Wf3-f-s

[Casey A. Wood]

The other day, I was shopping at Hanover Outdoors, when i spied a WF3-F-S line marked down to a real good price. Thinking this was just what I needed, I bought it, and tried it out later that afternoon. I think, in time, with enought pratice, I can get the hang of the tip being a little stiffer than the rest of the line. However, I had a bad time with the leader on it. It got so tangled by the time I was done for the evening, I was fustrated, to say the least. I may have to go to a heavier leader than 6X. Unless there is trick I don't know about, I'm cutting off the sinking part, just to have the weight forward portion. Any ideas? Thanks.

[nhmacusr]

Casey,

Without seeing you cast, it sounds like you were throwing tailing loops with the line. It is probably the added weight due to the sink-tip. Your best bet is to have someone watch you cast it and let you know what is happening to the line.

Also, try slowing down the forward stroke. You don't need as much power at the beginning as you think.

[OTTER]

I don't know your specific situation and I realize with most things it pays to learn to play by the rules first. Personally with the "unbreakable" graphite composite fly rods we have today ( as opposed to my three 50 year old bamboo rods) I ALWAYS use a line one or two weights heavier than the rod calls for. I regularly use a 5 wt line on a three weight rod and a 7 weight line on a 5 weight rod.

On the other hand I must admit that I mostly fish moving water and not still water. And I roll cast 90% of the time. I also keep out of the water as much as possible. I also fish downstream and not upstream 90% of the time. And finally I keep the fly in the water not in the air. I guess it is related to the old adage that age and treachery will beat youth and strength most of the time. A time comes when that way of functioning is forced upon most of us even if not entirely true.

In short, try a heavier line.

[lowwall]

When using a sinker I use a shorter leader (4-6ft), usually a piece of staright floro. Could that be it.

[SIslandBrowns]

Don't cut the line! You'll figure it out. I'm really just confirming the good advice you've already gotten here.

If you have a camcorder, tape yourself casting and see what's hapenning.

I recently fished with Teeny 200 sink tip line and learned that with the heavier front end, you need much less line out to load the rod and shoot line. (I think this concept is similar to what Otter is recommending - same idea by stepping up in line weight, less line out loads the rod.) The contrast between the sinking and WF portions can create a hinging action in your line so if you have too much of the WF portion out of the rod when false casting/casting it can create all sorts of movement in the line that leads to tangles. For example, with the Teeny 200 line, I try to only have the 28ft of sinking line out of the rod when casting - easy to tell because the sink tip is a different color. Due to the weight of the sinking section, shooting out well over 50 total feet is not tough at all. Try slowing down and false casting/casting with less line out. It's just a feel thing, keep at it you'll get it.

[Kype+]

Casey

Did you ask the fly shop pro’s for some direction with leaders?

I am in your area and if you would like, give me a PM and I will meet you and take a look. I will bring my leader tying material and I doubt you will be disappointed. It will be an interesting challenge for me and I welcome it.

Bobby

[Casey A. Wood]

Some of things I enjoy about fly fishing is fishing of course, also the learning apsect of it. I had a hard time last year with nymphs. Now, that's just about all I use.
I had always used a weight forward line, now just as soon use a double taper. Have used a sinking line, but use that on ponds when I get a chance to fish them.
This sinking tip got to me right out of the box, so to speak. It was as if the devil reared up its ugly head and said "NO way!"
There are some ideas here. I'll start off with the slower casting w/ just the sinking line out to see where it gets me.
Bibby, Thanks for your offer. I'll let you know how it goes. I may take you up on your offer.

[wet_fly_action]

Unless you are fishing size 18-20 flies, lose the 6x tippet. I think someone else may have mentioned this recently. Use the "rule of 3". Divide your fly size by 3 and that is a good guide to what size tippet you need to turn the fly over. (I am assuming that you are using the sink tip line for larger streamers and nymphs).
I know those sink tips can be a pain to cast as well, but you might as well tackle one problem at a time.

[OTTER]

Wet_Fly_Action caught the important and obvious thing that I missed: 6X with a sink tip ! Especially with fluorocarbon tippets, 2x and 3x is generally all one needs for nymphs and streamers. Although I'm so out of the loop that I never heard it before, that "rule of 3" sounds good to me.

[Flyfish99]

I'm on board with shorter and heavier leaders. When you use a sink tip or full sinking line, a long leader defeats the purpose as it will ride up in the water column. I generally use a leader of about 4' on the rare occasions I use a sink tip line. For the record, I bought the sink tip a number of years ago, and have only used it maybe a dozen times.

[Casey A. Wood]

That was one of the thoughts I had was in the tippet. A 3X & 4X I would have associated with a heavier line. But expalined here, it makes sense. When a 4 foot leader is used, am I wrong ot thing, cut it down from the butt end ?

[PZ]

When a 4 foot leader is used, am I wrong ot thing, cut it down from the butt end ?

Don't even use a tapered leader. Run a straight piece of mono from the end of the sink tip.

[TGIF]

Wet Fly... kudos to the rule of 3 reference... that is a great rule of thumb... It falls appart when throwing big flies, but when a big fish eats a big fly, the leader is usually the least of their concerns.

If you're using a sinking line, then you're throwing streamers, if you're throwing streamers, go with 3-5 feet of straight 10lb mono. Anything crushing a large streamer is not looking at your leader, plus that will allow the fly to get down faster which is the benefit of a sink tip....

Don't use it to nymph, you'll never get a good drift, I only use a sink tip for streamers and wets.

You'll get the hang of it, especially for river fishing, it is far superior to a full sink line that will get hung up on everything....

Granted, I don't know if I've seen an situations where I wanted to throw a streamer with a sink tip, with a 3 wt.... so I could be way off.

[Casey A. Wood]

TGIF wrote "Granted, I don't know if I've seen an situations where I wanted to throw a streamer with a sink tip, with a 3 wt.... so I could be way off."[/QUOTE]
Good point. That actually was in the back of my mind when I bought the line, but forgot to ask. I don't always think things thru when I buy some stuff, like putting the cart before the horse. Just thought I'd like to try something new.

[nhmacusr]

Don't use it to nymph, you'll never get a good drift, I only use a sink tip for streamers and wets.

.

Unless you are fishing still water or water with very little current and deep pools. You'll need the sink tip to get the fly down. But, I'm with you, I doubt I would have a 3 in that situation.

[Steamtrain]

kype and casey
you guys might work at the same place