Sink Tip Line

[Looper Flies]

Okay, i need a few $0.02 from you guys:

I've got some Cortland sink-tip line that I need to upgrade.

I'm looking at the Orvis Gen 3 Depth Charge, 350 grain.

Thoughts?

[MikeA]

The Orvis lines are tough, last forever and get the job done. The best that I've used so far IMO is the Streamer Express. Just hard to beat that line for easy casting.

[DriftWooD1]

Rio Striper.... Hard to beat  I've had my Rio wet for the past 2.0 seasons Still slick  No Gum

I like the Streamer Express alot too and if I was buying new now I would look really hard at the Sharkskin  should be a great line

[owengrad]

2nd on the Streamer Express. I am not an accomplished caster, yet I successfully get the fly close to the target with the Streamer Express. I have both the 250 (on a 7 wt) and the 350 (on a 9 wt). There is minimal hinging of the line at the sink tip / belly interface.

[Looper Flies]

Anyone have experience with the SA Sharkskin sinktip?

[Steve H]

Haven't tried the Streamer Express yet but I have heard nothing but great things about it.

I really like my Orvis Depth Charge and have it in 250gr and 350gr. Sam, you are welcome to try either.

[MikeA]

The coating on my Rio Striper just didn't hold up nearly as well as the SA for some reason. After a season the Rio lines got pretty sticky and I have yet to get back the slick finish it had when new. I've tried soap and water and just applied Glide (which I hate to use) so I'll give it another chance. That said the Streamer Express lines seem to stay slick ALOT longer and a little soap and water and they are back like new. I'll most likely switch back to SA for my integrated lines. Jarrod used the Rio Striper this year too and he has had the same complaint. Not bitchin just something I've noticed and I'd love to see Rio fix it because when the line is slick it is the shizz.


Sharkskin and shooting heads,,, bring something to bandage your fingers with and plan to replace the tip top of your rod every few months. I can't imagine dealing with a hooked Striped fish with a bunch of Shark Skin on the floor when you hooked the fish. Reg line burns my fingers pretty bad on those runs as it is.

[Travis C.]

Sharkskin and shooting heads,,, bring something to bandage your fingers with and plan to replace the tip top of your rod every few months. I can't imagine dealing with a hooked Striped fish with a bunch of Shark Skin on the floor when you hooked the fish. Reg line burns my fingers pretty bad on those runs as it is.

I have heard the same thing Mike. The sharksksin from what I hear the line has been a great idea/concept but hard on your rod guides and tips not to mention fingers. 

Has anyone used the Teeny Lines, chuck-n-duck or T-series?

[Glenn Hawkins]

I fish the Teeny T series often.  I have 3 diffrent weights and find them to work well.  I also fish an Orvis Depth Charge which has been used many seasons and still going strong.  I would purchase either of these products again.

[adamtn]

I've got two rods, a five and a four, that i've used the shark on for nearly two years. I haven't noticed any grooves in the guides. I fish or guide about 250 days a year. I've caught thousands of fish on these lines and they are still in very good shape, with little cracking or delamination.

I've never had the line burn my finger either. However i have callouses on my hand from stripping line  rowing, and shoveling snow, so that helps.

I will never use another rio line. I bought two rio gold lines and they were both total garbage within 45 days. Cracks developed all over the line, little chucks fell off the core and they flat out wouldn't shoot anymore.

I've heard all the bad things people say online about sharksin but that just has not been my personal experience. I will only use sharkskin lines for my personal rods from now on. They are far more durable, float higher, mend easier, shoot farther, and have ZERO memory. Just my opinion.

[MikeA]

Adam I think the Shooting head style of fishing just isn't conducive to the Sharkskin line. I'm sure it works great for a 4 or 5wt floater.

[RSiegmann]

I'd have to agree with Mike, I don't think the sharkskin is great as a shooting line ... I love it on my 4wt and wouldn't dream of using a different line on that rod ... though I do pull out the medical tape when I am going to be stripping streamers with it ... I have the 9wt Sharkskin salt water taper floating line and I think this is a great line as well ... but it's not a line I want to be stripping all day long with at high speeds ... I'll leave that to my Streamer Express lines ...

[jarrod white]

I , like everybody else am always looking for the top gear. I have tried all the lines mentioned, and like mike mentioned, the Rio lines are hard to keep clean and slick for the number of days we spend on the water. I loved it when it was new, but it soon became very sticky.   I would say the toughest line I have found is the Orvis depth charge, but there is no slick coating, and they don't color the running lines different colors to determine line weight. I guess that would not be a problem with one or two lines, but if you have 10 or 15, it is a problem.  I am well pleased with the SA lines, and I especially like the 250 and 350, and the wet tip 375.
I am just starting to use the Teeny lines, and so far, I like them. I do see a few issue, but I will fish them a while and post on them later..  Cheaper in price too.

                                   JW