,Hi all,i have been fly fishing for several years and have always used 8wt lines on my 7wt rods (currently Beulah rods and Snowbee lines),i have often wondered if i should be using 7wt lines,i cast ok but presentation isn't always what it should be,its probably my technique.Also having never owned one,what are the advantages and when would you use a sink tip line.I will appreciate your comments,cheers MASS

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"fish are like men, open your mouth get into trouble"

Hi MASS.
I use a sink tip when its blowy. It helps to slow down any drag on the line and also useful when the fish are in the top 2ft of water. I find the sink tips cast differently to normal lines, heavier tip section. I personally wouldn't over line a rod. I know others do. If your line is crashing on the water, try leaving your rod tip higher on the forward cast when you release the line. You are probably casting at the water.

I personally won't overline a rod either, i use a #6 for my 6 weight rods, and #7 for the 7 and so on, i use a Scientific Anglers sink tip, and use that probably most of the season (when dries are not the order of the day) or there is little surface action, the sink tip allows me to fish nymphs or buzzers below the surface, deeper than a floating line will, i find it good for searching the depth fish are feeding at. A cheaper option is poly leaders, which will basically act like a sink tip, the sink tip lines also come in a variety of lengths from 3foot to 15foot tips as far as i know, so it will depend how deep you want to be searching for fish, good luck.

As an aside, if you feel your casting presentation is lacking something, a casting lesson would probably work out cheaper than a shiny new line

Best regards
Jim

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Tanta Stultitia Mortalium Est

It's the Beulah rods!

Awful rods - better off selling them to me


A casting lesson will help iron out any bad habits. Indeed, after a decade and a half of fly fishing, I will be taking a wee lesson soon for double hauling.....

I have never had a lesson and self taught myself but, boy!, was it a slog! Sadly, I didnt have the money nor knew anyone to teach me either


Still, you really dont want those Beulah rods....




Benjamin

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Hi', The lads are right on the mark. For reservoir style fishing, I don't see a reason for overloading a rod with a heavier than rated line. The most likely area would be small streams, short casting, where a slightly heavier line could help to make the rod work. For example, a 4-wt line on a 3-wt rod.
I think you would be better off with lighter gear for best presentation, as most anglers I see, where I live, tend to go for 6-wt rods and lines; and on small lakes, especially in calm weather, 5-wt gear is sometimes seen, some even recommend 4-wts; but bear in mind the size of fish most commonly found where you fish. If you find a 7-wt line still falls a bit too heavily, you could try longer leaders, to distance the disturbance. Some of the 'experts' recommend leaders up to 30ft long. Fourteen to sixteen feet seems to be the length most often noted, I haven't found it necessary to top 16ft, but I'd certainly be happy to try 20ft leaders if required when spooky fish were rising in calm conditions. Cheers Jada

Hi all, thanks for the advice,all taken on board,shall go with 7wts (maybe pirates!!) and see how i go.cheers MASS. PS still have a few Beulah rods for sale.if of any interest to anyone???

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"fish are like men, open your mouth get into trouble"