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FeedSecrets of the Deep
Lou Tabory's tips on Casting Sinking Lines
Lou Tabory
Choose the Right Outfit
It is important to have the proper rod action and a rod that matches the line's weight. Some very fast-action rods constructed with high modulus graphite may not cast heavy-grain lines as well as medium to medium-fast rods with lower modulus. Consult your rod company to be sure a given rod will handle the line size you intend to use. Use enough rod to handle these heavy lines. For river fishing a 6-, or even a 7-weight, rod is not overkill. For fast, deep water when you need 500- to 600-grain heads, an 11-weight rod or heavier might be necessary. Also be sure not to overload your rod-better to start with less weight. Most 9-weight rods would use a sinking-tip line weighing between 275 to 325 grains, a very fast rod might require a lower grain weight.-L.T.
Anglers usually learn about, or are subjected to, sinking lines and big flies when fishing in deep, fast-flowing water. A guide or friend hands the angler a big rod with a dark-colored line and what looks like a bird hanging off the end of the leader and says, "Start fishing." The newcomer strips off some line and feeds it onto the water, where it sinks like a stone. On the first cast the angler struggles to even lift the line from the water, and once it's in the air the unaccustomed weight makes the rod feel unnatural. The fly seems to stay in one place, whirling precariously close to the angler's ear, and the day's fishing usually goes downhill after that.
Many anglers would like to cast only with light lines and small flies and fish on or near the surface. In an ideal world this would be great, but the fishing world is hardly ever an ideal environment and sinking lines and big flies are an important part of many fisheries. Anglers who want to cover different water types should learn to handle sinking lines and big flies and make them part of their game plan. There are times when sinking lines and big flies are the only way to take fish.
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Many anglers would like to cast only with light lines and small flies and fish on or near the surface. In an ideal world this would be great, but the fishing world is hardly ever an ideal environment and sinking lines and big flies are an important part of many fisheries. Anglers who want to cover different water types should learn to handle sinking lines and big flies and make them part of their game plan. There are times when sinking lines and big flies are the only way to take fish.
