I'm curious to know how many flyfishers out there use "bulk" tippet rather than buy the little spools of expensive stuff. I've been using Vanish (perhaps not as strong as other brands) with OK luck. I'm going to switch to Ultragreen but would like to hear other opinions. I've heard that Vanish in the lighter strength test isn't as reliable as the heavier stuff. Again, thoughts?

For steelies and salmon I use Maxima ultragreen, works well enough for me! I buy the bulk spools and reline my old tippet spools from them. If there is something out there that is stronger and thinner, let me know.

I also use ultra green as a tippet. I also construct my entire leader with Maxima. There is a chart that was developed by Bill McMillan to size your leader to maximize the leaders ability to turn over when casting. I don't have the resource but I'll see if I can find one to post. Maxima Cameleon is stiffer for butt section and I use Ultra green for the tippet. The abrasion resistance and knot strength is why I use it.

~steelymann~

Maxima ultragreen or clear makes great fly leaders. I usually use Climax for the tippet.

If you don't want to tie up leaders, Cabela's sells 4 packs of tapered leaders for a pretty decent price, about eight bucks, if memory serves.

I also use Maxima UG to make steelhead leaders, but I generally buy tapered leaders for trout fishing. The UG is a great tippet material, although they're fairly thick and is way over-rated (tensile strength wise).

I have also used Seaguar fluorocarbon leaders with good results and prefer them over UG as the trout tippet material.

Have not tried the Vanish, but I have heard some negative stories and have seen many stores clear them out. Weak knot strength, tensile strength, etc.

UG is the way to go for tippets and exclusively use Chameleon for the butt.
When the water is gin clear and the Steelies are spooky, I use Seagar's Grandmax flouro, thinner, just as strong as UG, also virtually invisible to fish. Go to Sportco in FIfe, best price in the country; 9.95 for 75yds!

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Old Chum,

It's no doubt less expensive to purchase the bulk filler spools, but I buy the 27 m Maxima leader wheels. I would never use all of a bulk spool before it rotted, and I only seem to use 2 of the 8# spools a year and less of the other sizes, so I'll keep buying the smaller leader spools so as to have fairly fresh leader material. I use Climax or something like that for trout leader tippets cuz of its greater strenght per diameter, and same thing, I don't go thru it fast enough to buy a large quantity.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.