Fly Lines

[Steve Crowder]

I have used just about every kind of fly line while fly fishing. But for bluegill I've found floating lines work best for me. I have tried all the various sinking lines, but they seem to be more work than they are worth. When fishing other than floating flies (wet flies & nymphs) I just add a little Xink to my leader to help the fly sink. Question is, do any of you have a special technique for using sinking lines while fishing for bluegill? Thanks.

[klrbaer]

Smae as you, I use floating line. I just lengthen my leader and slow my retrieve to achieve a desired depth.

[Steve Crowder]

Yes, sinking a fly on a floating line has gotten better since switching to a furled leader. They are so much easier to sink while adding the right amout of tippet to do the job.

[Greg McWilliams]

I use an intermidiate sinking line, sink rate of 1.5' to 2" . It allows you to work shallow, and work deeper by counting down a little deeper til you find the fish. Also with the sinking line you have a direct line straight at the fly. The floating line you have to set hook harder to to take the angle from the fly line thru the leader to the fly.

[Steve Crowder]

I use an intermediate sinking line also Greg. But I don't know if is me or just the drag of the line (trying to get the leader up and out of the water) but it sometimes is real work to get fly up out of the water and going for the next cast. I am thinking of trying a sink tip system (just a weighted leader) on my floating lines. Have you ever tried one of those sink tips? Thanks.

[Steve Crowder]

Hi Mike. Hope all is well with you and your family. Like you, I try to keep my fly fishing on the more shallow side, 10' or less. I have not tried a fluorocarbon furled leader. All I have ever used are the mono types. Thanks for the help and info. When this job situation gets better here, still want to get up your way.

[Steve Crowder]

Same with me Mike. Ever since I got back from the ice storm in Missouri last winter, work has really gotten slow. Had my salary cut, time working cut back and still things have not improved. But hopefully everything will turn around soon. I read an article awhile back saying fishing license sales have increased because people have more time to fish. Always a silver lining. Thanks you for the invite, I'll get there and looking foward to our visit.

[Tim Roberts]

There are two ways I fish flies below the surface. The first way is to simply slide on a tiny bead head weight on your line and then tie on your hook. The second is I buy Gamakatsu hooks size 6 or 8 and slide a cone shaped weight over the hook point down to the eye. A drop of epoxy firmly attaches the weight to the hook. Now I can slide on any type of plastic grug I wish to use. You can experment with different bead head and cone sizes to achieve the desired fall rate. Most of the fish I catch are probably no more than 4 feet deep as an average.

[CHARLES A. VINSON, JR.]

Instead of using a sinking line I use the sink tips that are sold by Cortland. I cut them to five and 10 foot lengths, and use different sink rates according to the depth of the water I'm fishing. Since I do most of my angling for pan fish on rivers I usually use a floating line like you do and furled leaders by Blue Sky or Feathercraft. They both work pretty good.

[Steve Crowder]

Thanks guys. Will give your ideas a try.

[Charles Singleton]

One thing you might want to try when using a sink-tip or intermediate line: when you're ready for a fresh cast, first roll-cast to bring all the line (and the fly) to the surface; then, while it's still up there, start your back cast. This way, you're not pulling line out of the depths directly into your back cast. Works for me, but YMMV.