Go Deep Young Man

[StanWright]

Go Deep Young Man......
(Apologies to Mr. Greeley: "Go West Young Man")
This last few weeks I've seen some very successful anglers. One reason was that if one technique wasn't working, they were quick to try something else. That something else was fishing deep. Down where the big ones lurk.
Normally when fly fishing I use a floating line. Recently I discovered the benefits of using a sinking tip or full sinking line.
One angler tried a deep diving crank bait. Working the schooling peacock bass chasing shad in the middle of the lake, he could get the lure down deep and was rewarded with some nice size fish.

We were catching more fish with the fly rods, but they were a lot smaller.

While fishing Morgans Point with live bait, another angler discovered that the larger peacock bass seemed to be deep. He started using a lead head jig to get his live bait quickly past the smaller fish down to the larger fish.

So how do you get your fly down deep? Sinking line and a short leader.
Fishing from shore at Morgans Pt., the sinking line would carry the fly swiftly to the bottom, 20 or 30 feet deep. As soon as it hit the bottom we would start stripping the fly in as quick as possable. Those big peacocks hit hard.
There are some huge peacock bass in Lake Wilson... and geting down deep might be just the place to find them.
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[Dryrod]

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Hi there StanWright and thanks for your story & pictures. Some nice PCBs - bet that they gave your rod and line a good work out. BTW the URLs that you posted leads to a free download photo program & you may not know this but the only pictures available are from my own hard drive. Did you have any particular objective in mind when you included them?[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[flygoddess]

Sink tip lines or streamer lines are VERY heavy and will sink very fast. They are designed for fast moving waters to get you down quick. The down side to them is they are hard as heck to cast.
A full sink line is much easier to cast because the weight is distributed differently, BUT, in full sink lines you now have to decide if you want a "WET CELL" which forms a belly in the line...designed for weedy waters to get line down, fly up. And Density Compensated full sink which forms NO belly. Putting fly on bottom with an up sweep when stripped. Then there is DEPTH CHARGE or lines weighted by grain.
Now once you have decided which style of sink line you want, you then have to pick a sink rate which is measured by Intermediate, Type I, Type II, and so on up to a TYPE VII (which sinks like a brick).
Another think to be aware of, is sinking line is THINNER in diameter than a floating for obvious reasons, so you are able to use more backing.
My two favorite choices of line I use are an Intermediate, because it can and will get to any depth, you just have to count down at times, and my 300 Grain Depth Charge line (for a 6 weight). I truely like the depth charge because it is 30' of the lead core line then 70 feet of Intermediate all in one smooth line. It pulls straight on the bottom like a Crawfish or a leech.

One other choice you have, I DEEP NYMPH. With a floating line, but I make a 20' to 30' leader out of straight 6 lb fluorocarbon (my choice).
I use a quick release indicator also. Bounce a fly about a foot off the bottom (sonar is a must). I love this style of fishing.

FG
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[StanWright]

Looks like the more you learn, the more you don't know.

Thanks for all the information,,, time to visit the local fly shop again.
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[Dryrod]

[center][font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Thanks StanWright for editing your post. Clears up any possible confusion.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[flygoddess]

Those are GREAT! I love Peacock Bass......[cool]
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[Brook]

Just one addition, for those new to sinking lines.

If you value your rods, make sure the line is fully on the surface when you lift it for a back-cast. What this usually means is a serious of roll casts to keep the line up there for the lift.

It's less complicated to do than to describe. But if you neglect it you could damage your rod.

BTW, when fishing big, flat water, consider a shooting head system, which lets you fish anywhere in the water column with ease. Shooting heads are not just for big, brawling western streams.

Brook
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[macfly55]

Brook,

As DR said looks like you already came over and joined the gang.. welcome.. now.. a question..

./... when you say big flat water.. are you talking about saltwater or lakes and reservoirs...or both..

MacFly [cool]
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[flygoddess]

I take it as STillwater. Different strokes, and that is what for some. Pearsonally, I find sink tips harder to cast because there is more weight at the end of the line where full sink is evenly distributed. I find FULL SINKS even a TYPE VII much easier to cast then my streamer sink tip.
I also under stand the lifting, but again, something I don't experience with a full sink. I do speed up some to get the fly to the surface, then roll away.

Probably just me but my sink tip was much harder on my rod. Feels like you are casting about 20 "BB" split shots.

Everyone is different and allot of people prefer sink tips.
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[macfly55]

thanks sis.. :-)
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