Shooting Heads/Sinking Tips

[Daniel Vuono]

So I have an 8wt Sage Reign equipped with your standard WF floating fly line.  I hate using split shot and have a terrible time casting with it.  I was looking into getting some heads/tips for steelhead fishing.  I just want your all around performer.  I do not really have the funds to cover all the bases.  Just want to be able to get my flies to where the fish can see em without a bunch of nonsense on my line.

There is so much information out there I am not entirely sure what I need.  Any suggestions would be helpful so I can order something soon, before I am on the stream wondering why I didn't do it sooner.  Thanks.

[Paul Bourcq]

what length is the rod?  I use a 29.5 foot 450 grain skagit head on mine.  Its heavy and shoots well but gets big flys up off the bottom and back fishing.  its an option.  Mine is an airflo, they will have what you need.

[Daniel Vuono]

I mistyped above.  Its a 9' 8wt St Croix Reign.  Do you need a running line? or can I use the WF line with no problems, I just realized that this is probably an issue.  The 29.5 foot sounds good I was really leaning towards the shorter end of the spectrum. 

[Josh Almond]

IMHO shooting heads are really best when customized to the user/rod preference.  I've used some as long as 40' and some as short as 18'.  Depends on the rod and caster.

I'm not exactly sure but it sounds to me like you're wanting to get some flies down in front of some steel on the swing?

If that is a correct assumption and you are wanting to stay on the cheap side, pick up a mini sink tip (i think both orvis and cortland make this) or adjust how you add split to your set up.  Have you ever tried putting the split shot down below your flies?

i.e. tie your flies on tag ends then on the section of tippet below your fly/flies you add the split to the end of your tippet.  Some people like this better than traditional split above the flies.

Good luck and post some pictures of steel!

[Todd Huber]

Danny V if your fishing any of the streams along steelhead alley ohio to ny all you need for swinging flies is a poly leader.  Just follow the link.

http://www.flylines.com/Flylines_Polyleaders_Freshwater.cfm#SalmonSteelhead

I carry quite a few leaders the super and extra super fast are easy to work with.  I would stay in the 5' to 10' range.  Length and weight determines depth.  Nice thing - they loop to loop to your floating fly line.  You attach a couple feet of mono line to the end of the poly leader and attach the fly.  If you are fishing a stream with good flow like the Cattaraugus go with extra super fast in 5' and 10' and this should get the fly down.  One of the advantages of this method is you can adjust to varing conditions along the river and if you want to dead drift nymphs again just unloop the polyleader wind it up, put it back into your leader wallet, place on your normal 9" mono leader and your back in business.

Also you can get a couple of pieces of T-14 and make a couple of leaders.

Have to go