Problems Casting a Heavy Sink-Tip

[Wetswinger]

I have a 5ft type-6 sinktip I occasionally use with my Intermediate line and I can't get a nice straight cast from it. It either won't unroll, and ends up landing in a pile, or it ends up curved way to the left. I cast R handed. Any advice is welcome..

 

[Grayone]

Open up your loop

 

[SurfnFish]

try an Airflo fast sinking poly leader

 

[clarkman]

I think that anyone is going have a tough time accurately assessing any casting issues on a forum, but here's what I've used in the past with a lot of success for a versatile setup for small mouth.

The intermediate line of choice for me is the Cortland Compact on my 7wt. If I need to go deeper, I'll use either a 5' section of T11 added on or an 8' section of sink tip (the old SA 2D tips that were basically T10 based on weight. I never had issues with this setup on my BAG 7wt and I honestly think it had a lot to do with the really aggressive shooting head, although I've never tried those tips on a standard intermediate line though. Ymmv

 

[Matt B]

Try removing the sink tip and see how it casts then.

In all seriousness, I suspect your intermediate line has too long and fine of a front taper to handle the relatively modest sink tip, and that's what's messing you up. You might just need a new setup.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Sink tips are like casting heavy clousers to me…..don’t like either.

 

[Tom Butler]

Try removing the sink tip and see how it casts then.

In all seriousness, I suspect your intermediate line has too long and fine of a front taper to handle the relatively modest sink tip, and that's what's messing you up. You might just need a new setup.

I too was thinking along these lines. I have one that works great with my 6wts, 4 not so much.
Maybe your dropping your tip in to the left after the stop, causing the line to go left. Sometimes when I don't pay attention or get tired I get the left, right curve problem.

 

[_WW_]

Try removing the sink tip and see how it casts then.

In all seriousness, I suspect your intermediate line has too long and fine of a front taper to handle the relatively modest sink tip, and that's what's messing you up. You might just need a new setup.

This.

 

[Otter]

Try removing the sink tip and see how it casts then.

In all seriousness, I suspect your intermediate line has too long and fine of a front taper to handle the relatively modest sink tip, and that's what's messing you up. You might just need a new setup.

This could be the problem. If your intermediate line has a long and fine front taper, and if you don't mind altering it to have more mass on the front, try cutting a bit off the front end. Maybe lose about a foot, then see if your sink tip lays out straighter. If it's better, but not quite, cut another foot or so off, until you're happy.

 

[Jacob Watrous]

You might consider a Belgian (oval) cast. Start with a low rod tip, make a wide backcast to the side and back, then make a high forward cast to lift the line. It can help keep the heavy part of the line from sinking below the loop.

 

[Russell]

To add sink tips to lines, floating or intermediate, I would cut back the line 15' and add a loop to loop connection. This gets you into the belly of the line and allows the use of multiple tips. Lots of ways to make the loop to loop connections.

 

[Wetswinger]

You might consider a Belgian (oval) cast. Start with a low rod tip, make a wide backcast to the side and back, then make a high forward cast to lift the line. It can help keep the heavy part of the line from sinking below the loop.

I've been working on this, constant tension cast. When I get the timing right it works beautifully. I'm constantly battling letting too much line out while false casting (water loading) and blowing it all.. All this while sitting in my pram..

 

[Shad]

When your leader/tip curves left, it usually means you are over-casting a bit on your forward cast. Sometimes, you want that (say, when fishing a sink tip where downstream is to your left), but if you don't, try widening the loop on your back cast and not pushing your forward cast as hard.

 

[O' Clarkii Lewisi]

Type 6 or type 8 tips typically cast like a stick. Combine that with a delicate front taper of your fly line, and it's going to be tough to cast. Cut the front taper off the line back a bit, day 10 feet, add a loop, and if your tip is about the same grain weight as the section removed, it should cast well.