I am going to pick up a normal floating line for stripers and I was going to pick up another too, but I cannot decide what is the better choice: full sink (depth charge) or an intermediate to get the flies just below the chop. I am completely new to salt water fishing...so far I have a 10wt rod from orvis...next come reels and line. Thanks for the advice.
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Full sink line or intermediate sink for Stripers
- Thread starter geminus
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Rusty Spinner
Active member
Pretty sure I replied (Bucksnbows) to you on another mostly hunting site. For 95% of your saltwater FFing here in NJ, you'll want an intermediate sink. The rest is split between fast and ultra fast. I own a floating head, but have used it maybe one time and that for poppers on top which you can also do with the intermediate sink tip or intermediate shooting head.
Thanks for the advice. It must be someone else who's also got stripers on the mind as this is the first place I have posed this question. Orvis sells a line specifically labeled for stripers but I'm trying to figure if it's an intermediate sink or floating line. So you think for saltwater I'd be best to go with an intermediate sink and a depth charge as second line? I'd be mostly doing my fishing on Long Island & montauk..combination of surf and boat fishing.
Thanks again for the advice. I really appreciate it.
Thanks again for the advice. I really appreciate it.
Rusty Spinner
Active member
After rereading your post, the other guy was building his own ten weight but had the same question. My guess is the Orvis line is intermediate sink like so many out there. I would strongly recommend you consider shooting heads instead of a traditional line for saltwater. You'll have two benefits to shooting heads off a boat or from the sand. One is further distance and the other is the ability to change lines relatively quickly without having to buy additional spools. Let's face it, saltwater fly reels aren't cheap and extra spools are a bunch of $$ these days. Just keep a shooting head container in your bag and you're all set. I spend at least a full 90% of my time with an intermediate shooting head tied to a level 140' floating line. That's with my 2 hand fly rod. If I need to get deep fast or if there's a strong current or wind, then I go to a fast or even ultra fast sink head. I've used my dry line once that I recall over the years.
The fast your sink rate is, the shorter you want your leader/tippet combo. When I use my intermediate line, my leader/tippet combo is between 5' and up to 12' for Albies. My fastest sink head I only use a leader/tippet combo 3' long. You'll get too much "belly" in your leader if you go long with real fast sink lines and never detect the strike a lot of times.
Trout Nazi
And...Boom goes the dynamite.
Airflo Ridge striper line, intermediate, clear blue. Works very well, decent price.
jcstikfish
NJ Nymph Guy
All good advice from Rusty. I myself go back and forth between using a shooting head system and separate intermediate/ sink tip lines. One line/tip you really can do without in NJ salt is a full floater.
I tend to go with my shooting head setup when I am going to be onthe water for a long time and may see a variety of conditions, tides, and currents.
The quick versatility of the shooting head system is a huge plus, not to mention they cast a mile once you get the hang of them.
My only issue with running line/shooting head systems are their propensity for some nasty tangles in the running line. In the dark, even with a headlamp, this can be a major PITA. Make sure you stretch your lines before hitting the beach not matter what you go with.
For a integrated sink tip I like the Teeny lines, and for my intermediate I use the SA striper line.
~James
I tend to go with my shooting head setup when I am going to be onthe water for a long time and may see a variety of conditions, tides, and currents.
The quick versatility of the shooting head system is a huge plus, not to mention they cast a mile once you get the hang of them.
My only issue with running line/shooting head systems are their propensity for some nasty tangles in the running line. In the dark, even with a headlamp, this can be a major PITA. Make sure you stretch your lines before hitting the beach not matter what you go with.
For a integrated sink tip I like the Teeny lines, and for my intermediate I use the SA striper line.
~James
Rusty Spinner
Active member
That's my exact 9 weight set up. The Teeny is a 350 grain, I think, and I have the same SA "striper line" which is intermediate sink. I don't fish that rod very much any more because I love the distance of the two-hander with shooting heads, but there are days where that set up is better than the big two-hander such as when the fish are right in the wash. The two-hander is cumbersome on those types of days. But no one-hand rod can come close the the big rod when it comes to punching the wind or getting out 160' to fish holding well off the beach.
Trouser Trout
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I never used a sinking tip leader. I probably should at times. Do they cast any different? When is a good time to use them?
Rusty Spinner
Active member
The Teeny 350 gr. integrated sink head is melded to a level floating line that easily sinks with the head. Because the tapered head is composed of fast sink materials, it really loads up your rod deeply and allows for long casts and the ability to sidearm cast in the stronger winds when 99% of the other fair-weather fly guys have gone home or grabbed conventional tackle instead. Same goes for the shooting heads, they're just looped together instead of having one line of approx. 110' with an integrated sink tip as part of that 110' (120'?). I'm sure there are many other brands, but I like the Teeny if you're not going to go with shooting heads. I keep that line on my spare spool on my 9 weight 9' G Loomis. But I can't say enough for shooting head systems on conventional 1 hand fly rods or 2 handers. Talk to Andrew at Tight Lines. He's the best shop around for hard-core salt and can help you choose the best line set up for your saltwater rigs.
Philthy Phil
more fish than posts
Agreeeeed...
The SA Intermediate striper line is a good bet if you had only 1 out of box choice...I have some shooting head stuff but never used it, have hardly been out to the beach since I bought it and forgot about until recently.
Rusty, I been considering and researching 2H rods lately...if you don't mind sharing, what type of 2Her do you use?
The SA Intermediate striper line is a good bet if you had only 1 out of box choice...I have some shooting head stuff but never used it, have hardly been out to the beach since I bought it and forgot about until recently.
Rusty, I been considering and researching 2H rods lately...if you don't mind sharing, what type of 2Her do you use?
Rusty Spinner
Active member
I'm tossing a CND Oceanic 11/12 weight that is 11' long. It feels like a 9/10 when compared to one handers. But I think CND lost their US distributor and may not be the way to go these days. I can't say it enough, but Andrew at Tight Lines is the go-to shop for saltwater in NJ and that's from a Shannon's guy. It's worth the trip to Pine Brook even if it's a longer drive for you.
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