Sinking Tip and Leader/Tippet ??

[boom2it]

I am putting an extra spool together with a 5W sinking tip line. I have never used a sinking tip, so I am not sure of how much leader I should use. Is there a heavier leader I should be using so it sinks also? Or just attach a shorter section of leader? 5x, 4x, 3x? I guess the x size depends on the size nymph or streamer I chuck and duck? Should I also attach a section of tippet? Or only use a 3 or 4x tippet to sinking tip and not use a leader at all?
Thanks in advance

 

[AKSkim]

Sinking Line

Using a sinking line for trout is wasting your money. If your prey is Salmon or steelhead, that would be a good use for it.

Look at Teeny mini tip Line you have floating line with a five foot sinking tip. There are various weights you can get depending on the type and location (river) you plan on using it in. Just drop me a line and I will advise you on the proper line for you to get.

 

[fcch]

In high water conditions here, ... we may go to sinking tip lines. A full sink line is (in my case ... more for still water, walleyes etc).

I use a braided sinking leader (such as Rio's) http://www.rioproducts.com/pages/leaders_prodpage.asp?product=24240
on the ST lines with a short 18-24 inch tippet. Any longer and the fly will float UP above the leader. ... Not an endorsement, ... just something that I use.

Note: on Quebec Salmon rivers, Lead, Bead heads, split shot and lead core are illegal. The jury is still out on Rio's as they have a tungsten polymer coating on the nylon core.

 

[just dave]

In my experience with sink tips, unless you're fishing stillwaters, don't bother. There are very few situatuations that can't be covered with a normal floating line on our streams.

Pond fishing is another matter. They are very usefull for counting down to certain depths and staying there. Use a shorter leader/tippet combo so that it follows the line depth better. Fishing streamers, I rarely use more than 4' of leader down to 3X or 4X. Add short tippets for smaller flies.

Dave

 

[Fly Ty R]

Being a saltwater angler, sinking lines and sink tips are a way of life. I'm so used to them now, I actually prefer to fish with them.

In freshwater I use sink tips mostly for streamer fishing the bigger rivers, like the Del in NJ or in the 'skills; places where I can get a good long drift in water over 5ft deep. The chuck-n-duck method is not needed if you use the correct weight tip for your rod. You should be able to cast the sink tip almost the same as you would a floating line. Getting to know when your rod is loaded correctly, then shooting the line with a minimum of false casts, is the way to do it. It takes practice, but is a good way to learn how to cast any line, not just sink tips or shooting heads.

On a 5wt rod you shouldn't really use more than a 150-grain (or so) sink tip to fish comfortably. Of course you can always use more if you want, but then you'll be ducking . I've used a 300-grain on my 3wt, but that was very unwieldy to say the least. It worked, but not comfortably.

A short leader, no more than 5ft, is enough. A straight piece of line will work, no tapered leader needed. 6lb, 4lb, whatever. Unless you're using a weighted fly as well, fluorocarbon is the better material to use because it sinks. Mono tends to float up.

I fish sink-tips just like I'm fishing a run for salmon. Cast 90* out or even 45* upstream depending on depth, then let the current swing the line downstream until it's directly below you. Hold it there for a while and let it sway in the current, then repeat. I've gotten many hits on that swaying motion at the end. You can dead-drift and mend, or you can tight-line swing, depending on what action you desire. If you're not getting caught on the bottom every now and then, you're not fishing deep enough.

BTW, most bigger fish and baitfish tend to hang down near the bottom.

 

[theartoflee]

I am putting an extra spool together with a 5W sinking tip line. I have never used a sinking tip, so I am not sure of how much leader I should use. Is there a heavier leader I should be using so it sinks also? Or just attach a shorter section of leader? 5x, 4x, 3x? I guess the x size depends on the size nymph or streamer I chuck and duck? Should I also attach a section of tippet? Or only use a 3 or 4x tippet to sinking tip and not use a leader at all?
Thanks in advance

I think a sink tip line is by no means a waste of time and love fishing sinking lines. I have had excellent success while fishing sinking leader, sink tips, and full sinking lines while fishing rivers. Try starting with a fifteen foot sink tip fly line. As for a leader try having a but section of 25lb. test about a foot to a foot and a half in length to about a foot of tippet. When streamer fishing I use 12 lb. floro. Tippet and connect the tippet to the but section with a loop.

The sink tips are also great when swinging flys. Let us know how you make out... hope fully you will dredge up some big boys...

 

[sstasiak]

I agree with Wylie. I bought a Cortland intermediate sink tip line with a 15' clear sinking tip to use in the winter when nymphing and streamer fishing. I noticed an improvement in everything. I didn't like adding a lot of weight to the leader to get the flies down deep because it was a pain to cast. With the sink tip, I was able to use very little to no weight, and I didn't need to make long casts to let the fly sink through the drift. I'd make shorter casts and the fly would still get to the depth I needed.

 

[JOE.T]

It really depends on the water your fishing.If your fishing the KLG I dont see the need for a sinking line.If your fishing a river like the Delaware during high water conditions it could help.

When fishing the West Branch as an example when its high 2000 cfs plus I use a 200 grain line WITH A VERY SHORT LEADER 24-30 inches long max.One size usually 15-20 lb test.

The line puts you down quick and the short leader puts the streamer down quickly as well.Think about why use a sinking line with a long leader?Your line will be down there waitng for the streamer to catch up.The short leader will ALSO give you more control over the streamer.

Learned this set up from Jeff white at the DRC who in my opinion is one of the best streamer guys on the D. :applaudit

 

[Fly Ty R]

Q: Why 20lb test for trout? I'd much rather use a lighter leader so the fly can break off if it gets really stuck in the rocks. It's better to have the leader break than the sink-tip break off!!!!!

Is it so the streamer will sink more quickly?

 

[JOE.T]

I know that's heavy for trout in general, but on the Delaware with windy conditions throwing very large streamers (one after the other for hours from a boat) sometimes 50 ft plus I find it helps or should I say makes it "easier" But you are right I have broken my sink tip line before the leader.

 

[AKSkim]

Put Your Thinking Caps On Lads

Lads, I have pondered this question many a day sitting along side a stream and now I pose to you, concerning the topic of weighted lines, shooting lines, even adding split shot before the fly you have to ask yourself “I am I really fly fishing?” Lads, to my way of thinking, it is the weight of the line that is delivering the fly in fly fishing. Now the paradox, what if the line is weighted?

 

[Fly Ty R]

I don't quite get what you are asking. The line IS weighted on every outfit, since the inception of fly fishing, hence why you cast the line and not the fly. All you are doing with a sink tip is adding a line that is denser than water. The weight of the line is still casting the fly. In essence, the sink tip becomes the front "taper" of the line. So, again, I really don't get what you are asking. :confused3

I stopped trying to be a purist from the second day I fly fished, 16 years ago . Now that I do 95% saltwater, purity REALLY gets thrown out the window. :dizzy:

 

[RickW]

"Am I really fly fishing?" that depends on your point of view. Without beating a dead horse, I would have to say that we each make that determination for ourselves.