Hi Paul,

Can you write a recommendation in sexyloop for selecting sinking lines. Here in Chile we have a lot of lakes and rivers and a lack of knowledge in this subject.

Regards
Victor Arancibia B.

Hi Victor

I use three sinking lines for all my stillwater fishing, and mainly only two.

The first is an intermediate. I have most confidence in the clear intermediates. The Scientific Anglers is probably the best. Intermediates sink at about is 1.5 inches/sec and are great for bank fishing in windy conditions, especially early on in the season. I particularly like fishing them "free-fall" in boats, and it's a great way to find the fish, when you've lost them. If I had to choose one sinking line this would probably be it. Sometimes it's not dense enough however, but more often than not lines which sink quicker don't allow you to fish slowly enough, certainly not for bank fishing.

The next line I wouldn't be without is a HiD. Any line which sinks around the 5-6 inches per second is ideal. I personally use the SA HiD. I prefer their "feel". But I've also used the nameless manufacturer's DI7, which is good and more durable (but feels really heavy for some reason and overloads the rod - I must weigh one when I get back to the UK). I use HiD's off the bank in the early season for Booby fishing, or else in the boat, either early on in the year with nymphs, or else in the middle of summer with attractor flies, especially if the fish are on daphnia.

That's it. With an intermediate and a HiD you've covered all bases. If you want to get deep with an intermediate then fish a leaded point fly. And if you can fish slowly enough you'll get the depth you need. A HiD is good to about 20 ft depth (on the drift, over the front, assuming it's not too windy). If you want or need to go deeper than this I would suggest you make up your own leadcore shooting heads.

I carry one other line, a WetCel 2. I get to use it about five or six times each season and I use it specifically for getting beneath shoals of fry. In early August, during the heat of the day, when you can see the odd fish chasing fry to the surface, I use this tactic. WetCel 2, and small fry imitations.

I only ever use tapered leaders on the intermediate, and just use a 5 ft butt section on the WetCel 2, and a much shorter one on the HiD (short leaders for boobies).

I have never used Uniform Sink lines (or the more recently named Density Compensated), in fact I prefer the idea of a huge underwater curved retrieve in any case - but I suppose they both give this.

Finally all my sinking lines are Weight Forward. Hope this helps!! :)

Cheers,
Paul

Further Reading: The Stillwater Section