Fishing Full Sinkers
23/10/13 17:57
Fishing the Full Sinker
In most of the typical steelhead water we fish, the angler should select a full sink head based on the sink rate needed for the bottom current speeds, not the top ones. Normally this means selecting a full sink head that seems too slow for the job: for instance, an S1/2 where the top currents might seem to suggest an S3/4. Read More...
Lifting and Casting Full Sinkers
23/10/13 12:22
While casting full sinkers is not a problem, the lift however, can be an adventure to the uninitiated. Sometimes there's no choice but to roll cast up a deeply sunk line, but in most cases, a few techniques will get the job done quite easily.
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Full sinkers vs. Sinktips
01/10/13 08:01
Any sinktip angler tying to transition to using full sinking shooting heads, will probably have some issues trying to figure out which head will work in what situation. The decision making and the fishing of sinktips is an easier proposition, in comparison to full sinkers. Read More...
Full sinkers and pocket water
26/09/13 14:40
Pocket water and the full sinker:
Boulder water is considered to be the bane of the full sinking line but even that can be managed well. Using a downstream approach, the casts can be angled to run our drift through the gaps. If that option isn't available, a dual density, slow sinking head or a full ski sinktip system lets us run the belly just a few inches to a foot under the water with the tip much running deeper. Read More...
Managing full sinker depth
26/09/13 14:39
Managing depth with the rod position:
Simply moving the rod tip can have a significant effect on depth control. When casting short, a high rod tip position can keep the fly running shallow, but when it crosses into deeper water, dropping the tip will sink the head and fly very quickly. The sink rate takes some getting used to, as changes in rod tip position can make for large depth changes, especially when fishing a short line. Read More...
Full sinker control
26/09/13 13:54
Full sinker control:
We're familiar with mending sinktip systems to control depth and speed, Full sinkers obviously have limited opportunity for mending, so it's understandable that those who rely on mending sinktip systems to get the fly down, assume that the lack of mending a full sinker means lack of control. Not true. Mending can be accomplished via air mends, reach mends, or a water mend just as the head lands. Once the head is in the water, presentation and depth control are maintained through rod tip position, the distance cast, casting angle and line tension.
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Fishing full sinking shooting heads
26/09/13 13:17
Fishing Full Sinking Shooting Heads
Not many people fish full sinking shooting heads, yet they can be quite valuable when flows are high, the current is fast or the water very cold. A lot of what is written below can also be applied to intermediate Skagit setups.
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Armed Practice
09/09/13 14:50
Just want to talk about this a little more. Went out again today with the 15 footer, a small, unweighted fly and fished a run with little expectation of a fish -- what I call ‘armed practice’. Read More...
The season is about to start
05/09/13 09:31
Reports of a few fish trickling in has me itching to get out with the steelhead gear. Yesterday I dusted off the 15 footer for some ‘armed practice’ and discovered some not unexpected rust on the shoulders. The older I get, the more the rust accumulates before each season.
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Getting the right long belly
29/06/13 11:15
People usually struggle when moving to their first long belly line and that’s pretty normal for just about everyone. No doubt that there’s a learning curve to be rounded, but there are a few things that can shorten the journey.
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