishing buddy??

brs4688 said:

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Need a fishing buddy??

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I'm pretty green obviously, but if you're ever in the area, let me know!

Finally got some proper fishing waders so I don't look like a redneck in the water with my duck hunting waders.

Wound up with the Korkers Dark Horse boots and the Orvis Encounter waders. The Encounters are apparently the old version of the Clearwaters, but are less than $100, which I feel pretty good about. I might see about getting some Simms for next season, but these will do for now.

https://m.orvis.com/product/mens-encounter-waders/0H1R

That's one hell of a first fish!

Made it out again this morning before work but wanted to try dry flies. Went 0/3 on hook sets!
Oh well, bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office and all that..

I did find that it is a hell of a lot easier to cast a dry fly than a nymph rig. Can't wait for the salmon fly hatch in a few weeks.

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Made it out again this morning before work but wanted to try dry flies. Went 0/3 on hook sets!
Oh well, bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office and all that..

I did find that it is a hell of a lot easier to cast a dry fly than a nymph rig. Can't wait for the salmon fly hatch in a few weeks.

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Casting a dry fly will let you really appreciate how smooth a rod can be. Especially after you've been flinging nymphs for a while.

rather be fishing said:

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Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Made it out again this morning before work but wanted to try dry flies. Went 0/3 on hook sets!
Oh well, bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office and all that..

I did find that it is a hell of a lot easier to cast a dry fly than a nymph rig. Can't wait for the salmon fly hatch in a few weeks.

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Casting a dry fly will let you really appreciate how smooth a rod can be. Especially after you've been flinging nymphs for a while.

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No joke. Felt good to come to the end of the stripped line and hear that click of a little more line coming out of the reel. It make me understand what people talk about when they say that you're casting the line not the fly.
Casting a nymph feels like make a lob cast.

Anyone know if the local Orvis stores will replace tip sections? Lost my tip to the screen door today while trying to keep an eye on a toddler. Sad thing was I hadn't fished the rod in over a year and was walking out to make some practice casts.

Hudson2508 said:

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Anyone know if the local Orvis stores will replace tip sections? Lost my tip to the screen door today while trying to keep an eye on a toddler. Sad thing was I hadn't fished the rod in over a year and was walking out to make some practice casts.

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Almost certain you're going to have to mail the entire rod in. Might be able to call and purchase just a tip section.

rather be fishing said:

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Hudson2508 said:

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Anyone know if the local Orvis stores will replace tip sections? Lost my tip to the screen door today while trying to keep an eye on a toddler. Sad thing was I hadn't fished the rod in over a year and was walking out to make some practice casts.

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Almost certain you're going to have to mail the entire rod in. Might be able to call and purchase just a tip section.

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Speaking from experience you have to mail the rod in with a warranty claim and $35.

Ugh....thanks for the heads up. The good news is I never fish this rod.

I might just try to order a tip section to replace it.

Got all fired up to cast it on the lake today and had a fly ready for trying to catch a carp. Had to settle for the 5WT and some sun fish.

Rather be fishing... not sure if you listen to the Orvis Fly Fishing podcast or not but last week's episode is about fishing in Libby, MT. I think that's pretty close to where you are.

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Rather be fishing... not sure if you listen to the Orvis Fly Fishing podcast or not but last week's episode is about fishing in Libby, MT. I think that's pretty close to where you are.

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I haven't listened to that podcast in while, but I will doesn't that episode. I'm about an hour south of Libby. Thanks for the heads up.

Anyone have any sling or vest recs? Not looking to break the bank.

I fell head first into fly fishing about four years ago. I try to buy equipment that will last and also has a very good warranty. I got a Patagonia sling pack when I first started. Plenty of room, durable has hell, light and looks good.
I think this model was approx $125. I use it approximately 25-40 times a year for fly fishing in Northern New Mexico.
I'll use it occasionally (12-15 times a year)for bass fishing here in TX

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Anyone have any sling or vest recs? Not looking to break the bank.

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I've got a fishpond sling pack that want terrible and I like a lot. Don't get a vest.

I have a Fishpond vest that I like, but sometimes wish I had a sling pack or hip pack.

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Anyone have any sling or vest recs? Not looking to break the bank.

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Define "break the bank"

In my experience there's really nothing in between an inexpensive Academy/Bass Pro sling pack and your FishPond/Simms/Patagonia. I bought a $25'ish sling from Academy to see how I liked them and it's decent enough. But inside a year I upgraded to the FishPond Thunderhead submersible sling pack and it's pretty awesome but at full retail it's $230- I got the previous year model on closeout for like $150.

Have had a fly rod for awhile and finally took it out a few times during the quarantine and have now caught two bass from some farm tanks. Tons of fun.

Thumbs down for my dog chewing the rod in half on the drive back a week ago so now I've got to replace that. At least it was a cheap cabelas one which I'll probably buy again so only 60 bucks.

agfan2013 said:

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Have had a fly rod for awhile and finally took it out a few times during the quarantine and have now caught two bass from some farm tanks. Tons of fun.

Thumbs down for my dog chewing the rod in half on the drive back a week ago so now I've got to replace that. At least it was a cheap cabelas one which I'll probably buy again so only 60 bucks.

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You should look into TFO. A step up in price, but reasonably priced rods, fantastic warranty. Mail the rod back with a check for $30 and they'll send you a new rod.

Lt Joe I have a never used xxl or xl Patagonia vest Ill make you a deal on.

Excellent design but i knew right away i was a pack guy.

Gift from the wife early on in the fly fishing journey.

Might work out well in a kayak.

Email me at gfw3 at mac dot com.

Mr. Frodo said:

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Lt Joe I have a never used xxl or xl Patagonia vest Ill make you a deal on.

Excellent design but i knew right away i was a pack guy.

Gift from the wife early on in the fly fishing journey.

Might work out well in a kayak.

Email me at gfw3 at mac dot com.

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Thanks Frodo, but I think that might be a little big for me. I really appreciate it though!

Man I gotta work on my hook setting technique. Went 0/5 this morning. All of them I had on for at least a second or two. I'm fishing barbless, so that could be the issue?

Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Man I gotta work on my hook setting technique. Went 0/5 this morning. All of them I had on for at least a second or two. I'm fishing barbless, so that could be the issue?

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Ordinarily I'd say "DON'T TROUT SET!"

But it looks like you actually are trout fishing and should trout set. So, I got nuthin'...

TarponChaser said:

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Lt. Joe Bookman said:

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Man I gotta work on my hook setting technique. Went 0/5 this morning. All of them I had on for at least a second or two. I'm fishing barbless, so that could be the issue?

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Ordinarily I'd say "DON'T TROUT SET!"

But it looks like you actually are trout fishing and should trout set. So, I got nuthin'...

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Yeah, so a couple of weeks ago I missed 3 because I was setting the hook like I would on a bass. I backed off quite a bit, but now I think I did it too little. Either that or I'm losing them on the fight.

Montana general season opens Saturday, so I get to fish closer to the house now.

Here's a couple of thoughts-

*small fish? Sometimes small fish will hit a fly really fast then spit the hook. Minimize slack in the system to help set the fly quickly.

*Angler set too fast- if the takes are from bigger fish, you may need to slow down and let the fish get its mouth around the fly then start going back down before you raise to tension. In other words, you may be ripping the fly out of the fish's mouth.

*Angle- with the above in mind, are you casting to fish upstream or downstream? If casting downstream to rising fish, need to give them an extra moment before settling the hook.

Likely a mix of issues, sometimes it's just part of fishing.

Tight lines!
LRHF