Sinking shooting heads?

[Dave Hartman]

Hi all,
I've been spey casting now for about seven years. Personally, I think that still makes me a newbie compared to where I want to get with it. Just as I think I've figured a bunch out, the technology (lines mostly) evolves, and I feel humbled again. I'm not complaining, in fact, it excites me. For most of these years I was fishing the C'water in the early fall, so it was a simple Windcutter floating line setup with my 15'. All those years, I also owned a 13', but couldn't find a line that I liked with it until I found the Rio AFS and learned the underhand cast. Wow! that opened up a whole new world and I can't find it in me to put that rod down now. I've added some Rio polyleaders and that just made for lots more fun.

But I'd still like to get deeper. I feel that the massive floating head of the AFS's belly prevents the sinktip (poly leader) from getting down, and staying down, to where I'd like it. What I would like to find is a line that is similar to the Scandi-style AFS, but sinks. A full sink shooting head, preferably with a thinner-diameter belly than the AFS.

Anything out there like this?
Thanks, dave.

[Dave Hartman]

Crap, leaped before I looked. . .
It appears that the AFS actually comes in intermediate and full sink heads. Has anyone out there used these yet?

[Red Shed]

I think the sinking versions work pretty good.

[yuhina]

I think the sinking versions work pretty good.

Nice to know that! Thanks Red Shed:thumb:

[fredaevans]

I'm repeating myself here (sorry guys) but you can build a 'cheater' for just a few cents ... if even that much. Take a 2' section of 20-30 pound maxima main line (NOT LEADER!) and attach one end to your full floating line. Loop the other end and 'loop to loop' with the sinking poly leaders.

(You may have to play a bit to see what 'test' will work well with your rod. Typically the lower the rod weight (6 and down) you'll need the 20. At a 9wt rod you'll need the 30#.)

The shot of mono allows the Poly tip to sink away from the floating line and not drag it under. Net result is the poly leader gets down faster, and stays there longer.

[pescador do mosca]

I fish sinking heads quite a bit out here in the GL's. My main set up is a Guideline DDC head and I do occasionally fish floating and Sink 1 AFS heads. The AFS flies pretty nicely, smooth and tight. The DDC will turn over a wet rag, it's just a difference in tapers. The DDC is a multi tip version of a sinking head which you can change the tips that connect to an intermediate body and give you great control over the fly and presentation. The Guideline Direct Connect Powertapers and the DDC are also built on the same minimal stretch power core from Airflo as well and are dual density for a nice straight presentation.

It takes a bit to get used to the sinking heads, but if you slow down you lift to set up the stroke the line will come out of the water nicely for your set up. The sinking lines will swing slower because they are below the top currents and as such you get a slower swing and presentation to the fish with great control.

Jack Cook carries the Guideline stuff and Poppy the Rio as you may know. Just keep in mind that the Guideline stuff is Euro rated so a 9/10 head will be an 8/9 Yankee rating.

Good luck and I hope this helps,
Jeff