how to easily use floating lines and sink tips

Steelhead Fly Lines

At a certain time of the year a river is reported to “go over” to the floating line. British Columbia writer and fly angler Roderick Haig-Brown said it was when the water temperature reached 55^oF. This axiom might be true when seasonally switching from winter to summer steelhead fishing. In some regions, the California winter season is long past when anglers begin fishing for our late summer/early fall steelhead. In California summer steelhead means fishing the Klamath or Trinity rivers for half-pounders and larger adult fish. While there are small runs of true spring run summer steelhead in the Klamath and other California rivers, all are found in hard-to-access small headwater streams that offer limited fishing opportunities or special areas closed to angling.

Water temperature

Summer steelhead enter the lower Klamath River as early as July although the peak is late August or early September. By this time, river water temperatures have risen well above the 55^oF mark. In fact, by August lower river water temperatures may be at or even slightly above 72^oF. Obviously, at this time the Klamath River has long gone over to the floating line. Flies fished just under the surface take the majority of fish. Dry and waking steelhead fly patterns often bring splashy rises. Although a steelhead’s rise to a surface fly does not always result in a solid hookup, a small buggy wet fly fished on a floating line will often result in a hard take and positive hookup. 

Plastic fly lines

In 1952, Scientific Anglers introduced the first plastic fly lines. Today’s steelhead fly lines are constructed with an inside flexible core material. This determines the line’s strength and flexibility. The synthetic outside layer can be made of poly vinyl chloride, polyurethane or other plastic and polymeric materials. The outside layer, determines the line slickness, buoyancy, taper, weight, and some of the flexibility. Through continued experimentation and innovation, huge advances in fly lines have been made over the past several decades. These advances have included new tapers and finishes to cast, float, and sink fly lines and flies more effectively. 

Early sink tip lines

In the late-1960’s, many northern California steelhead fly anglers began using new weight forward floating steelhead fly lines. The lines were designed with an integrated sinking front section. These early sink tip lines were designed for single-handed rods and retained some of the ability to mend the line. Several line manufacturers still produce full length sink tip lines for single-handed rods in a number of weights.

Two-handed rods

A few anglers still continue to fish their single-handed rods. However, floating shooting heads fished on a two-handed rod using Spey casts have become an especially effective. Shooting heads backed with a fine diameter level or monofilament line allow for increased casting distance. This is an advantage for reaching distant fish holding lies. However, the ability to cast with limited back cast area is their true advantage. 

Two-handed rods have been used on European river for Atlantic salmon for decades. Faced with little or no room to make a back cast, Scandinavian anglers invented a system constructed around progressive-action two-handed rods and floating shooting head. The style also incorporates the use of a long leader, often up to 18 feet in length. The long leader is less likely to frighten the fish.  The method became known as the “Scandinavian” style of casting, or just “Scandi”. 

Buggy summer steelhead flies fished on two-handed rods using the Scandinavian style are fished using the traditional “wet fly” or “swinging” presentation. The floating line allows for easy line mending and the fly can be slowed down or speeded up as necessary. A line mend often causes the fly to jump. This is followed by a short dead drift before the fly comes under tension again. Summer steelhead readily respond to the fly movement and drift and takes are often aggressive.

“Skagit” style of casting

The Scandinavian style remains effective until water temperatures drop in the late fall months and summer steelhead become less responsive. At this time, the “Skagit” style of casting with a shorter floating shooting head and sinking tip becomes the method of choice. The sinking tip, often with an attached weighted fly on a short leader, help present a fly deeper to unresponsive fish. 

The tip is attached to the front of the Skagit shooting head using a loop-to-loop connection. Tips generally sink, although floating and intermediate tips are available that have application for some fishing situations. Commercial tips are usually 8 to 15 feet in length and labeled as type 3, 6 or type 8 sinking rates.

Tungsten tips

Sinking tips constructed of lengths level tungsten line are notes as T-8, T-11, or T-14. The “T” is an abbreviation for “tungsten”, an alternative to lead core line. The number designation refers to the weight per foot of the material. Tungsten tips are expected to sink at about four to six inches per second. The actual rate will depend on water type, current speed and length of tip. Furthermore, sink rate is determined whether the fly is weighted or not and the type of presentation. Anglers can purchase ready made tungsten tips with factory loops. Lengths of tungsten line material can be purchased, cut and looped to the desired length.

An 8- to 15-foot long length tip is a good compromise between shorter tips that can create a “pendulum” effect. Unfortunately, longer tips are difficult to lift from the water. The weight of the heavy tip material helps turn over large bulky flies. As a general rule the tip for a Skagit shooting head should not weigh more than 1/3 the total weight of the head. Some anglers have suggested using tip weights up to 1/2 the weight of the line. As mentioned, lifting the heavy tip and fly from the water becomes more difficult. Casting style, and rod length and power help determine the appropriate setup. 

MOW tips

A recent development for Skagit shooting head tips is manufactured by Rio Products and called MOW tips. The MOW represents the first letter of the last name of Mike McCune, Scott O’Donnell, and Ed Ward. These tips come in 10 feet lengths (one 12 1/2-foot full sinking tip is also available). They are comprised of both integrated floating and sinking sections. The advantage of these tips is the consistent length. This eliminates the anglers need to change the casting stroke when using tips of varying lengths.

Rod length

Single handed-rods for summer steelhead rivers are typically 9 to 10 feet in length and rated for 6 to 8 weight lines. A floating shooting head of about 20 feet in length combined with a 10 feet long tip is appropriate. Steelhead fly line weight for single-handed rods when using either a full floating or sink tip line are similar. Anglers can increase the shooting head line weight one size heavier to load the rod more effectively

Two-handed rods for California summer steelhead are usually 12 to 13 feet in length and rated for 5 or 6 weight lines. Floating Scandinavian shooting heads for these rods weigh from 320 to 400 grains. However, the line weight increases by about 50 to 60 grains when using a Skagit style line on the same rod.

Whether fishing a single handed- or two-handed rod for summer steelhead, a floating line is a joy to cast. In addition, the take of a summer steelhead to a subsurface fly is exhilarating.  Many anglers say the “tug is the drug”. During the summer the fish are aggressive and some, especially half-pounders, are actively feeding. 

In conclusion

Both Scandinavian and Skagit casting styles with two-handed rods allow the angler to fish areas with no or limited back cast room. As such, the angler can fish areas where he or she thinks fish are holding as opposed to simply looking for a place that allows back cast room with a single handed-rod. The longer rod also allows for more effective mending and control of a swinging fly. With a two-handed rod and Scandi floating and a Skagit setups, today’s anglers is well equipped for all of California’s summer steelhead fishing opportunities throughout the season. 

Learn about lines for winter steelhead in the new book – California Winter Steelhead