I have 2 questions regarding reducing the weight of the tip on a 6 wt fly rod:
1) Is a thread wrap necessary on the tip top for any structural/functional reasons?
2) How much of the tube on a traditional TT is necessary for support? Can some of it be removed without adversely affecting the strength of the rod/TT connection?

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

I bet you could take half the length off easy as there are some fly/light spin ceramic TTs with a much shorter tube length. No thread is necessary except to make it pretty.

I haven't tried it myself yet, but more and more builders are using guides as tip tops. A lot less weight and straighter line path

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

The wrap on the tiptop is purely cosmetic. You can omit it without any repercussions.

Not sure how much difference there is between a regular tube style tiptop and a single foot guide wrapped onto the tip (with thread and finish) but you could always wrap one up, cut it off and weigh the pieces against that of a regular tube tiptop.

.............

Use REC's recoil tip-top. I can tell the difference between that and a traditional tip-top in the rod's action. Looks funny because it is crimpted, but I have them on 12 rods no prob. Winston used to use them but people objected to them based on looks. Some say they do not survive rough use but that is remote on a 6wt. I would ditch the wrap.
Herb

The recoil tip tops are very light. Ugly, but light, and I can't see 8' or so any more anyway so I use them. I am not sure I like the wire size on them though. Does anywone have any comments about the thin loops, pro or con?

In my experience, the titanium SIC tip tops are lighter than the std loop tops in most sizes.

And the cerment titanium are very light.

Never cut a standard tip. Thought about it, but decided that the ones listed above are better in most respects.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2008 10:13PM by Bill Moschler.

The TT in question is Pac Bay LCMST, which is supposed to be a "light" tip top, but the tube length seems ridiculously long, especially for a fly rod with a 4.5 tip size.
I've wrapped a single foot guide as a TT before, and it works great. I even got used to the unconventional look. I was just trying to make good use out of a $7.00 TT.
Thanks for the responses.