Deep Sinking Fly Lines
Brian Wiebe, West Edmonton
I recently acquired the Rio In-Touch Deep 7 sinking line. This line is easily cast as it has a powerful head which loads the rod at first cast. The non-stretch consistency of the line allows for greater sensitivity and strike detection. It also has a "hang marker" at 13' from the tip, which shows when the line is coming to the end. You can use it to "fish the hang" - knowing the depth of the water you’re fishing and depth to thermo-cline allows you to stay in the strike zone.
The Deep 7 line, which has a sink rate of 7-8 inches per second, is a very effective alternative to strike indicator fishing with leeches and chironomids, or using other sinking lines for that matter. It is especially effective when trolled quickly (2-3mph) with streamers and double shrimp patterns at Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.
Other effective presentations for this line include using floating flies, especially Boobies, foam bodied Dragonflies and foam Water Boatman like the Ultimate Boatman. This technique allows for the fast sinking line to sink to the bottom quickly, using a much shorter leader of 3-6'. This presentation gets the line right on the bottom, with the bouyant fly pattern hovering just off the bottom - HOLD ON - the strikes can be vicious !!
This line along with some excellent fly choices (no modesty here) saved a recent trip to B.C.! Some lakes I like to fish in the the Fernie/Cranbrook region of Southeast B.C. have deep 30-40' holes where the rainbows love to frequent right after iceoff. I read about using floating lines and long leaders. Experts say to build your leaders 25% longer than the intended depth you plan to fish. So, this meant I had to build a leader 35-50 feet long...Yikes!! As you can imagine, long leaders of this length are extremely difficult to cast and manage, let alone being able to detect bites or set the hook.
After giving this "naked" technique a real go, with limited success, I was dying to try my new line. Set up with 10' of 8 lb fluorocarbon leader, I fished this new line by either drifting with a slight wind, or, casting and allowing it to sink to depth (waiting over 30 seconds), then making short strips on the retrieve. I was immediately into fish, due mainly to having better feel and control of the setup and having the ability to detect the strike more effectively. Give the Rio In-Touch Deep 7 a try. I think you will like it.
Tight Lines.
Brian
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