Sinking Lines

[JackStraw]

Looking at the Airflo Depthfinder for striper fishing. Anyone have experience with these or success with other brands?

[Wild Bill]

Jack-

It depends a lot on how deep you need to go. I use two types of sinking lines for stripers. The first is a Scientific Angler Streamer Express. I use a 250 on my 8 wts, 350 on 9's and 450 on 10's. These are good casting lines. I have other makes of sinking lines but prefer the Streamer Express over all.

If I want to really go deep and fast, the SA Custom Tip Express is a great new line at a good price. It lists for $40 and is basically 33' of T-14 sinking head melded to SA's .030" intermediate sink running line. There is a chart on the box to tell you how much to cut off the tip to produce various weight lines. You can also multiply head length by 14 grains per foot. I use it full length for 10 wts. I bought two more and will probably cut one head back to 30' for my nine wts.

Other companies including Airflo make good lines too. I have not fished the Airflo Depth Finder. The only thing I heard about it is that it is supposed to tangle less than other lines. That would be great. Maybe someone else will be able to give you info on it.

[JackStraw]

Bill,

Thanks for the feedback on the SA lines. I've used their floating lines on
bonefish and tarpon in the past.

Tom

[Lucky]

Fish sinking lines quite a bit and like fast sinking lines and not sinking tips as the tips make for a pretty unfluid cast. I fish the 700 gr airflow on my 11 Wt and the 400 on my 9wt. I feel like this line is thinner and "lighter" if that's possible when casting. I have had good luck with these lines but they do tangle when you shoot'em fast.

Orvis Depthcharge is another great line becaue they run the sinking line backed up with an intermediate...which makes sense to me if you want to get an even sink...which will also put you in faster contact with a fish if you get a take. I have fished these lines for years and they seem the best with tangling issues. From the 350-650, I have used them all...the higher end seems to be much thicker diameter than the airflow and harder to pick up off the water to recast. Sinks like hell and gets you deep when you want to be deep...

Sci-Angler makes some great lines as well. Used their 400 gr last year all season and had good luck with it. Sci-Anglers has a very good coating on their lines and although tangles still happen, no more or no less than the Orvis line.

All the others I haven't had good luck with fishing...most tangle almost every single cast and a lot have floating line as a running line which doesn't make sense to me. I would stick to one of the top three mfgs.

I think with fishing any sinking line that is a shooting head, keeping your line very clean and lubricated is essential to any fishing trip. Having a pod of fish come up in front of you and you miss the action due to a birds nest while shooting your line is one of the most frustrating things in fly fishing. used to happen to me quite often, before I started cleaning my line a few times a day while out on the water and properly streatching it when it first comes off the reel.

hope this insight helps...

[Ray]

I'm a big fan of the Orvis depthcharge lines. They cast and fish very well.

[titleguy]

Having used Teeny Lines, Depth Charge and RIO Deepsea, gott go with the RIO. It cast better ( at least for me) than the other two and while it still tangles, the running line is stiffer and easier to undo. I fish a 300 on my 8, 400 on my 9, 500 on my 10. :-%

[JackStraw]

Thanks! I appreciate all the great feedback. Tom

[peter mac]

Jackstraw,
The airflo depth charge lines are great, they sink like rocks. They come with 2 types of running lines floating and intermediate. The floating tangles less and does not impead the line sinking. I have fished the 250 on 8wt. 300/9wt and the 400/10wts the past 3years and love them. A good stretch before use manages the tangle issue in the running line. They cast great and most importantly they catch fish. Won't be long now!
Good Luck
Peter Mac

[fmw]

What do you guys use to get REALLY deep. I have to say that I used to have this old (5 or 6 year old) full sink line from sci. angler that was all grey. It was hard to cast, but sank like a stone. That's what I need to find again.

I've since had the Streamer Express (loved it off the boat in Montauk in late fall -- real easy to cast), the Wet Tip Express (got this late last year after I prop wrapped my Streamer Express and hated it -- constant tangles in running line), but still need something that will be great for standing on a jetty or bulkhead where the current is running strong and I just want to get to the bottom without concern for shootability, etc.

Last spring I got so frustrated standing on the 3 mile harbor bulkhead watching a boating angler catch bass after bass, but my problem was I knew I just wasnt getting deep enough. Need something that will just sink like a stone without regard to shootability.

[ArthurB]

I agree with Titleguy. I have tried Dephth Charge and have fished Teeny lines for years. The Rio Deepsea has the nicest shooting component (less supple) of all with fewer knots forming on the cast. All are good lines but the Rio is a pleasure to cast. For deep dredging,the 600 grain can be cast with a beefy 10 wt or better yet an 11 wt.
A less buoyant, heavier fly can also help get down faster.

[rel]

[QUOTE=fmw]What do you guys use to get REALLY deep. I have to say that I used to have this old (5 or 6 year old) full sink line from sci. angler that was all grey. It was hard to cast, but sank like a stone. That's what I need to find again.

I think the full sinking line you had may have been a Type 5 or 6, and I think they are still made only in the uniform sinking configuration. Check SciAnglers site. Ron

[Just Throw]

SA and Orvis are one in the same. I believe SA makes Orvis lines.
That being said--I am a big fan of of Airflo products.

[titleguy]

In addition to the Deepseas, I also fish a pretty short leader and if I really want to dredge, big lead or tungsten dumbells. Casts like a Led Zeppelin, but it works. Anoither to remember to if you are fishing current is to cast upcurrent and mend that running line to get less drag. We use the 10 wts with big eel flies on the Monomoy Rips and basically nymph up the bass. When the rip is really rolling on the outgoing, one guy drives and the other ffishes off the stern. Casting up and across with a big a mend as you can throw and as soon a your line comes tight and starts to swing, well, you know the drill- deadly. :-%

[zdorfman]

I've fish with the airflo for striper. works great. I use the 300 gr with my 9wt. I've tried cheaper lines ( cabelas and cortland) they are not even worth your time, almost ruined a fishing trip once, a buddy bailled me out - he had an extra spool with airflo on it.

great line sinks well, more importantly casts very well

[peter mac]

fmw,
The airflo 500gr depthfinder line allows me to dredge DEEP even in the rip off the lighthouse. My other choice is a 30' head of Rio T14 with the Int. running line. Fish both in the late fall in Montauk (Nov/dec) and they get me where I need to be.

Peter Mac

[albacized]

[QUOTE=fmw]What do you guys use to get REALLY deep. I have to say that I used to have this old (5 or 6 year old) full sink line from sci. angler that was all grey. It was hard to cast, but sank like a stone. That's what I need to find again.

I think the full sinking line you had may have been a Type 5 or 6, and I think they are still made only in the uniform sinking configuration. Check SciAnglers site. Ron


The line in question is actually the Sci Angler striper line. Most folks are only familiar with their once clear, now blue intermediate version of the striper line. However, they sell two sink types under the name 'striper line': intermediate and fast sink (which is a full sinking line, not a shooting head type line).

[KayakerStan]

The Airflo Depth Finder Llines are great.

[moxie]

I have a new 10-12wt TFO big game rod and Ross BG-6 reel. 600 gr line is
difficult to cast [I know practice] What line would you recommend in a
450gr wt for stripers/blues?

[KayakerStan]

Airflo Depth Finder Quick Max Line which comes in 475 and 410 gr.

[JackStraw]

What's the preference on the running line when fishing for stripers and blues?
Floating or intermediate? Advantages/disadvantages of each? Thanks!

Tom

[albacized]

What's the preference on the running line when fishing for stripers and blues?
Floating or intermediate? Advantages/disadvantages of each? Thanks!

Tom

Some theorize that an intermediate running line helps keep 'in touch' with your shooting head. The reason is two fold: the first obvious one is because it sinks, although not as fast as a quick sinking head. Secondly, the diameter of an intermediate running line is thinner, hence creates less of a bow in the water.

With that said, after using both, I'd say those advantages are minimum. I wouldn't sweat it too much if you can only find one or the other. Of the lines that come with a running line and shooting head attached as one line (Teeny, Depth Charge, etc), some come with an intermediate running section, but most come with a floating running section. 250-600 grain lines will pull either type of running line down with it.