Sinking Tip

[Terry Dodge]

Should I have a reel spooled up with a sinking tip fly line? I’ve often wondered if there is a time and place to use the sinking tip, just not real sure if it would be useful on the Kish? Would this type of fly line be better for fishing Clouser’s?

[tjtroester]

i have a couple of spooked intermediate lines.   i have used them in shallower water, under 3', with streamers.   it seems to me the streamer follows the line.  if your line is floating it is easier to pull the streamer to the surface. with a line under the water the fly seems to be pulled down to the level of the line. so, the posible advantage would be putting the fly st s different level.  timothy   

[Nickk]

for Clouser's probably not but for unweighted flies they are often recommended for bass, I haven't spent much time with them.   I do have a poly-leader that I plan to try in still water for largemouth with surf candy style baitfish flies

[John Loebach]

Rio I think makes short sinking leader sections . Loop to loop on your floating line,  add 2' of tippet & you're done. the good thing is you can switch back to a regular leader easily. I tend to fish sinking line in still water. Tim's right about intermediate for flowing water.

[Mike G]

Bob Clouser prefers a full sink line. Sink tip is a highly specialized line. If you do not have one. get a full sink first. 

[Rob G]

My opinion, for what little it's worth.  To address what Mike said, full sinking lines are no fun to cast while sink tips are definitely a little easier because of less drag since less line beneath the surface.

Now I rarely use a sink tip on rivers or streams, because I'm generally not fishing my fly more than 4ft deep and a weighted Clouser can easily get down to that even on a floating line.  In theory it sounds good to carry a sinking line with you on a separate spool but as I move down a river, I'm often changing between a floating surface bug and a weighted streamer and I detest wanting to throw a surface bug only to have to change out not only my fly but the spool and reline the rod as well, only to possibly change back to a weighted streamer and/or spool in another 30 yards.  

So, the only time I use a sink tip line is when fishing ponds / lakes or when I'm bound and determined to use for longer periods a semi floating deer hair head fly such as a Zoo Cougar which has a hard time getting down lower than about 1-2 feet on it's own.  Again, this works for me and the rivers that I like to fish, where as the Kish might be much deeper and faster and therefore make sinking lines far more advantageous.    

[Terry Dodge]

Thanks for all the replies. Kinda sounds like what I have always thought, that it’s not all that necessary considering the water I fish. I just wanted to make sure. Thanks again!

[Ben K.]

An intermediate line is money with unweighted streamers, epecially deceivers and divers. The shorter leader required makes casting big bushy flys easier too. 

[Mark Lutz]

I purchased an extra spool for the same reel and have float on one spool and intermediate sink on the other. Spring and fall with deeper water the intermediate sink has been a great addidtion.

[Terry Dodge]

Thanks guys! I might have to give that a try.

[Ryan S]

Good question @Terry Dodge. I had the same question. Thanks for the answers!