Fly Fishing Leader X-Designation Chart

The X-Designation Chart

X is a factor that designates leader tippet diameter. It was used during the era when all leader was made from silk worm gut. X equals eleven. If you subtract the X factor from eleven you will arrive at the diameter of the leader in one-thousandths of an inch.

8X = .003 inch (11 - 8 = 3)

7X = .004 inch (11 - 7 = 4)

6X = .005 inch (11 - 6 = 5)

5X = .006 inch (11 - 5 = 6)

4X = .007 inch (11 - 4 = 7)

3X = .008 inch (11 - 3 = 8)

2X = .009 inch (11 - 2 = 9)

1X = .010 inch (11 - 1 = 10)

0X = .011 inch (11 - 0 = 11)

Leaders and tippet are now made from several kinds of polymer materials, such as nylon or fluorocarbon. Pound test rating will vary in a given diameter between manufacturers. Dry breaking strength is only one factor to consider. Knot strength, wet strength, suppleness or stiffness and abrasion resistance are all factors to consider.

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