Recommendation for 7 wt sink tip

O clarkii lewisi

O clarkii lewisi

Steelhead
I am in search of a 7 wt sink tip line. Planned use is fishing in med to large rivers with streamers for trout. I'm trying to get some larger flies down deep in runs and pools. I fish a Scott Tidal w Lamson Lightspeed if that matters. Looking to our brain trust for recommendations. Thank you!
 
I’ve always done fine with a 12-15 foot sink tip III line. I know some like a sink tip 6. Guess depends on the fly too. Swing heavy cone head or other heavy type flies I think the iii will work fine. If throwing lighter feathers than maybe a 6.

I’ll use poly sink tips too on 6 weight and above.

So on my RPL 790 I have been using a Rio mainstream sink tip type III. Works fine.
 
Hard to beat the sonar titan IMO. Either the I/III/V or III/V/VII configuration.
Rio predator is another that I like, probably my favorite rio line. If you're throwing really big flies it's worth a look. It handles big stuff better than the sonar, but the sonar is so fun to cast, and it gets down with the best of 'em IMO.
 
Based on the information you provided here’s what I’d recommend. 1) The Tidal isn’t an exceptionally fast rod so as a 7wt, a 200 grain tip would be in its wheel house. 2) Two lines come to mind that would meet your requirements—trout-big-med rivers, streamers down deep. SA SONAR Trout Express 210 grain (about a 20’ tip). SA SONAR 30 Cold 200 grain (a 30’ tip). The 30 Cold is a really functional line for getting large, unweighted streamers down quickly. Additionally, the 30 Cold once you learn to handle it shoots very well with distance and accuracy. I’ve got at least 8 of the 25/30 warm/colds in 150-300 grain models for use here in MT and FL.

I recently had to shelve my T&T No Sanctuary II 5 wt for some repairs and took out a Scott Radian 9’6” 6wt on the river the other day using the same line as the 5 wt—A SA Sonar 30 Cold 200 grain. Paired up nicely.
 
Are you planning on cast/strip? or primarily swing?

For both, I've almost completely settled on the Orvis Bank Shot sink tip (I do WAY more cast/strip than I do swinging streamers for trout). With weighted flies it's really good for one back cast, fire away, and you're fishing. If you're needing to bomb casts way out there, I've found that it's just not as effective as a closer in game (out to 50') because it's easier to lose touch with your fly. If I need to get a little deeper, I have an Airflo Streamer Max Short that I'll sometimes use (this is what I always use for bull trout with pike sized unweighted flies). But the Bank Shot sink tip is way more versatile for most trouty sized streamers.

I can't speak for your rod, but on my glass 7 and 8wts, I go with that short of a head in the ~250gr range and bump up to 320gr on my Steffen 9wt and a 350gr on my Bandit 10wt for bulls. All of those can cast all of those lines just fine (well, except perhaps the 350gr).

For leaders, no longer than 5' of straight 12lb fluoro. 20lb (sometimes 25lb) fluoro for bulls.
 
clarkman said:
Are you planning on cast/strip? or primarily swing?

For both, I've almost completely settled on the Orvis Bank Shot sink tip (I do WAY more cast/strip than I do swinging streamers for trout). With weighted flies it's really good for one back cast, fire away, and you're fishing. If you're needing to bomb casts way out there, I've found that it's just not as effective as a closer in game (out to 50') because it's easier to lose touch with your fly. If I need to get a little deeper, I have an Airflo Streamer Max Short that I'll sometimes use (this is what I always use for bull trout with pike sized unweighted flies). But the Bank Shot sink tip is way more versatile for most trouty sized streamers.

I can't speak for your rod, but on my glass 7 and 8wts, I go with that short of a head in the ~250gr range and bump up to 320gr on my Steffen 9wt and a 350gr on my Bandit 10wt for bulls. All of those can cast all of those lines just fine (well, except perhaps the 350gr).

For leaders, no longer than 5' of straight 12lb fluoro. 20lb (sometimes 25lb) fluoro for bulls.
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You like the airflow streamer max short? Youre a better human than me. I couldn't find joy in casting it. Felt like I was casting a psychotic angry red head fly line named Tina that liked to get down (tina is probably a stripper)...not for me. Way more crazy than hot on the crazy/hot scale. More power to you though. It definitely got down.
 
Long_Rod_Silvers said:
You like the airflow streamer max short? Youre a better human than me. I couldn't find joy in casting it. Felt like I was casting a psychotic angry red head fly line named Tina that liked to get down (tina is probably a stripper)...not for me. Way more crazy than hot on the crazy/hot scale. More power to you though. It definitely got down.
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Very specific conditions, yes. It fishes very well. It's not going to win any distance casts. But there's a reason I changed over to the bank shot for most of that kind of fishing.

That's about the best description I've ever heard of it. 😆
 
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If you wanna try the
clarkman said:
Very specific conditions, yes. It fishes very well. It's not going to win any distance casts. But there's a reason I changed over to the bank shot for most of that kind of fishing.

That's about the best description I've ever heard of it. 😆
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I don't know why, but I've been (unintentionally) fading Orvis lines. I'll have to give the bank shot a look. I kinda did the same thing with Cortland for a few years....only to hop back on the cortland train after realizing they still make kick ass lines.
 
Long_Rod_Silvers said:
If you wanna try the

I don't know why, but I've been (unintentionally) fading Orvis lines. I'll have to give the bank shot a look. I kinda did the same thing with Cortland for a few years....only to hop back on the cortland train after realizing they still make kick ass lines.
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I think Orvis lines are still made by SA. The bank shot has a similar profile as your hated streamer max short, but casts quite a bit better and fishes very well. Still not built for distance, but built for its intended use: Streamer fishing.

Totally agree with Cortland, they still do make some kick ass lines.
 
I will be stripping mostly unweighted large flies in medium sized rivers. Rarely over 50 foot casts if this helps narrow it down.
Thanks y'all for the great information! (y)
 
Looks like the SA Sink 30 Cold has been discontinued. I found one on ebay tho (older packaging).
Hope this is the correct one. I am good with the discount too! Thank you all for your helpful replies.
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O clarkii lewisi said:
Looks like the SA Sink 30 Cold has been discontinued. I found one on ebay tho (older packaging).
Hope this is the correct one. I am good with the discount too! Thank you all for your helpful replies.
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The 200 grain will be a rocket with a ultrafast 5 weight or fast 6 wgt. Good find. Rig it up with 12” of 20# Amnesia with perfection loops at both ends, Attach 3-5’ 0X tippet with a perfection loops on one end to attach to the Amnesia. The Amnesia will protect the fly line if you snag and have to break off. 99% of the time the tippet will break at the Amnesia/Tippet loop if it doesn’t break at the fly.
 
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