Tippet ring
Also called leader ring
A tippet ring is a tiny metal ring tied to the end of a leader so you can add and replace tippet without shortening the leader.
- Group
- Leaders & tippet
- Category
- Gear & tackle
- Level
- Beginner
- Water
- Fresh & salt
Last updated
What Tippet ring means
It’s a small, strong ring, usually stainless steel with a dark matte finish, that lives at the end of your leader. You tie the leader to the ring, then tie your tippet to the same ring.
The point is simple, you stop cutting back your tapered leader every time you change flies or rebuild a rig. Many anglers use a clinch-style knot or improved clinch knot to tie to the ring, then attach fresh tippet as needed.
Tippet rings show up a lot on nymph and dry-dropper setups, where you may change tippet diameter or length during the day. Some anglers skip them for certain dry-fly situations, where they want the cleanest possible connection and turnover.
Why it matters on the water
Leader length and taper affect how a fly turns over and how it drifts. A ring helps you keep that taper intact for longer, instead of slowly turning a 9-foot leader into a short, thick, hard-to-manage one.
On the water it also speeds up changes. If you break off or need to go from, say, a heavier tippet for a weighted nymph to a finer tippet for a small dry fly, you can do it without rebuilding the whole leader.
Shop Tippet ring
Read next
- Improved clinch knotA common knot for tying tippet to a fly. It’s a clinch knot with the tag end passed back through a second loop before tightening for a more secure finish.
- LeaderThe leader is the clear, tapered line between the fly line and the fly. It turns the fly over and gives you a clean, controlled presentation.
- Tapered leaderA tapered leader is a pre-built leader that gets thinner from the fly line end to the tippet end. The taper helps transfer energy from the cast so the fly turns over and lands with less splash.
- TippetTippet is the thin, level line tied to the end of your leader. It’s the section you cut back and replace as you change flies and re-tie knots.