Floating line work in the Spring

[scanny]

Good Afternoon

A bit of advice if you can guys.

What alternatives are there to fishing an Intermediate or sinking line in the Spring.

I have began playing with an S3 shooting head for tube work but it takes some getting used to and in less than perfect conditions is not much fun if it goes wrong.

Can i get away with the trusty floating line and with a 22mm bottle tube on a super fast sinking poly for some rivers? If the flow is too strong i guess this will fish too high in the water but if the water is slow then would it get down deep enough on a river such as the Dee? The benefit is its easy to cast of both hands and makes for an easier day but if its not fishing deep enough then ill have to persevere and go with a sinking line

Thanks

Steve

[madkeen]

Quite a few people going for skagit ines used with heavy tips(i.e.T-14) and they are meant to be easy casting and will get down a bit especially with brass/bottle tubes.

[sloggi]

Steve - apologies in advance as it may not be the response you're looking for but I think you need to persevere with a sinking line. If you're fishing the Dee, try a S1/S2 shooting head. With spring salmon hard to find, getting the fly on a springer's nose with a sinking line probably gives you the best opportunity.

The enjoyment of a sparkling springer on your sinking line soon eclipses the more painful aspects of casting it

[scanny]

I might give a Skagit a go, ive seen them cast and they present well.

Each time i try with a full sinking line no matter how much i think about it and how easy it should be i end up hooking myself on the lift roll cast.

[madkeen]

Scanny I've no idea about your experience but maybe a cple hrs of tuition would help as sinking s/heads are pretty easy to cast once you get the basics sorted and as Sloggi points out the S1/2 is the go to line for a lot of rivers.

[weefrankie]

stevie go to short heads ie gac guidelines at £20,buy them line size heavier and it can be ie for 9/10 buy a 10/11 or for a 10/11 buy a 11/12 will come in under 11m long when cut,but unsure ratings for your rod in grams,so its cast and cut a wee bit at time
also try pulling a bit more line in up rod then shoot a little with roll castto get head out and into your spey cast
a circle c may even help
stevie the lines are the guideline d/h powertapers be carefull to get right one if you go for it here is article from guideline site
www.guideline.no/?module=Articles;action=Article.publicShow;ID=259

[scanny]

Thanks Sloggi, ill need to go with a sinker then, otherwise its an expensive days wildlife gazing.

ill give heads a try this week, an hour a day to see if i can persevere with them and if not then ill get a few hours help before im due on the Dee

Cheers John, The rods rated for a 45gram spey line and the 9/10 Afs is 38gram head which is spot on for it. Ill get to the GAC and pick up an inter and S1 head whilst they are on offer and give them a try probably go up to an 11/12 med length and cut it back going by the article

Thanks for all the advice guys its invaluable

[weefrankie]

Stevie whichever you get wait till thurs eve and will bring digital scales think joe might be needing the same,i am thinking popping in tommorow and getting some c=back up just to keep at that price

[badcaster]

scanny ive got the same problem but what didnt help was the fact i think the line i was using was slightly too light for my rod i was told to try the afs line but i havent got a spare 90 quid at the moment boooo

[weefrankie]

mate had problems with vision inty/s2 yesterday i loaned him right weight for his rod as i set him up with foater same make weight and its lovely to cast,got me to have go i couldnt get roll cast to turn over before single spey and the line was collapsing mid air on final delivery,could not work it out
got back to car park gave me end to hold while he disconected from running line i am looking and saying to self why have i thick green end with poly leader in my hand,looks at other end grey and thin to shooting line,talk about laugh solved never even looked when trying to cast to see if rod line combo not right
who says presentation has to be right he got an 8lb rawner earlier on
we slagged each other all way home me for his set up him saying nothing wrong it got a fish,says the collapsed line allowed the fly to sink quicker than if turned over correctly,and he had done it to prove his theory