Sinking Line And Lakes

[Jack Jones]

For the coming spring, I'm considering purchasing a sinking line in a 5wt. I'll likely get a bargain reel at BPS Outlet to throw it on. My goal is to be able to fish streamers and the like from shore or maybe while kayaking. Ideally, I'd like to be able to strip at depth, or even on the bottom. The species I'd be looking at would be bass or panfish. Just toodling around.

Anyone have any experiences with sinking lines they'd like to share, and maybe a recommendation on a reasonably priced line they really like for this.

[laker67]

For the coming spring, I'm considering purchasing a sinking line in a 5wt. I'll likely get a bargain reel at BPS Outlet to throw it on. My goal is to be able to fish streamers and the like from shore or maybe while kayaking. Ideally, I'd like to be able to strip at depth, or even on the bottom. The species I'd be looking at would be bass or panfish. Just toodling around.

Anyone have any experiences with sinking lines they'd like to share, and maybe a recommendation on a reasonably priced line they really like for this.

Things sink quickly in a lake because you are dealing with very little current in most situations. A sink tip would be hard to use fishing from shore, deep to shallow, but would be beneficial from the yak. I fish unweighted woolys 8 to 10 feet deep on a floating line. This requires a long leader, with the sink tip you would go short, maybe 2 feet or so.

[sean c]

Get whatever matches your 5 weight. I use a 6 weight and a 200 grain line when pond hopping or lake fishing. Like laker said things drop fast in still water so its really more important to get a line to match the rod you want to use than worrying about the sink rate. FWIW if you can go with a heavier rod you can throw bigger flies if you choose. Instead of a new reel I just go with spare spools I have floaters and sinkers in 6-8 weights.

[Arofishing]

You might also consider a sinking "tip" for your regular fly line. But it sounds like you'd benefit from having a dedicated sinking line on a different reel if you're going to use it mostly on lakes.

[drew03cmc]

For your 5wt, look for a Teeny T-130 line. It sinks at 4ips and you can fish it in riffle water for bass and trout too with a down and across wet fly swing.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I would go with a Cabelas line. They aren't bad lines, especially when you can invest $30 instead of $75 in something experimental. You'll have to match the sink rate to your fishing.

They're no fun to cast, especially a full sink.

[Justin Spencer]

Instead of getting another reel, you might think about a spare spool for your "good" reel. Probably the same price or less than a cheap reel and you won't have to worry about a shoddy drag losing that big hybrid that wonders by your streamer.

[Jack Jones]

Justin, I have to laugh because my "good reel" is only a Dogwood Canyon that doesn't have extra spools for it. That sits on my 4wt TFO rod. The one I have on my 5wt was a $10 BPS clearance that was a little larger than I needed rigged my old 5wt line as the backing to the 6wt floating line on it now and it's crapping out from having been dropped on some rocks. It's not a pretty site, believe me. Trust me....a good reel, preferably a 4-6wt that I can have extra spools for, is on my wish list right now. I'm looking at the Ross Flystart #2s for now. Maybe in a month or two.