Author Topic: Dumb Fly Line Question (Read 290 times)

Jay Looper · « **on:** June 19, 2009, 07:14:33 AM »

When I bought my 2 outfits, I was very novice and didn't understand or therefore know very much - not that I do now by any means

I own a 5wt Cabelas Three Forks rod with a Ross Flystart Reel that came with 5wt Weight Forward Line.
I also own a 8wt Sage Launch Rod that came with a Ross Flystart Reel and 8wt Weight Forward Line.
My reels cam pre-spooled so I never saw the acutal box for the lines and therefore do not know the exact specs.

I understand that fly lines can be constructed in 2 manners: double taper or weight forward.
I also understand that there are floating, sinking and sinking tip lines.
All I know is that my lines are wieght forward. Is WF stand alone clssification? Or can they be weight forward and also floating, sinking or sink tip line?
If they can both be WF and and one of those 3 - what can I do to figure out if they are indeed floating, sinking or sink tip?
Thanks
AA

Jay Looper · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:55:48 AM »

Thanks Yooper. That was a good explanation and also affirmed what I was assuming (hoping) the lines were. As I think about it, my 5 wt is almost definitely a floating line which would make sense for the lighter weight setups which would be used for dry-fly fishing. Since I have been able to experince some success with dries, it further affirms it is a floating line.

I haven't touched my 8 wt in a while, but I remember it sinks in some fashion. I plan on revisiting this rod in the fall, so I'll pay attention to the action of the line and sure I'll be able to figure it out based on your advice.

I also plan on getting the loop to loop sink tips for my 5 wt as per advice of BlackLabel. With that sinking extension, I should have more success nymphing or streamer fishing with the 5wt.

Thanks
AA

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:49:41 AM »

I'd bet money both of your lines are WF Floaters. Are they some shade of Bright Green/Yellow? But I'd have to see them to know for sure.

I'm not a huge fan of loop-to-loop sinking extension leaders. I find them very inconsistent and often not performing to package. However, I'm kind of spoiled now in this regard as I've accumulated many full sink lines and extra reels/spools for competition. There was a time when I used them for certain scenarios.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:14:02 AM »

All you comp guys feel the same way about them. For me they cost ten bucks and allow me to travel light so they get the job done.

Dejon how many lines do you usually carry with you for a lake? If you had to narrow it down to say three lines what would they be for a lake?

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:47:42 AM »

I agree completely - for the price and ease of use sinking leaders do fit the bill.

I usually carry about 12 lines to a lake comp. Float through DI7.

However, I usually only use a handful of those. Narrowing it down would be pretty easy: Type1(Intermediate), Type3, and Type 5. And your Floater of course.

Jay Looper · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:50:13 AM »

The 5 wt is bright green. The 8 weight is bright yellow. Do the colors of the lines correlate to what they are? If so, is their a color to fly line chart that is out there for me to review?
AA

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2009, 12:16:47 PM »

No standardization in colors through the industry. Floaters, especially cheaper ones, are usually just bright colors like florescent yellow, pink, green, etc.

Jay Looper · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2009, 12:17:38 PM »

Nevermind about the request for the color to fly line chart. I checked it out in fly-fishing for dummies - which was apparently written as a biography of my fly-fishing journey thus far

Bright colors for floating lines so you can see the action of them on the water
Dark colors for sinking lines so the fish can't see it
Thanks again for all the help
AA

Jay Looper · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2009, 08:53:53 AM »

I have done some research on sinking lines and actually bought a 5ft loop to loop extra super fast sinking line extension. The guy at the shop said I could easily turn it over with my 8wt and it is definitely doable with the 5 wt since it is only a 5ft secdtion.

However, I do have a few more questions for discsussion.

I am by no means a competition guy. So, I can use all the split shot I want. That being said, what are the advantages to each method?

Right off the bat, I would think that the advantages of the split shot or heavy streamer method would be:
you can have longer fluorocarbon or at least more clear line under the water
you wouldn't have to worry about changing the whole setup when you switch back and forth to streamer fishing
you can always add or subtract split shot to control weight and therefore sinking quickness and depth

I definitely see the value in the sinking line or sink tip extension for the comp level, but what are some more advantages for the average joe fly-guy?

Thanks
AA

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2009, 10:12:02 AM »

AA, there are many examples where sinking lines win handily over lead aided leaders not the least of which is castability. One example: while fishing a weed choked spring creek swinging mini muddlers I've found a type 1 or even MidgeTip to be extremely effective. The current is too slow to use anything faster than a type 3 and all though 1 to 2 split shot can do the job the Midge tip will put your fly smoothly and consistently right above the weed line without collecting a small chef salad each time. You are also creating a much smoother "slope" from rod tip to flies with uniform sinking lines instead of the harsh hard right angle turn of bulked split shot.k

HOWEVER, for the average joe or "anguished anglers" I don't think it's of major concern. Unless you've found your calling as a "down and across" type of guy don't worry about full sinking lines right now. There are about 5Million techniques you can cover with the Floating Line. In fact, I'd say on rivers I'm using my WFF aver 90% of the time.

Split Shot are wonderful little things. All though i can't use them in competition I always carry an array - especially when guiding or fishing with friends. One of my past trips down to PA my buddy was having trouble catching any fish on a very fishy river. I set him up on a modified Euro Nymphing setup, but had him put splitshot on the bottom dropper not more than 6inches from his next couple flies. It took about exactly 6 casts before he was nailing fish. He just wasn't getting down to where the trout were holding/feeding up until then and none of the "fly shop flies" he was using were going to get him there.

I was just talking to Riverdaze about tippet failure. He has his clients often setup on a "bounce rig" on the Provo in Utah. Basically the same rig I descrbed above, but using an indicator possibly yarn. When you set the depth correctly your flies hug the bottom foot of streambed while your split shot on the point go bouncing across the bottom causing your indicator to do the same. When a fish hits you see the difference! If you get hung up it's usually just a loss of a couple cheap splitshot!