Still water gurus wanted!

[Nich]

I'm looking at getting a intermediate line. Heard some about the clear camo... I was wondering what lines some of you guys like and for what reasons?

Thanks in advance for the info,
Nick

[TS30]

Pardon me for intruding, as I am not a "guru"....but I have toss a feather or two on various western stillwaters.

For my purposes, I think the clear camo intermediate line is the best stillwater line out there. I know each type of sink line has it's purpose and place in the water, but for my money, I think less is more. I can't afford to buy 4 different spools with 4 different lines for each situation. This is why the intermediate is best for my purposes. If I want to fish deeper, I just let it sink to the depth that I want it before I start my retrieve. You can fish any depth in a lake with an intermediate line by doing this.

You can't say the same thing for a type IV sink line. No matter how hard you try, that line will not keep your fly in the upper reaches of the feeding column for more than about 1 second. I can't fish in 3-4 feet of water (which is where I'll be catching the majority of my fish for the next month in that depth) with a faster sinking line. But I can fish 15 feet deep with an intermediate if I so choose by just letting it sink. It can be very versatile if you want it to be. I like the clear camo because that is what Denny Rickards told me to like and I don't have a brain enough to think for myself! :) Can't say definitively that it is any better than other intermediates out there....I know it has worked for me, and if I can catch fish using it, that is saying something!

I'm no pro, but that is my opinion. Maybe one day after I win the powerball lotto.....I'll have a bunch of lines as well. But for now, this suits me just fine.

[chanceb]

I've used Rio, Airflo intermediates, and the camo intermediate. They all perform well, but overall I would probably go with the camo as it seems to have less memory compared to other brands. Just my observation .02!

[cheech]

Another opinion from the peanut gallery.

I think you need to have 3 primary lines for stillwater.

Floating- Obvious reasons... Fishing chironomids under a bobber, throwing mice, callibaetis dries etc.

Intermediate- "the cruisers are the bruisers." effective for fishing in the shallows. This allows you to give a very slow presentation when needed in the shallow stuff.

Type IV or V- Ever tried to fish effectively at 20' with an intermediate line? This will allow you to fish deeply and effectively... (kind of like romance, but enough with peanut butter for now). Intermediate does sink, but unless the wind is not blowing at all, or you are anchored down, you are likely to move before the line reaches it's prime depth. This causes an unnatural retrieve and may cause you not to hit the depth you really wanted to fish. I use a type 4 for most of my stillie fishing.


Guys, money is no object with St. Nich here. Get 2 sinking lines, and extra spools etc.

Don't even think about a sink tip.


You should have just looked at The Manual (pp.344-678 all sections.) Yes the section on line selection is quite lengthy.

[Nich]

Thanks for the info guys.

Cheech when you stop buying Peter Pan buy the truck load I'll stop bringing it up! Plus man I don't have money to burn... And get off my sink tip I love that line.

[stripper]

I think if I could only have one line for stillwater it would be the clear camo. I would like to hear some feedback on how many fish people hook in water deeper than 15 feet. You can't count guys that strip out all 90 feet of line and troll either.

[chanceb]

I don't know how many I've caught 15+ but I do know it's a pain in the ass to wait for intermediate to sink to that level. It's worth picking up a spool of type 3 - 5 just for patience alone.

[stout_trout]

For me...an intermediate line would be the line if I only had one.

However, in my experience I haven't found that the "clearness" has been a primary factor. I have a clear line (I don't know the brand)...anyway, it fishes like a rubber band and I don't like it at all.

For the sake of argument...once you have a floating line and an intermediate line...why screw around with anything else in the middle? Get something in your arsenal that gets you down! I have a type 7 and I love having the ability to get down quick, easily fish vertically, or fish where others cannot.

[cardiac]

Mr. Pierce mentions the 3 lines a stillwater fisher should have. I agree with floating, clear camo (intermediate) but I like the Rio type VII for the 3rd one. Joni likes 300gr. Depth Charge, and Dennis Brakke likes the type VII also. I've caught a hell of a lot of fish on that VII line. Slayer was using Joni's last year at the Berry and he did ok too.
For a intermediate the Cortland is the best I've found. I've also used SA's clear, TT clear and Orvis clear.

[jonescort]

If I could buy it I would look at the Stillwater line by SA. I have an airflo line that I really like. Its the fast glass. I have seen t hat SA stillwater in action and it has a great sink rate.

[cardiac]

If I could buy it I would look at the Stillwater line by SA. I have an airflo line that I really like. Its the fast glass. I have seen t hat SA stillwater in action and it has a great sink rate.

What in THE HELL are you talkin' 'bout boy?

[Red.Fly]

For the monetarily challenged, you can always attach a sinking tip to your clear or floating line. There are a few companies that sell sinking heads in different sink rates. They don't always cast the prettiest, but when getting your fly in front of fish for minimal dough is the issue, this is an inexpensive solution. Cortland tips are like $10 and can be easily removed or added on the water with loop connectors. I've landed good fish with the loop style connectors (lake trout, tiger musky), so I have confidence they're tough enough for most situations. I've got a full gammet of lines, but find it easier to add or remove a sink tip when fishing than change out a spool and rethread my guides in the pontoon. The solution of course is to carry 3 rods.....

[Foamy8]

If you're looking for cheap line, go with a Cortland 333 or 444. (the best lines made by Cortland) Stillwater fishing isn't that pretty. You don't have to worry much about delivery. If you can get something to sink, and keep a mostly tight line, you have a chance to catch fish.

I have a couple of sinking lines. One is a type IV that I really like. I have a sink tip but don't use it that much for stillwater. I'm going to get an intermediate line, but I haven't yet. I'm getting two lines here shortly because my current sink line is old and needs replaced.

There was a comment about catching fish below 10 feet of water. I regularly catch fish deeper than that. When the summer gets hot the fish go down and you can still catch a lot of fish, you just have to be able to get to them.