ON THE WHITE - Let's talk about Sink Tip Lines!

I’m a big fan of sink tip lines because I fish on the White River, where there is sometimes deep and fast water. Surprisingly, I know of a few other people, or fellow guides, who use sink tip lines. Most people are happy with their floating lines, and they either throw heavy flies or use a strike indicator above a couple of weighted nymphs. I am writing to encourage you to consider a sink tip line as part of your arsenal for appropriate situations. There is no question that a floating line is the standby, but a sink tip is a valuable tool in the tool kit.

On the White, we often have low water one day and medium-depth water the next, or low water in the morning and medium-depth water in the afternoon. And there are times when we have high and fast water for several weeks in a row. This is because the water is released from a dam that supplies electricity, and demand for this energy fluctuates. Being prepared for high and fast water with a sink tip line is smart.

One reason I am so fond of a sink tip line is that I love to streamer fish. A Wooly Bugger is the go-to streamer on the White, and just about everyone fishes this fly at some time or other. I prefer a hook size 10 with olive as my most productive color. Thirty years ago, purple was the hot color, but it seems not to be fished much these days. However, sometimes I bring out a purple Wooly Bugger to try to outfish a friend or two who are stuck on olive. I do this just for fun and nostalgia. I’m usually out-fished by the olive streamers, but sometimes that old purple surprises everyone. When the water is not shallow, my friends and I use a sink tip line.

The two main types of sink tip lines are slow and fast. The slow sink drops at less than 3 inches per second, while the fast sink line submerges at 7 inches per second (IPS). I prefer a 5-weight rod for my slow-sinking line and a 7-weight rod for my fast-sinking line. Remember, these are sink TIP lines. All of these lines are floating except for the last 10 feet. A floating line is obviously lighter and easier to cast, so all but the last 10 feet are floating. I don’t bring out my 7-weight rod with a 7-inch-per-second sinking tip very often, for I reserve it for the really high, fast water.

For around $70, you can add a nice arrow to your quiver. If you enjoy streamer fishing, and your river has some depth and speed to it, give this a try. My sink tip lines have brought me much joy.

Happy Fishing!

Keith Campbell