Hi Rob,
Interesting ..... What sort of sink rates do you find most useful for your intermediate lines?
What are your thoughts on sink tip lines for pike fishing?
Cheers
Mike
The line I use most is the Rio Outbound Intermediate, whatever the sink rate on that was...I think . All I did was count longer if I wanted deeper. The counting is not wasted fishing time as many times the fly is slammed as its sinking
Although I have replaced all my other lines (Float, Di3, Di5, Di7) with Snipers, I kept the Rio as its more than serviceable still. I also have a very rare Di9 40 foot normal line for use on Menteith when fishing floating flies on a 2 foot leader
As for sink tips...I have yet to find one that has a suitable taper (remembering I like large, wind resistant flies) although I believe the Outbound Short now has a version with a sink tip.
Having said that, I do have a 7 weight Rio Streamer with a 10 foot fast intermediate sink tip. I have used this with heavy (not wind resistant) flies for trout, in the sea and for small pike up to double figures. My concern is that if I let the fly go deep, there is an angle between the floating line, the sinking part and then again from the very tip of the fly line to the fly. I do think this has cost me fish as there is slack to take up before the hook drives home.
If stripping back, then the issue is somewhat less.
I would say that a sink tip is superior on a river to a full slow sink line thanks to the ability to mend..but in a loch, full sink all the way.