Rash of knot breakage--weight, bad tippet, casting or what??

[30Cal]

I hit the local stream yesterday and it was running a bit bigger than normal. I also lost a good half dozen flies that I never would have thought would have broken off. On 3 occasions, I set the hook on a small (8") brown only to lose him seconds later and find a pigtail at the end of the tippet. I'd had the fly in action for a half hour at most.

I ran out of 3x and was using a 4x Orvis Mirage tippet with a double improved cinch knot (as always). I was throwing fairly heavy stuff (#8 weighted stoneflies with a double dose of split shot) using an Orvis Far and Fine 5wt, 7.5' 3x leader which means I was working at a reduced distance. No whip cracking though.

I think I've used this tippet spool before without issues in similar conditions. When I loose flies, almost without exception, I lose the whole tippet and then only after some real effort. And this is after fishing the same rig for two or three hours.

Any thoughts?

 

[JeffK]

Pigtail usually means a bad knot. It is crucial to tighten both the main line and the tag end to keep the knot from slipping.

 

[Trout Fever]

just might not have been your dayi would just use a good improved clinch just one your line could of twisted or something a single improved clinch should do the job

 

[BrownChickenBrownTrout]

I switched to Davy Woton knots. Fast and way easier to tie than improved cinch. Never break off for me.

 

[Trouser Trout]

why are you using 3x?

 

[Trout Fever]

---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:47 PM ----------

why are you using 3x?

does that explain why?

---------- Post added at 08:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------

I ran out of 3x and was using a 4x Orvis Mirage tippet with a double improved cinch knot (as always). I was throwing fairly heavy stuff (#8 weighted stoneflies with a double dose of split shot) using an Orvis Far and Fine 5wt, 7.5' 3x leader which means I was working at a reduced distance. No whip cracking though.

Any thoughts?

tt heres your answer

 

[30Cal]

why are you using 3x?

The water was a little dark and high, plus I was tossing some fairly heavy stuff. If I'd had 3x, I would have used it, but all I had was 4x.

3x is about as beefy as I go for trout. Is that in error?

 

[golden beetle]

The water was a little dark and high, plus I was tossing some fairly heavy stuff. If I'd had 3x, I would have used it, but all I had was 4x.

3x is about as beefy as I go for trout. Is that in error?

Use 3x for shark.

 

[Trout Fever]

i had the same stuff happening when i was throwning buggers with shot i think it just stresses the lighter tippet out definatlly when throwing that kinda weight use 3x

 

[Lonewolve]

trouser,
mirage is flourocarbon ,and flourocarbon should be tied with different knots than mono,also try using that mirage and practice that knot see if maybe your forgetting something,also saliva should always precede tightening of the knot.also try a Davy knot or a different knot.

 

[coolkyle]

Using regular mono, I am a believer that a good clinch knot is better than a bad improved clinch. Put some spit on those knots!