Sinking Line vs Sink Tip?

ifsteve

ifsteve

Steelhead
If you are fishing a lake and want to target holes that run in the 18-20 ft depth do you think there is a marked advantage in using a full sink vs a 24ft sink tip (both in the 7-8 ips sink rate areas).

Certainly the full sink is better but I already have the sink tip.

Update: Going through my lines I had forgotten that I got a 7wt Outbound short i/5/7. Ended up getting an 8 wt for my trip to Pyramid but just kept the 7wt. Think I might try this one. Might sink a bit better than the sink tip.
 
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With a 24’ head and 7-8 ips tip…you’ll make it work, especially if the running line sinks. I used to use a SA Streamer Express 150gr line with a type 5 tip that had an intermediate running line as my primary sinking line. Since then I have switched to SA’s Sonar lines (type 5/3 and 7/5) and really like them.
 
For starters, use what you've got. As troutpocket mentioned, it'll work...probably. A full sink will just work better. I absolutely love the Sonar 3D lines, but there are others out there that would probably fit the bill as well.
 
Back in the late 90’s early 2000’s I used the SA ultra series sink tips type 3 (mostly Ultra 2-3 series). 15’ sink tip. They got the fly down quickly, used them in rivers and lakes. They casted very well with an old softer St. Croix imperials and my sage xp’s. I remember my old Imperial 5 weight, slower than a salted slug…. Casting towards the shore at Pass lake and stripping a leech, catching 15” RB and that rod felt like it was gonna fold but it never did. Years ago I tried a couple sink tip lines but felt they didn’t cast as well and have since gone to floaters using poly sink leaders. You don’t need two spools or multiple spools with all the quick change out leaders/heads/etc. they offer today. Back 25+ years ago I didn’t have the foresight that many had at the time and were building there own line systems. Some of those earlier multi head systems by mfgers were kinda brutal on the casting stroke. (lots of hinges for lack of a better word). Lines have improved so much with new tapers and designs today.
I have not bought or used a full sinker to memory in over a decade, still manage to get deep enough. Good luck!!!!
 
Yes, the full sink will not hinge while casting and will sink evenly, keeping as close to a direct line to your fly as possible.
 
I'm all in on full sink lines. I have intermediate, Type 3,4,5,6 and 7 and am buying a new Sonar 3/5 soon. To me they are just tools that provide the right tool for the job. I wouldn't try to take an engine apart with a single crescent wrench and I don't subscribe to the one-size-fits-all theory of sinking lines. But I'm an anachronism-I don't even buy into loop-to-loop connections!

I do have a floating 5wt with a clear 15' intermediate tip that works well around weed beds and did well today among the lily pads.
 
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