What is the fastest sinking line there is?

[josko]

To be used for deep drifting with a 15 wt rod. Suitability for casting not too important. I'd like to find something to be used for drifting flies 50' down or so. Does LC-15 (or heavier) exist. Where does one find it?

[BillySalmonhole]

JOSKO,
I HAVE A 550 GRAIN AND 850 GRAIN SHOOTING TAPER LINE MADE BY (I THINK) SCI-ANGLER. THEY BOTH SINK LIKE BRICKS, ESPECIALLY THE 850 GRAIN. I'M NOT SURE WHAT RATE THEY SINK AT (INCHES/SEC), BUT I FEEL LIKE I COULD JIG FOR COD WITH THEM. THE 550 CASTS FINE ON MY 13 WT., BUT THE 850 IS TOUGH(PURELY A DREDGING LINE LIKE YOUR INQUIRING ABOUT). OBVIOUSLY, YOUR CHOICE OF A RUNNING LINE MAY ALTER THE SINK RATE. PICKED THEM UP AT HUNTER'S IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HOPE THIS HELPS
BILLY

[Adam-Albino]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>I'm using a 650 grain shooting head on mine. My theory is that with 650 grains all in the front 31', followed by a thin braided mono running line it will sink the fastest and also allow some control directly to the fly (less bowing).</FONT></P>
<P><IMG align=baseline alt="" border=0 hspace=0 src="http://photos.netclubs.com/live/photos/v/9/t/2/t2c710a3839h31nr004cfcdhuo/flyman2.gif"></P>

[BillySalmonhole]

HEY ADAM,
WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN BY BOWING? BY THE WAY, I USE THE RIO SLICKSHOOTER BRAIDED MONO RUNNING LINE (35# TEST FOR THE 13WT.) AND HAVE FOUND IT TO WORK WELL WITH THESE HEAVY HEADS.
BILLY

[Adam-Albino]

<FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Bowing - As in Bow 'n Arrow..... For the most part you want a direct connection to the fly. A line that has lots of Bow (curve) is going to loose lots of sensitivity.</FONT>
<P><IMG align=baseline alt="" border=0 hspace=0 src="http://photos.netclubs.com/live/photos/v/9/t/2/t2c710a3839h31nr004cfcdhuo/flyman2.gif"></P>

[Slamdance]

Josko: LC-15 does exist (although I heard rumors Cortland was discontinuing it) and would probably be your best best. According to some who use it, it sinks faster than an 850 grain line because it is much thinner. Some of the west coast guys at Dan Blanton's site should be able to help you find some. I have not seen it offered locally. West Coast Angler ( http:www.westcoastangler.com ) or Blue Water Fly Fishing ( http://www.bluewaterflyfishing.com ) may have it also.

[josko]

The closest item i can find in the cortland catalog is:

KERPLUNK PREMIUM LEAD CORE


Tough, abrasion resistant braided nylon over a lead core insures quick sinking. Specially dyed colors change every 10 yards for metering of line length at depth.
Color: Multi-Color
Spools: 50 yd., 100 yd. and 2/100 yd.
Tests: 14, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 60 lb.

Is this what folks are calling LC-...? How does the grains/ft correspond to breaking strength? or is it a whole different product?

[Slamdance]

Josko: KERPLUNK is a totally different product. It's lead core line used primarily for trolling and has a woven cloth-like covering. It is not very flexible and would probably be very difficult to cast on a flyrod.

The LC-13/15 is coated like a fly line (think of an ORVIS Depth charge's head, only thinner diameter and grey instead of brown). I only know of two shops that sell the LC-13 locally (doesn't mean there aren't more that do). One is Blue Northern and the other is First Light Anglers in Manchester-By-The-Sea.

I'd call a few places near you on the Cape to see if they stock it. You may luck out. Otherwise, call Bob D. at Blue Northern and see if he'll order you a spool and ship it to you. I know the San Jose Fly Shop (link on Dan Blanton's site) will ship the stuff out east if you're in a pinch.

SM

Afterthought: Salt Water Edge in Newport may have it too.

[JHorton]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>The problem with using LC-13 on that rod,is it probably takes something like 800 grains to load the rod. With LC 13, you'd need a head over 60 ft. long! LC-15 wouldn't be much better.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I think you need to check the Rio website. They make 30' tungsten shooting heads specifically for blue water, in sizes up to 1,150 grains! Here's the link:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2><A href="http://www.rioproducts.com/catalogue/page8.html">http://www.rioproducts.com/catalogue/page8.html</A></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>If you need to correspond with someone regarding the correct line for you rod, drop me an e-mail, and I'll send you Simon Gaqwesworth's e-mail address. Those guys at Rio really seem to know fly lines, and they're always willing to help.</FONT></P>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[BobD]

I checked the cortland price list and LC13 is the only thing listed. I will try and contact Tink Nelson and see if he knows if there is some LC15 lying around some where in NY.

Bob D<BR><img src="http://www.watersedge-charters.com/nebaylogo.gif">

[franks]

Josko,

I believe that Ron Murphy, who runs the "Stray Cat" charterboat out of Hyannis, uses lead core to fly fish for stripers in the rips. He says lead core is much more effective for him than a shooting taper because it sinks faster.

I have tried using lead core as a "fly line" and, while effective, it is miserable stuff. It's a lot of work to cast, and it has a tendency to kink, so it won't shoot very well. It might be worth a try if nothing else is satisfactory. It will do what you want, if you can put up with it.

[JHorton]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Frank,</FONT></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>LC-13&nbsp;IS leadcore. That's what the, " LC," stands for.</FONT></P>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[JHorton]

<FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>FWIW Rio says the 15-weight requires 550 grains to load the rod, which would be 42-feet of LC-13. They also say that it would handle their 700 grain head quite nicely.</FONT>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[fishbuster1]

try 17# mono with a 6oz bank sinker