So this summer I've been thinking about going deeper for bass.

I have never used sinking nor intermediate line before and would like to hear your recommendations on them. What brand? Tips for using? Any good deals or specific places to get them? I will likely start with intermediate because it's a bit more versatile. I'm assuming you have to roll cast as well every time you pick the line up? If so, I guess I'll have to learn that.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

I use rio versileader. Lets you turn floating fly line into sinking line. I'm sure there are lots of issues with it but it works for me. It's easy to switch and I don't have to carry spare reel spools with me.

I have inter, full sink, and sink leaders. I don't buy into fly line hype as my favorite sinking line came to me used on an old reel. When I asked the previous owner what it was he said he picked up in a sales bin at bass pro for $15. Go figure. I use sink tip in rivers and full sink in ponds and lakes. My son and I used the leaders this spring for whites. They are okay but if you buy three leaders you have spent enough for cortland 333. They do cast differently but it just takes a slight change in timing. Good luck.

I recently purchased a Teeny BS 100 full sink line. Some people swear by Teeny, as being the best, so I figured I would give it a try.

I haven't spent a lot of time using it though, they are tough to cast. I intend on mainly using it for fishing for sunfish next to deep structure.

Intermediate lines are a good starting point for exploring subsurface fly fishing. I'd go for the modestly priced Rio Mainstream lines, which are clear intermediates. A few years ago I found a good deal on a old Orvis CFO IV reel and extra spools and bought Rio Mainstream lines in sizes WF4I to WF9I and spooled them up on the old Battenkill spools. I now have intermediate options for lots of fishing situations.

You just use floating fly line with the versileader?

I have an 8 wt Rio StreamerTip, it retails for about $75. I'm happy with the way it casts and fishes. The sink tip is clear, and that may be helpful in clear water. I haven't used other sinking or sink tip lines so I really can't give you a comparison point. I used it a lot this winter catching stripers in the river and it worked very well. There were a few occasions where other fly anglers were fishing the same stretch with me using floating lines, and they were not catching as many fish. The fish seemed to be deeper, and with the current they couldn't get a fly down to them. I think an intermediate sink tip would be a good starting point and is pretty versatile. I use my full floating line for surface poppers, and the sink tip for most sub-surface flies.

I'm currently using the cabelas brand intermediate and sink tip lines. Bought them on sale for $15 a line, cabelas brand fly line is good line in my opinion. Those lines were normally $60 I think, I always wait until the end of the year and buy the "discontinued" stuff at cabelas or bass pro. It's brand new line, typically its stuff that didn't sell well, this year cabelas had a lot of full sinking lines and sink tip lines that most people around here wouldn't ever use. You might check the bargain caves, cabelas might still have some on sale somewhere.

perhaps Im way wrong here, but I use straight WFF with a weighted fly. It takes a bit of time but it will certainly sink as about as deep as you would ever need to go. I have caught some mighty good Bass last summer doing this. 3wt through 6wt depths up to 18'...just another option to consider: Floro leaders will sink much faster than mono!

Yup simple.

Everything is a trade-off.
I tried lots of sinkers over the years.
I finally sprung for $75 each Rio Aqua and Rio Camo. I use Aqua for trout fishing and Camo for bass fishing.
I get them in 3,4, and 5 wt.
You get what you pay for.
Best thing I ever did.

Of course, I use fluoro leaders.

You don't know what you are missing if you don't try.

Bill