Streamer Lines

[Professor]

For those that like chucking big stuff, what lines are you using. I have been using a Rio 15 foot sink tip for 3 or 4 years and run a short leader. But I am looking at something like the SA Streamer Express to keep the fly down a bit longer. With the 15 foot sink tip, the fly starts moving up too fast when the line gets close to me. Plus fishing flies like Zoo Cougars with no weight and a buoyant head is next to impossible in fast water. The line doesnt sink fast enough to even keep the things wet. Weighted flies are no problem, but there are a lot of unweighted flies that I really like the action on. Any input here?

[Happy Fun Ball]

I'm using the SA Streamer Express in a 250gr on my 10' 7wt and I love it. I'm using more streamers with either coneheads or dumbell eyes, though. If you're going to throw something unweighted you'll either need to throw a bigger mend in the line to allow it to sink without the belly pulling it back up. That's just what I've found anyway when throwing unweighted maribou type streamers. A short leader will help as well. I'm typically only running a 3-4 foot leader in 15lb flouro on my streamers. I've found that when fish are going after streamers, especially browns, they're a lot less line shy than other methods. Overall the line casts nice IMO.

If you're really looking to get down fast you could use something like a WF floating line and use different Rio T-11 or T-14 tips cut to various lengths depending on what you're using and the water conditions. I tried this for a while and truthfully I don't have the patience to keep changing tips throughout the day.

[LukeS]

Take a look at Rios DC compensated series. There are tons of options in there. What most of the guides and I are using on the N. Platte for streamers is the 20' 5 IPS tip. Its a good line real easy to get it out there and the thing sinks like a brick.

just my .02

[Professor]

Thanks for the replies guys. As for leaders, I usually run 18-24 inches of 15 or 20 lb mono and 24 inches or so of 8 or 10 lb mono tied to that. Weight just depends on how big the fly is. As for sink tips, I dont know that I want to swap out all the time, I would rather just swap flies. Plus tips have the same problems as the big sink tips that LukeS mentions. I am not looking to dredge the bottom, just want something that sinks and stays flatter, if that makes sense. I would definitely go with a dredger type setup if I had the N.PLatte to fish all the time. Usually on that water I use small flies, long leader, big indicator and enough weight to nymph super deep. But thanks again for the input guys.

Edit: Oh and maybe it would help if I mention I want something that works well wading, since I only get to fish from a boat 5 or 6 days a year.

[neckdeep]

Teeny lines makes an good series of sink tips that consist of a sinking/shooting head and a floating/running section. Designed for salmon and steelhead, they are great for a wader looking to cover water with long casts, but aren't so good for rolls, single hand speys, etc. I use my 8 wt paired with a T-300 to probe the depths in fast water with the big fly. I save used leader butts at 4 ft and tie in 18 inches of Orvis Maxknot floro for terminal tippet. I always use a non-slip loop knot with a streamer.

[Professor]

That brings up a whole nother topic. Seriously thinking about an 11' 7 or 8 wt. Thinking a two handed rod that can be cast one handed in spots would be awesome for wading trips to big water in the winter. Places like the Green, etc would be great with that kind of rod, sinking lines and streamers. Could cover almost as much water as with a boat.... I said "almost"

[neckdeep]

Switch rods are getting serious attention from all the major rod companies. Two major disadvantages to switch rods are that no boat's rod holders accomodate them and it is really tough to hike through trees and brush with an 11 footer.

[Professor]

Trees and brush arent a problem on the Green (below Flaming Gorge). As for rod holder, just one more excuse for why I shouldnt have to row

[72Twenty]

I use a Cortland Precision sink tip (ghost tip) on my 6wt. I mostly use it in with big woolly buggers and crayfish patterns.

When I use my 7wt or 9wt, I don't have a sink tip, but I have a heavy bonefish-type leader on them and then just a short tippet to the streamer (like 4x in super clear water.

I don't know if that is a good way to go, but it works for me. Kinda makes a ghetto-rigged ghost tip out of a floating line.

[Denny1969]

In regards to the first question about lines. Any sink tip line with a 24 foot sinking section with a 10 foot floating section is ideal for streamers. SA Mastery Streamer Express, Rio DC Streamer Tip, and Cortland Precision QD lines are all good lines for what you want to accomplish.

In regards to the the 11 foot rod. A seven or eight weight switch rod might be overkill for what you are doing. Seven weight switches are considered Steelhead rods. Eight weights are conisdered BC Steelhead or light salmon rods. I'm not sure how big the fish that you are targeting, but I have a feeling that you can go lighter.

Here in Northern California, six weights are the most popular switch rods. They are heavy enough for Steelhead (most Steelhead here range from 4 to 8 pounds) and can chuck a variety of lines and flies. I fished mine yesterday on the Lower Yuba as a long nymph rod and as a short Spey rod.

Dennis

[Professor]

You are right, an eight is a bit too much. But a 11' 7 weight BIIx would be awesome if they cast like other rods in the line. As for the line question (original topic), maybe my problem with what I am using is just the length of the tip. Maybe I will just give something a bit longer a whirl and see if it keeps things down in the water column just a bit more. Thanks again, everyone.

[Happy Fun Ball]

If you're looking at a two hander that can double as a single handed rod take a look at Beulah rods. I have a 6/7 wt 11'6" spey that is definitely more in lines of a switch rod than a full blow spey, IMO. I run a Tonic skagit line with various Airflo custom cut tips on it. I can roll over any indicator rig setup with a nymph line and switch spools and go with the skagit line when needed. As far as getting around the brush with it I don't find it that much worse than any other rod I have including my 13' float rod. 99.9% of my time is spent wading and hiking in. I rarely go out in a boat on a river.

[ak_powder_monkey]

I dig T series lines

[LukeS]

When I use my 7wt or 9wt, I don't have a sink tip, but I have a heavy bonefish-type leader on them and then just a short tippet to the streamer (like 4x in super clear water.

4X!?!?
Are you streamer fishing for 6 inch brookies?

my streamer set up is....:
On my 6 weight
Rio selective trout 6WFF With an Orvis braided sink leader with 3' of 16# for a tippet.

On my 7 wt
Rio DC Comp. As stated above and same tippet.

[L8APX]

love my switch for big streamers and sink tips for water wider than 50 feet

[Hugh Conway]

4X!?!?
Are you streamer fishing for 6 inch brookies?

sweet fuck nuggetry

[Lumpy]

I've been using a 10'6'' Redinton CPX this fall with an Airflo 390 grain Skagit Head and ridge running line. I've also got a 360 grain head I haven't tried yet. To tip it I run short really heavy tips to get those Galloup type patterns down.

But the other day I had the best luck just lobbing a type 3 full sink and short leader with the old 9 ft 5 wt. Wasn't as slick as the Skagit head setup, but caught more fish, and it fished all the way across the river.

[fez]

stay away from the SA streamer express. way too much memory, esp in cold water. if you move any amount of line (and if you're fishing streamers i expect you are) you'll end up with a massive rats nest in the bottom of the boat or in your streamer basket. if you really want one, i have an old one somewhere that's hardly used.

i like rio DC full sink lines, type 3 for rivers, type 6 for lakes.

[Professor]

Thanks for the input, but I have heard that the new SA lines have much less problem with coiling. SA is saying the problem was due to the mono core and the new ones are made differently. But I talked to a guy today that is waiting on one to test. I will see what he says and go from there. If the coiling has gotten better this is kind of the direction I am leaning. Just not sure I want a full sink, but we will see.

[Professor]

So picked up a new SA Sharkskin Streamer Express. Hope to give it a whirl this week. Should give me a good idea if they fixed the coiling problems when it is cold. If not, they said they would give me a full credit for something else. So I will keep you all posted. BTW picked up the 150 grain version. Going to be interesting to fish it on my 5 and 6 weight and see what happens. Honestly I think it is going to be the perfect weight for my 6 and for the waters around here. Still going to want a heavier one for my 7 weight and boat fishing though.

[Happy Fun Ball]

I've had a few coiling problems with other lines (not SA) and I've had good luck hooking one end to my trailer hitch and walking out the line and giving it a good stretch and reeling back up. Seems to take most of the problems away.

[Professor]

Everything I have heard says the Sharkskin stuff coils way less. I am just worried about whether they really fixed the monocore problems that were such an issue in the cold. But again, we will see. All I know is I am excited to fish a line that isnt so beat up it cuts a hole in my finger everytime I go out

[Professor]

So got out and fished with the new line yesterday, so short review. First off, Sharkskin is NOISY. It was kind of distracting at first, but it did mellow some over the course of the day and I assume will continue to do so. But it does cast better than anything I have ever fished. I actually need to spend a bit more time getting used to it since it was too easy to overshoot where I was looking. I am also used to a sinking tip on a floating line which is great for wading, since you can just let the line float on the water as you walk up or down stream. But with the new line it is a sink tip and an intermediate line. So now with walking it is really easy to walk all over the line since it doesnt float. Might actually have to use a stripping basket I will say it does the trick. Keeps the fly right where I want it for a lot longer than the onld line. Cant wait to get back out and fish with it some more. The one thing I couldnt tell about the line is how it catches fish since I got skunked yesterday. Too bright and too warm to be tossing streamers, but didnt feel like fishing midges

[LukeS]

Hey Prof! How do you like the sharksin sink tip?!Has it grown on ya? I've been on the market for a sink tip and have been looking at those. I haven't gotten to feel the monocore tip yet and was interested to hear what your thoughts on it were.

The sharkskin noise is definatly a wierd annoying sound when new. But once you break it in it feels like a regular line that shoots and floats (although in this case probably won't) like a brand new line.
On the N. Platte we don't have to worry about the noise though.... You can't hear it over the wind

[Professor]

I have been working on the house since the weather here sucks for fishing. Nothing but bluebird 40 degree days. Has the fish all confused But bottom line, I have only used it that one day so far. I can say that the tip is pretty supple compared to other sinking lines I have fished. Dont know what it will do when it is really cold, but it was absolutely fine at 40-45 degrees. I am hoping to get out again this week if we get some rain or snow coming through and will add some more input. Right now I am thinking "awesome boatline" but I have to spend more time wading with it to see if it is really what I want for the wade fishing I do around here.