| There are a number of types of fly lines, one of the | | | | prevent it will snagging on the bottom. |
| common differentiators of these is fly line density. Fly | | | | Sinking Lines |
| lines have different densities, each density is used for | | | | Sinking lines, when cast onto water, are designed to |
| a different method of fly fishing. At the highest level, fly | | | | sink into the water. They have a greater density than |
| lines either float or sink. When we break it down a bit | | | | water, so they fall into the water column. A key |
| further we discover that there are more than two | | | | feature of the sinking line is its sink rate; sinking lines will |
| types of fly line densities. Here we're going to cover | | | | sink at different rates depending on how dense they |
| four common types: floating, sink-tip, sinking and | | | | are. Understandably, a heavier (higher density) sinking |
| intermediate. | | | | line will sink faster than a lighter (less dense) line. This is |
| Floating Fly Lines | | | | a key consideration when looking at sinking lines as |
| Floating fly lines are easy to understand, because they | | | | you want a line that is going to sink at the correct rate |
| simply do what their name suggests, they float on top | | | | for the type of water you fish. A fast sinking line will be |
| of the water (or sit in the water film). Floating fly lines | | | | ideal for deep rivers and pools; however this line will be |
| are hugely popular for fishing dry flies or nymphs; they | | | | a struggle to fish with in shallow rivers and streams. |
| can also be used to fish streamers or wet flies. | | | | The method of fishing that uses sinking lines is |
| Floating lines are made with small air bubbles in their | | | | commonly referred to as 'wet lining'. |
| coating, making the line less dense than the water; this | | | | Intermediate Lines |
| allows the line to float on top. You connect a leader to | | | | Intermediate lines are sinking lines, but they don't sink as |
| the floating line, to enable your flies to get down to the | | | | fast as true 'sinking line'. These lines vary in their sink |
| fish that is waiting. If you're learning how to fly fish then | | | | rates, so it is important to understand the differences in |
| this would be the best place to start. | | | | brands of intermediate lines and their sink rates. |
| Sink-Tip Lines | | | | Intermediate lines are ideal for fishing lake edges and |
| The sink-tip line is a variation of the floating line; again, | | | | shallower rivers as the line will have time to get down |
| as the name suggests, it is a floating line with a sinking | | | | to the right depth, however it won't snag on the |
| tip. A sinking tip means that the density of the tip, or | | | | bottom like full sinking lines do. The retrieve (pulling in |
| end of the line, is heavier than water and therefore the | | | | the line by hand) speed will determine at what depth |
| tip sinks into the water. So part of the line is floating on | | | | the intermediate line sits. |
| the water, but the end (the tip closest to your flies) is | | | | The above lines densities are the four key types you |
| sunk in the water. This type of line helps to get flies | | | | will encounter, as you would have guessed there are |
| down in the water quickly, but does not require the | | | | variations of each type. If you are just starting to learn |
| entire line to sink in the water. This can often be a | | | | to fly fish then you'll need to understand what fly line |
| great line for smaller, shallower rivers when you want | | | | density is going to suit the water you'll be fishing most |
| to fish with your line in the river, but not too deeply - to | | | | of the time. |