Midge Tip vs Indicator Tip

Wetswinger

Wetswinger

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I’m in the market for a new line, to be mainly used for naked line sub-surface techniques. I’m really enjoying fishing this style. Right now I’m leaning towards a Cortland indicator line which features a high float, bright orange, 3’ tip. Using a tapered leader, this should be sensitive and easy to see any line movement…but, I keep noticing people raving about midge tip lines for this also. What are the advantages of these midge tips.? Wouldn’t the curving tapered leader work the same as a curving intermediate tip.? How long of an intermediate tip would you advise.?
Your thoughts would be appreciated..
 
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Responding just to keep track of this thread, I'm curious how peopple who use these lines will answer.
 
a 5' clear intermediate midge tip has become a primary go to rod, as mixing unweighted and weighted flies with nylon or flouro leaders provides VG presentation depth control. And when the lakes begin to warm up, a stillwater Callibaetis nymph on a 9' flouro leader can be downright deadly...
 
After reading some English blogs, it seems a popular set-up is to use a floating line and add an intermediate polyleader for your midge tip. 5’ and 8’ seem most popular. So I’ll probably get the Cortland Indicator line with the high float, bright tip to help with visual movement and a 5’ polyleader to help with the feel..
 
It looks to me that the Cortland Indicator is not a lake line but designed for stream fishing.
BTW my most used lake lines are SA Stillwater Indicator, SA Full Intermediate, Stillwater Seamless Density 1/3 & 3/5. I really like a washing line on all my sinking lines where you're always in contact. I do see the advantage of a midge tip sometimes.
 
I use a midge tip in some situations partly because my floating line rigs are setup with slip indicators and I don’t want to modify them :). I use the midge tip for specific situations, like feeding fish in very shallow areas, or a callibaetis hatch. Sometimes the fish want a fly moving upwards at an angle. The intermediate tip sinks my leader quickly so it’s not creating a disturbance or affected by wind during the retrieve.

I’m sure all the situations I have described could be successfully fished with a floating line, and especially by adding a intermediate polyleader.
 
You might consider a RIO Hover line. Sink just below the surface you when you strip you aren't leaving the tell tale wake on the surface. Now you lose any visual indication but I prefer the presentation and stealth this line gives me.
 
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mickey rat said:
It looks to me that the Cortland Indicator is not a lake line but designed for stream fishing.
BTW my most used lake lines are SA Stillwater Indicator, SA Full Intermediate, Stillwater Seamless Density 1/3 & 3/5. I really like a washing line on all my sinking lines where you're always in contact. I do see the advantage of a midge tip sometimes.
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You think the Cortland would not work for Stillwater.? Why.? It’s almost a carbon copy of the SA Andro Stillwater Indicator..
 
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I think going with the indicator line will ultimately be more universal, because you can go back and forth with a long leader set up or poly leader. I tried a midge tip and did not personally like it over a floater.
 
My favorite line right now is a clear intermediate. Some lakes have had some easily spooked fish (likely due to opener). But I also use the floater + polyleader setup with a clear intermediate 5’.
 
Wetswinger said:
You think the Cortland would not work for Stillwater.? Why.? It’s almost a carbon copy of the SA Andro Stillwater Indicator..
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You got me there. It is pretty close to my SA Andro Indicator line which I like for chucking long deep indicator leaders. One and a half times heavy and lands like it. I’m just pointing out how they are marketing it with photos stream side.
 
a midge tip can also be deadly in shallower water with a leech pattern...the strip pause really puts some action on the fly, as the strip pulls it up and then the tip drops it back down. I went back and forth between the midge tip and a Hover line last summer until deciding on the action of the midge tip..so a $99 6 wt Hover line is sitting in a drawer
 
I used a RIO outbound hover for a while. Great for bombing casts across shallow flats. Not great for stealthy casts to the cattails. The taper on my midge tip is a nice compromise. Something to consider with indicator taper floating lines…some are great for turning over a long leader and indicator, but not designed for gentle casts to rising fish.
 
Ok I have some feedback on this. I have the Rio long midge tip (5' long clear sinking tip), Cortland camo tip (7' sinking camo tip) along with a Rio hover and other sink rate lines.

There are some definite advantages to all the lines listed. Rio midge tip strong points are fishing very shallow water helping keep your fly out of the weeds, also fishing your fly just under the surface like during a callibaetis hatch for example. Also if your fishing nymphs like chironomids you can cast it out and let it slowly fall through the water column. The way the tip sinks with this particular presentation style allows you to slow strip the flies up at an angle that mimic the naturals. You will get way more strikes and hook ups during chironomid hatches doing this vs a hover ir clear intermediate full sink.. It also allows you to feel the hit as opposed to staring at an indicator all day. The running line floats well and can also be an aid in strike detection.

The Cortland line basically does the same thing as the midge tip with one major difference. I've noticed The running line on this is also supposed to float but it will break through the film and stay just under the surface giving you incredible contact with your fly through the entire retrieve, along with eliminating wind drag issues. The hits can be savage with this line. It's great in shallows and shoreline areas as well. The chironomid fishing with this line is also good. It seems that this line tip sinks a little quicker than the Rio midge tip. I don't troll but this line in particular will keep you fly about 3' down while trolling and is deadly when used this way. Hope this helps. I never hit a lake without these lines.

The hover is amazing if your looking to cast and retrieve your fly parallel through the water column. It will continue to sink throughout the retrieve but slowly. So think scuds, damsels, leeches, mergers just under the surface, in 2-6' of water with this line. Also no wind drag and great strike detection.
 
Stillwater hill said:
Ok I have some feedback on this. I have the Rio long midge tip (5' long clear sinking tip), Cortland camo tip (7' sinking camo tip) along with a Rio hover and other sink rate lines.

There are some definite advantages to all the lines listed. Rio midge tip strong points are fishing very shallow water helping keep your fly out of the weeds, also fishing your fly just under the surface like during a callibaetis hatch for example. Also if your fishing nymphs like chironomids you can cast it out and let it slowly fall through the water column. The way the tip sinks with this particular presentation style allows you to slow strip the flies up at an angle that mimic the naturals. You will get way more strikes and hook ups during chironomid hatches doing this vs a hover ir clear intermediate full sink.. It also allows you to feel the hit as opposed to staring at an indicator all day. The running line floats well and can also be an aid in strike detection.

The Cortland line basically does the same thing as the midge tip with one major difference. I've noticed The running line on this is also supposed to float but it will break through the film and stay just under the surface giving you incredible contact with your fly through the entire retrieve, along with eliminating wind drag issues. The hits can be savage with this line. It's great in shallows and shoreline areas as well. The chironomid fishing with this line is also good. It seems that this line tip sinks a little quicker than the Rio midge tip. I don't troll but this line in particular will keep you fly about 3' down while trolling and is deadly when used this way. Hope this helps. I never hit a lake without these lines.

The hover is amazing if your looking to cast and retrieve your fly parallel through the water column. It will continue to sink throughout the retrieve but slowly. So think scuds, damsels, leeches, mergers just under the surface, in 2-6' of water with this line. Also no wind drag and great strike detection.
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Very informative post, thanks for taking the time!
 
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