Different tenkara rods have ratings for the tippet they can handle which involves how many pounds the rod can manage before breaking, but how does that correlate to fly size? What a great question we received, and one worth discussing and sharing with others.
In tenkara when we talk about tippet size we often are thinking about the tippet “test” rating, or how much weight it can withstand before breaking. This is relevant because tenkara anglers want the tippet to break instead of the rod. Most tenkara anglers and rod manufacturers recommend lighter tippet from 7x on up to 5x – maybe 4x. If you hook into a larger fish on light tippet with a low-test rating, instead of the rod breaking under pressure, the tippet gives way. While this is credible and important, many anglers forget that tippet size should also correlate to the size fly you are using. A very small fly will not hang naturally and freely when tied to heavy or thick tippet and will impede a natural presentation. The smaller the fly the more critical it becomes to pair it with lighter tippet. So, the next time you open your fly box and begin to tie something on, consider your tippet and whether or not you’re pairing its size correctly to your fly size. Here’s a chart for you to consider:
