Sporting Ethics in Yellow Fly Fishing - 7X Tippet?

[Yellowfever]

I’m not going to attach this to any of the threads where it was mentioned as I don’t want to slam any person personally. It has been mentioned that 7X tippet is the way to go on Sterkies for super selective fish. I have done my fair share of fishing on the dam and 95% of that was with 5X (0.16mm) and some with 4X (0.17mm). I get refusals and I get hooked up in a very random fashion – but 90% of refusals are when the fish see me! Or think that the fly on the water is crap. Yeah and maybe some see a bit of tippet.

One cannot fish 7X tippet on a 5 weight rod to Sterkfontein yellows – it is as unsporting as shooting Spurwing with a 20Ga! Yes the objective is to catch fish but as FFM we have an obligation to the animals. 7X Tippet is made for the WC and small stream trout and lightweight outfits. This unsporting behaviour must stop. I cannot prove that more fish die or don’t but it just does not sound right!!

[NCBass]

Agree 110%
For yellows, always use the highest breaking strain you are comfortable with.
In the Vaal/Orange nothing more than 3X and when fishing LM even 2X or straight 10lb.
If bank anglers can successfully use stuff as thick as edge trimmer line then why not us?

[dizzy]

I understand the point you are making, but I have the opinion that if you cannot land a fish on your tackle, rated at certain strengths, then you are not using your tackle correctly.

eg. your tippet is rated at 2kg, then you should comfortably be able to land upto a 2kg fish on that. I know you understand what I'm saying!

Also, with all the development in the tackle industry, we now have great tools at our disposal, take the Stroft line for example. You can now fish a heavier kg rating at a lower x rating (eg, 4.2 kg Stroft is the same diameter(or X rating - if I am correct in saying this) as 3.6 kg Rio Powerflex). So, I think that research has a big part to play on your fishing.

Would be interesting to hear you points. Btw, what kg is 5x or 4x - 2.5kg - 3.kg?

[Scythe]

I think the point YellowFever was trying to make has little to do with the breaking strength of the line and more to do with good sportmanship while fishing.

I have to agree with him, fishing for SmallMouth on 7X especially where you're liable to run into bigger fish (over 1Kg) is simply not on. Yes you can catch the fish, yes you can land the fish ... that is merely a point of skill and care taken while fishing, but it is in no means shape or fashion fair to the fish which will basically already be dead by the time it reaches the landing net.

It's no secret that with YellowFish you have to outgun the fish, they're strong, they're fast, make sure you have a strong enough line to land them quickly to minimise the very real risk of post release mortality.

[jock0]

Ja, we've been through this before and it looks like the forum is divided quite strongly. I'm in the "fish heavy" camp for the record.

Knowing your tackle might be key and you might be the next rex hunt, but when you can only safely apply 30% of your rated breaking strain as drag force you arent going to get anywhere quickly with 30% of your 6x (around 1.3-1.5kg) or 7x (around 1-1.2kg) regardless of which tippet, leader, rod combo you use... Pretty cheesy when you know full well that the average fish are going to top the 1kg mark pretty easily.

[smallstreams.co.za]

– it is as unsporting as shooting Spurwing with a 20Ga!

Uhm, which one would you have to use to NOT kill the Spurwing? Or does the one kill better than the other??

[frikb]

I agree. If you can't catch that yellow on a 4x/5x tippet, go back to camp and have a beer.
Sure you can catch it on a lighter tippet but you're going to have to hang on to the rod for so much longer(think of all the other fish you've missed). I haven't fished for yellows on Sterkfontein yet but I've heard it's not easy and I'm sure it's not going to get easier with all the fishing pressure. Don't try and be a hero just to be able to put the numbers on your record. Fishing is not only about how many you can catch.

I don't even own 7x haven't needed it yet.

My 7x cents

[smallstreams.co.za]

I get refusals and I get hooked up in a very random fashion – but 90% of refusals are when the fish see me! Or think that the fly on the water is crap. Yeah and maybe some see a bit of tippet.

On our way back from Stream X on Friday afternoon, Neil Rowe and I spoke about this (sorta, he spoke, I listended). While fishing with another buddy, he was "outfished" 2-1. Neil used 6X Froghair, his buddy 7X. Neil switched to 7X, and BAM, doubled his catch rate. Go figure ...

One cannot fish 7X tippet on a 5 weight rod to Sterkfontein yellows

Tough one, but ja, I agree 90% with that. Of course, depends on the rod used (soft, medium, stiff) and of course angler skill and finesse. But ja, 7X on a #5 is a bit of a bugger.

Saying that, I would venture into saying that most break-offs on 7X occur during hook-up, and anglers having the skill to control a hook-up on 7X on a #5 should have enough skill to land a fish fairly quickly as well.

[NeilRowe]

Mario

The above-mentioned buddy has also caught yellows on the Orange on his 000! And released them successfully I should add. I do'nt want to get into an online argument about the use of light tackle (rod and tippet) as this normally ends up in a bunfight (there was a thread on this recently, if I remember correctly).

I am not an experienced yellowfish fisherman,but the few decent fish I have landed on the Orange would have smoked me on 7X. Even 4x would not have stood a chance.


My 4X worth

[smallstreams.co.za]

... would have smoked me on 7X. Even 4x would not have stood a chance.

See, this is where Dizzy's comment about skill comes in

Yes, I agree that fishing 7X on a #5 is a bit crazy, and that is probably why MK used the #000 with the 7X.