There are moments in fly fishing when everything is just right – you’ve got the right fly, the cast is good, the fish has risen, and you’ve even managed to get it to take the fly.
And that’s exactly when you realise just how important the tippet is. Because often, there’s just a thin strand of line standing between you and the fish.
Tiemco Fluoro Stealth is a fluorocarbon leader designed for high sensitivity, low visibility and good wear resistance. Tiemco describes it as a material with high sensitivity, high strength and high specific gravity.
Fluorocarbon has long had a place in fly fishing. It sinks faster than monofilament, has lower stretch and, under the right conditions, can be a significant advantage. With Fluoro Stealth, Tiemco emphasises precisely these characteristics.
The material is relatively stiff and has low stretch, which, according to the manufacturer, helps to achieve better turnover and more direct control over the fly. This is particularly useful with larger or heavier flies, where a soft line sometimes simply doesn’t behave as you’d like it to.
In other words – you don’t just tie on the fly and let it float. You get a more direct connection between the line, the tippet and the fly. The name ‘Stealth’ is no coincidence. Fluoro Stealth comes in ‘Stealth Grey’, and Tiemco states that the material’s refractive index is close to that of water. The idea is to reduce glare and the visibility of the tippet beneath the surface.
This is particularly useful in clear water and when fishing for fish that have already seen plenty of flies and plenty of leaders.
Anyone who has fished for wary trout in shallow, clear water knows exactly what this is all about. Sometimes everything looks perfect, but the fish simply turns away at the last moment.
Of course, no tippet can become invisible as if by magic. But reduced visibility is one of the reasons why fluorocarbon is so popular in such situations.
One of the major advantages of Fluoro Stealth is that the material quickly adapts to the water and sinks.
This makes it a logical choice for nymphs, wet flies and various situations where you don’t want the tippet to linger on the surface for long. When nymphing, this can have a very practical effect.
You want the fly to reach the fish, rather than the tippet drifting somewhere above and pulling the whole rig in an unnatural way. Low stretch is something many fly fishers appreciate when seeking better contact with the fly.
With a delicate bite, this can make a difference. Especially when fishing at a distance or with a nymph, where you need to feel what’s happening below. The less ‘play’ there is between you and the fly, the more directly you can react. Tiemco highlights good abrasion resistance, which is particularly valuable when fishing takes you past rocks, branches, roots and other obstacles.
If the tippet has struck a rock, snagged on an underwater obstacle or you’ve landed a fish that has frayed the line, the sensible thing to do is simply to check the last few centimetres. Sometimes a minute’s check saves a lot of trouble.
The stiffer nature of Fluoro Stealth is an advantage in many situations, but it can be a disadvantage if you’re looking for the softest and most delicate tippet for very small dry flies. Fluorocarbon also requires care when tying knots. It should not be tightened roughly or whilst dry – thorough moistening and correct tightening are essential.
This applies to any high-quality fluorocarbon material, not just Tiemco’s.
To put it quite simply – this isn’t a tippet you buy just because it says ‘Tiemco’ on the spool.
You buy it when its characteristics match the way you fish.
If you’re looking for a fluorocarbon with low visibility, good abrasion resistance, low stretch and a fast sink rate, Fluoro Stealth has a perfectly logical place in your tackle bag. And that’s exactly what I like about it.
It’s not a product that tries to be everything to everyone. It has specific characteristics and specific situations in which they really come into their own. And ultimately, the tippet is the final link between the fly fisherman and the fish.
And when that connection needs to be as direct, strong and inconspicuous as possible, then it’s definitely worth paying attention to exactly what’s at the end of the leader.