Sink tip/Double-taper?

[JAD]

I have two Salmon rods a Grays GRX 14ft 9/10# and a Shakespeare Oracle 15ft 10/11#

I was advised because I'm new to Salmon fly fishing to buy a Snowbee D/T floater 2D fly line and learn to cast with it first But!!

What I have done is bought a Snowbee D2 10/11# sink tip for the 10/11# Oracle. Thinking at least I should have a better chance of getting down to the fish and catching one other than using a double-taper floater. So will it be harder to learn to cast with the sink tip than the Double taper line ?

I'm hoping to buy a Snowbee 2D D/T floater for the Grays GRX 14ft 9/10 next.

John

[Fruin]

JAD,

Floaters are by far the easiest lines to cast and to learn on. The faster the line sinks, the more crucial timing and smoothness become.

Sink tips can be difficult to cast because of the change in line density between the floating and sinking sections.

If you are new to speycasting I would definitely recomend a floating line. You can always add a sinking poly tip if you want to get your fly down a bit.

That said, a sinking tip may highlight errors in your casting and save you from developing a lazy casting style.

[tyneandrew]

Thats the line i started to spey cast with and i still really like it. I'd even say it was a little easier to cast with than a full floater as it provides a bit of an anchor which is important when delivering the final execution.

[JAD]

Goodness that was quick

Thank you for your help. I'll send for a D/T line just in case I have problems.

Just one more question if I may. Would the 9/10# line work OK on the 10/11# Oracle rod or would it be too light and would the 10/11# line be too heavy for the Grays GRX 9/10# rod?

Tight lines

John

[JAD]

Thank you Graham for your advice.

I'm going to have some casting lessons with Gwilym Hughes (Welsh Dee) some time this month and it was he that advised me to buy the Snowbee D2 D/T floater to start learning to spey cast with.

I've yet to tell him I've bought the sink tip line instead but reading the advice from forum members it should be OK

Tight lines

John

[ceilidh]

We used to call, them 'stink tips' but lines have improved enormously and there are now some very good sink tips available. However, poly leaders have also improved and these do give a bit more flexibility by allowing you to use different tip densities on one floating line.
Some floating spey lines will turn over polyleaders or heavier flies better than others ( I have read that Snobee 2ds are good in this respect, but doubtless some of our Forum members will be able to advise upon this). The alternative is to keep one line purely for floating work and delicate presentation and use a multi tip for other situations

[ceilidh]

Graham,
Thanks for that information. Which of the floaters are better at turning over a polyleader ( without resorting to cutting them back) ?

[tyneandrew]

I have found the Carron Jetstream line a good line to turn over a polyleader, the line seems to have plenty of 'umphh' in it. This is the set up i use most often on the Tyne, usually with the extra super fast 5ft poly leader.

For delicate full floater fishing in calm conditions i use my Lee Wolf line which is great.

[ceilidh]

Thanks to both of you. This is where this Forum is worth it's weight in gold (or at least a few costly mistakes!) Plenty of very good advice for those of us who can't get the opportunity to test the various tackle options personally before buying. Thankfully, so far, we do not seem to have become infected with some of the cant and rant which is tending to spoil the 'other' Forum.

[gavan]

hello lads,
after reading this thread, it has made me wonder,
will my ian gordon spey line, turn over, a fast sink
polyleader, i purchased a couple, when i bought the
line. the line wt. is 9 10wt.
i would be gratefull for your'e advice....
...............gavan...............

[gavan]

thank you graham, once again.
what would we do, without, your'e good advice....
gavan....