FISHING SINK-TIPS: THE FUNDAMENTALS

FISHING SINK-TIPS FOR WINTER STEELHEAD

Written by Deschutes Angler Guide Evan Unti

The Challenge of Sink-Tip Fishing

Sink-tip fishing presents many challenges to any angler because of all the variables involved from selecting the proper tip to presenting the fly as slowly as possible. What really makes sink-tip fishing difficult is coming to grips with where exactly your fly is in relationship to your line. Floating line fishing is much easier because the line and fly are in the same strata of the water column making it easier to assess where the fly is. Once the fly begins to drop through the water column, it enters strata that is moving at a slower pace then the surface strata. And because we can't see the fly it is easy to lose track of where the fly is and whether it is swinging slowly.

Common Misperception about Sink-Tip Fishing

Typically, if you cast the fly across the river and throw a big mend into it and then let the fly swing around, unbeknownst to you, the fly and sink-tip have a giant belly. Even if the visible floating section is straight, this does not mean the tip and fly are in a straight line with the floating section because of the slower sub-surface currents. Obviously if the fly and tip are lagging behind the line, the fly is not swinging slowly throughout presentation. You certainly can cast straight across to help get the fly down once you have a good feel for the relationship of the fly and sink-tip to your Skagit belly, but this takes time. Depth is not as important as the speed of the fly which is always something to keep in mind.

Getting In Touch With Your Fly

To get in touch with your fly requires time on the water and the more you fish the better understanding you will have. To start the process, the easiest way to get in touch with your fly is to feel the fly pulling on the rod tip before you allow the fly to start the full swing. The easiest way to facilitate this process is to cast the fly at 45 degree angle down and across and then throw one mend into the line to allow the fly to sink a little and make sure the line, sink-tip and fly are in a straight line. After making the mend, keep the rod perpendicular to the main current until you really feel the fly pulling on the rod tip and then allow the rod to come around nice and slow maintaining tension. By maintaining tension you should be able to feel the fly pulling on the rod tip throughout the swing.

Casting Angle and Water Types

Different water types demand different casting angles and presentation. For example, a heavy riffle with a defined current seam demands a more straight across presentation to get the fly to move through the main seam. Fortunately, you have faster currents in the middle of the river to help straighten the fly out making this kind of water fairly easy to get a good presentation. But there are many great pieces of water that are more open flats and tail outs where the current speed is fairly even from bank to bank. This kind of water requires more attention to make sure everything is lined up straight to facilitate a slow swing. The best casting angle is going to be more down and across to make sure everything is straight.

Get Out on the Water Alot

The better you get at detecting the fly and sink-tip and making the necessary adjustments to straighten everything out, the more opportunities you are going to have. The more opportunities you have the more likely you are to bump into an often allusive Winter Steelhead. Of course this requires time, so get out as much as possible and keep it straight.

SKAGIT CASTING: KEY TIPS

SCANDINAVIAN SHOOTING HEADS TO SKAGIT SHOOTING HEADS

Written by Deschutes Angler Guide Evan Unti

Transitioning from Scandinavian Heads to Skagit Heads

It is now that time of year to pull out the Skagit Head, Sink-Tips and Big Flies and start chasing those stunning Winter monsters.  The heavy rains, swollen river and variable conditions are few things that make Winter Steelhead fishing so attractive. But I often find the transition difficult from casting elegant and effortless floating lines to the heavy and often clunky Skagit heads .  I understand it's commonly stated that your casting stroke shouldn't change from Scandi to Skagit, but the fact of the matter it does and has to, to utilize the power of the Skagit head.

Shortening the Casting Stroke

The number one thing to remember is that your Skagit head is shorter and heavier which means you have less line to move and you don't need to move very quickly to generate tremendous load on the rod. This is one of the many reasons Skagit heads have become so popular among Steelhead anglers. Because the line is short, it is necessary to slow and shorten your stroke to maintain a continuous load on the rod from start to finish.  As opposed to a Scandi head, you don't want to hesitate between the sweep of the cast and the forward stroke.  With a Scandi head, a hesitation is required to make sure the line and leader are in a straight line pointed at the target. Because Skagit heads are short when you sweep the rod around to the forward casting position, the line, sink-tip and leader will be in a straight line so just move into the forward stroke with no hesitation. If you hesitate between the sweep and forward cast, your D-Loop will collapse and thus you will lose the load on the rod.

Sustaining the Load for Maximum Skagit Head Power

Another key component to sustaining the load throughout the cast is making sure you let your sink-tip sink after setting the line up either for a Double Spey, Snap-T or Perry Poke. By letting the sink-tip sink you are ensuring that the Skagit head has a lot of resistance as you sweep the rod around to ensure maximum load. The amount of sink needed is largely based on the tip and fly you are using.  A heavy fly and sink-tip don't require much sink time, while a light tip and fly require more sink time to get the same amount of resistance.  You will have to play around with the various set-ups you use based on river conditions to gauge how much sink time is required for each set up. 

Use Your Body to Move the Spey Rod

The last ingredient to making a smooth transition from Scandi to Skagit is to fight the urge to lift your arms as you sweep the rod around your body.  Remember that the line, sink-tip and leader follow your rod tip.  This means if you begin to lift the rod during the sweep, the line, sink-tip and leader will also begin to lift translating into a blown anchor. Be sure you sweep the rod around your body smoothly on an even plane ensuring that the anchor will not leave the water during the sweep.  I typically try to keep my elbows glued to the side of my body and use my body rather than my arms to move the rod.  If you focus on using your body, the rod has no choice but to travel smoothly on an even plane which translates into consistent casting.  The more consistent you cast, the more efficiently you will cover the water which usually means more fish. 

Let Your Spey Cast Rip

Now get out on the river with your skagit line and ease yourself back into the game by keeping the cast shorter and controlled so you can focus on the fundamentals of the cast.  Once you are dialed back in then begin to the lengthen the cast to the necessary length and fire your way into a beautiful Winter Steelhead.