Steelhead and sinking line???

[pinkfly]

This is my first post on the Flyfishers Forum here at Ifish. I have some fall steelhead fishing planned on the salmon river here in idaho. Generally I fish for these fish by drifting fishing but 90% of the fish I hook are on a size 4 or 6 fly. So I have decided it is time to try out the fly rod on them. In trying to decide what type of sinking line to buy I have discovered that I have no idea what I am doing. So, my question is what sinking line should I get, please keep in mind that I know absolutley sqaut about sinking fly line. The river I will be fishing is fairly fast and varies in depth from 3' to 10'. I would like to find a line that will get me between 6" and 1 1/2' from the bottom pretty quick yet will not have me hanging in the rocks all day. Thanks in advance for any info that is shared here.

Brad

[AndyK]

There are no answers that apply in all situations.

The answer is to buy a multi-tip line ( I prefer RIO or Air-Flo).

A multi-tip line allows you to "experiment" with the lines to find the right presentation. Also try both un-weighted and weighted flies.

A type three sink tip might work in one drift and a type six work better in another drift.

[SSPey]

You will have a hard time getting a fly down 10' in swift water using a fly rod. Fly fishing methods aren't meant to target the same fish you'd pursue with drift gear, and vice versa. That doesn't mean you can't make it work - using full sink lines and heavily weighted flies may get you close to 10' deep - or using an "indicator" (fly rod bobber) and weighted fly - but for my tastes you're nearing the point where a flyrod isn't the right tool for the job.

[Wingdam]

For single hand rods eight weight and above, the RIO 24' dredger compensated versitip system is hard to beat. It is alot like the T-series lines from Teeney but no need for extra spools.

For two handed rods, the multi-tip RIO Windcutter or the multi-tip RIO Skagit lines are hard to beat.

When steelhead fly fishing with sinking lines, the only requirement is that you seek out and fish water that will help your system work efficiently. Of course it needs to hold fish as well. :rolleyes:

[rob allen]

first off take a water temp when you go fishing if the water is in the high 40's or 50's you don't need a sinking line..

secondly in terms of getting down quick nothing can do that faster than a weighted fly with a long leader and a floating line


lastly my recommendation for a sink tip single handed line is the Scientific Anglers mastery series wet tip 13 ft type 4 this is the best all around sink tip in my opinion.. I personally hate interchangable lines because they are constructed off of a standard weight forward line configuration which i think makes a poor steelhead floating line and as a sinking line they don't cast as well as a regular sink tip line in my opinion.. Lots of people use and like them I am just not one of them...

[C-lice]

What Rob Allen said. If you're fishing 3-10' depths and want to get to within a foot of the bottom, you're better off with a floating line and weighted fly most of the time.

The current will have less resistance pushing against leader material (with a floating line/sinking fly) than against flyline (sinking flyline). Think parachute, or sail, only on a smaller scale.

The full floating line, even a radical weight-forward taper, will be easier to mend and control than a sink tip. Plus, strikes are easier to detect--just watch the floating tip. With the sink tips, the tips are usually (at least the ones I've seen--I could be wrong) a darker color that you can't track visually.

Finally, if/when you snag up, you will only hang your fly on the rocks, not your line.

Just my opinion...

[pinkfly]

Thanks for all of the useful input here. I beleive I will go with the floating line and weighted fly. This will be easier to cast I think and I don't have to go buy a new line. Thanks again.

[Slow and Low]

what andy said.