Sinking line

Sinking line is weighted or coated so it sinks below the surface at a specific, rated speed, usually described in inches per second. Full sinking lines sink along their entire length, while sink-tip lines only sink in the front section and float along the rest, giving different control over depth and how the line lifts for the next cast.

Sinking line is built mainly for streamer fishing and for reaching fish holding deep in lakes, big rivers or slow pools where a floating line and weighted fly cannot get down fast enough. Matching the sink rate to the water is important, since a line that sinks too slowly never reaches feeding fish, while one that sinks too fast can hang up on the bottom or in structure.

When choosing a sinking line, anglers usually keep a separate spool or reel for it rather than trying to switch lines on the same reel mid-trip, since changing lines takes time streamside. A common mistake is fishing a sink-tip with too short a leader, which can pull the fly back up toward the floating running line and undo the depth the line was built to reach.