Sinking or sink tip?

[rckrego]

I've got an outfit that I use for smallmouth. The rod is acutally weighted 5/6. I have a 5 wt. clouser taper floating line, but am looking for a sinking line or sink tip for streamer fishing for smallies and other warmwater species. Just wondering do I want a sink tip, or full sinking? How many grains do I want? What do people think of the cortland 444 SL lines?

[alanb_ct]

I would probably go for a Teeny line, the T-200. It's the best of both worlds and much easier to mend and handle around your feet when wading.

I've used the 444SL lines for years with good success. It is a moderate stiff line with a good slick coating. It is also a good value. Many shops seem to carry fewer Cortland products and more Rio or Sci-Anglers. If I had to choose now, I think I prefer the technology behind the Rio lines.

[AaronJasper]

alan ever try the rio density compensated lines? unlike the teeny lines the rear section floats. i dont know how many times i have almost drowned with the line wrapped around my boots. you are right.... for wade fishing for trout a 200 is the best all around weight to have. sometimes from the boat or in a really deep spot a 300 grain line might be whats needed to get down.

[rckrego]

Ever try the royal wulff predator clear sinking tip fly line?

[SlowNDeep]

I like to use a sink tip for fishing streamers. Most of the time I'm fishing streamers with any exclusivity is when the water is up and off-color, so I like a 200 grain 30 foot sink tip. With the 30 foot sink tip you can maintain a fairly consistent depth on the retrieve.

If I'm fishing streamers in lower water I'll usually use weighted streamers on a floating line or I'll put a braided 8-10 foot sink tip on my floating line.

I prefer the sink tip to the full sinking line because I'm usually wading (opposed to fishing from a boat with a clean bottom). When I use a full sink line it seems to catch my wading boots under water a lot Nothing drives me crazier than dancing midstream trying to get the sinking line out of my shoelaces

[Troutbum from Griswold]

Rio DC sink tip line in 200 grain. Torrey and I had a good talk about which one I should get. I first thought a 150 but Torrey convinced me to get a 200. I also have a 275 Teeny if I need to get deeper but the 200 should be perfect.

[alanb_ct]

Good advice Aaron and Opie, I am planning to buy a Rio DC line this year. For the Rio, I'm not sure which one is best, there is both a 15 and 24 foot sink tip section coupled to the head and running line. I will probably try the 24 foot version in a 200 grain, the DC 200gr in the Streamer Tip. Rio lines are quite technical, there are so many options and flavors!

I've been using a full sinking and a T-300 for a while, but I trip on the coils all the time. A six or preferrably seven weight rod is really required to cast the T-300.

For my streamer leader this year I am going to try using 0X fluorocarbon in about a 3 foot length.

[AaronJasper]

alan get the 24 foot 200 grain line. thats the one that i have and i really like it. it is really easy to cast.

[Nymphmeister]

rckrego-
For trout, I agree with the others- a Rio 24' DC 200 grain (with a Teeny 200 being a close 2nd choice) line is a good all around one for "normal' conditions on rivers like the Housy, Farmington, Delaware and others. I've used full sink lines and love them for fishing in lakes & ponds, but in moving water, esp. when wading, they are a pain in the ass, tangling around your feet and around rocks when you strip in line. Even in a boat they are so thin they tangle up much more. I like a slower sinking line like a Teeny 130 (T-130) or a Rio 150 grain for fishing in colder water like we have now, because I'm fishing the fly slower, and I would hang up like crazy with a 200 grain line- I actually like the T-130 better than the Rio for this application because it sinks slower, only 4" per second. And in some deep/fast water situations, you need at least a 300 grain line- and yes, I would bump up to a 7 weight for this, you could even go with a 8 weight. However, for Smallies in rivers like the Housy, I'm mostly fishing in the Summer, in lower water levels, and under those conditions I prefer to simply put an Aiflo or Rio sinking leader on. They come in different lengths & sink rates, cast great, and are an inexpensive alternative (under $10) to a shorter sink-tip line. They get you down deep enough to catch more and bigger Smallies, but not so much that you are dragging bottom and hanging up constantly. They also work really well when fishing for Atlantics in the Naugy or Shetucket.