Texas Fishing Forum

Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line

Posted By: theflyguy3

Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/12/17 03:30 AM

I'm looking for a new rod to cast heavier bass flies on intermediate sinking line. This will likely be fished off of saltwater jetties as well. After doing some research to find what kind of rod would pair best with this kind of line, I've found there really isn't much information about it. So, what do you guys think? What attributes should I look for in this rod... fly rod action, etc?
Posted By: BoPro

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/12/17 02:18 PM

I fish intermediate, sink tips, and full sink lines on the same rods as floating line. You shouldn't need a specific rod for that purpose. I fish Sage Methods, but any fast action rod should do just fine.
Posted By: skeeterK

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/12/17 03:54 PM

Any rod action will work. For me, casting a sink tip line is more about practice and becoming attune as to how your rod reacts with different lines.

Fishing sinking lines also takes a lot of patience as you can't just pickup whenever and recast. You may need several more false casts to get back out to a particular spot since you nearly have to strip all the way back in.
Posted By: Glitchmo

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/12/17 03:59 PM

Agree with the above. It's more about you learning to cast the line -- they work very differently. And it's not going to be a pretty most of the time.

No need for a new rod, just get a spare spool for whatever reel you're already using.
Posted By: skeeterK

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/13/17 01:49 AM

I will just add that if you haven't already purchased a sink tip line, you can try a weighted tapered leader for less costs to get an idea of how your current rod will preform. https://www.rioproducts.com/products/leader/trout-versileader
Posted By: theflyguy3

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/13/17 01:59 AM

Okay thanks for the input! I actually already have a full sinking leader but I don't enjoy the hinge it creates in the water. I am looking more for a line that sinks at a universal rate.
Posted By: mickfly

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/18/17 06:46 PM

I've had the good fortune to fish for stripers on Lake Texoma with guide Steve Hollensed, who is also a master casting instructor. One of the lessons he taught me when fishing sinking lines or sink tips is to open my loop and think of the cast as an oval rather than a back and forth motion.

Below is the link to a YouTube instruction loop by my friend Pete Kutzer on the oval cast, also known as a Belgian cast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw3urruyS18
Posted By: texasflycaster

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/21/17 08:25 PM

aka - the "Clouser Cast" as well. I guess the Americans had to stake a claim. I was casting a full sinker yesterday on Texoma, and like the more level speed of the TFO BVK in a 7wt. for casting sinkers. I feel like it opens my loops on it's own - with a sinker on.
Posted By: flyfshrgrl

Re: Fly Rods for Intermediate Sinking Line - 07/29/17 12:38 AM

From my 4 weight rods on up, I have a reel and a spare spool; one is lined with a floating line, the other a sinking line or intermediate sink tip. The cast is a little different because of the line, but that is something that needs to be learned. For example, I absolutely love Orvis' sinking lines. Steve Hollensed convinced me to buy one of their Depth Charge lines, and I loved it. I put a 350 grain on my 8# and it is one back cast to get the line off the water, one double haul cast, and I let fly. Depending upon my location in relation to my targeted area, my floating line might get several false casts, first. My 8# is a BVK 4 pc, 9' and handles each well. I can say that all my rods handle the switch well, but it took me time to learn the nuances of casting a floating and a sinking with each.
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