to leader or not to leader

I was wondering if using a leader to attach the tippet is the better idea or go with a tapered tippet and no leader ?

[I think you mean "tapered leader and no tippet" and the end of your question.]  I always use some kind of tapered leader - it helps get the fly away from the bright (usually) fly line and get a few more feet on the cast.  The taper helps everything to roll out.  I know some folks that just use straight mono - especially with heavy stuff - and catch fish, though.  Once I start breaking-off, etc. I just piece things together with extra tippet (I guess what size I have remaining and taper from there).  A truer taper sure seems to help when I'm fishing small stuff and clearer water.  And you can always downsize your tapered leader with some tippet if you need a smaller or longer leader.  I use a blood or triple-surgeon's knot to connect the tippet to the leader.

A tapered leader does help in turning over the fly which is helpful when you have to either cast into tight areas, turn over weight, and when accuracy is needed. A very open fly line loop would be needed on a straight mono leader of any type of length.  
I do what dimebright mentioned in that I use a 2-3 pc. butt section. I either tie a loop of small swivel to that.
Or sometimes I just use the front have of a knottless 9 ft. tapered leader if I find one I like.
As for trout and dries, I tie my own, tapered every .002 to .003.
Recently, I found a knotless maxima chameleon leader that lays out nice for a couple of short bamboo rods I have. On those leaders, I cut off last 22" and tie a perfection loop and add tippet to the loop when needed.  
 

ORIGINAL: dimebrite

Hey Dano we definitely think alike. For the loop connection for tippet when fishing dries; does that loop weigh your dry down or even cause an unnecessary wake around it? Just curious....

Not that I've noticed but I loop near the middle of the mid section on tied leaders, at around 0X. I rebuild from 2X on down with surgeon knots. This gives me some adjustability.
Important to keep the loops small, though.
 
On that Maxima knottless, It's a 4X leader and the loop is on 4X. But I'm mostly fishing small stuff with those rods so I'm looping on a peice of 4X, then tying on 5X, then 6X or 7X if needed.

Hehe yeah I guess should have specified what type of fish, probably bass, bluegill, and mayyybbeee trout for now. Just started fly fishing about 2 months ago and still confused about the leader and tippet stuff, what I have now is a tapered leader and I tie the flies to the end of that. I have done some reading about the bass stuff and Im looking into a 6 wht. fly pole, which probably will be srictly for bass, and I'll use the five weight for trout, bluegill. I think that sounds about right.
Thanks again for the advice any and all advice is greatly apprecitated :)
Mags00

ORIGINAL: Mags00

I have done some reading about the bass stuff and Im looking into a 6 wht. fly pole, which probably will be srictly for bass, and I'll use the five weight for trout, bluegill. I think that sounds about right.
Thanks again for the advice any and all advice is greatly apprecitated :)
Mags00

Hey mag don't waste your money on a seperate 5 and 6 weight unless they will be drastically differennt in length. Otherwise you wont see much of a difference.And drake is 100% right with the leaders since you are a beginner. Good luck.