Fish For Life 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2015 So after using my 5wt to cast big steamers a few days, which was not very pleasant, i have decided to make a designated streamer rod. The rod i am going to be using is an old 8' 7wt glass rod. It is going to me strictly for streamer fishing large rivers (primarily the bow river). Since i am only wanting to get one line for this rod what would be best; floating, sink tip, or full sinking. Mt first though is that a full sinking line would be best allowing me to get steamers down fast. But then again i dont really know, there might be some disadvantages that i dont know of. So what do you guys think would be the best line for a streamer designated rod? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BattenkillBum 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2015 I use an intermediate line most of the time. During high water I have a sink tip line that gets some use. Both are orvis lines, the sink tip is a streamer stripper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heavynets 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2015 Because heavy streamers cast best with a really short leader, I think a fly line with a clear tip works best. I use an SA Wet Tip Clear. It has a clear 14' intermediate sinking tip. It's a lot easier to handle than a full sinking line. An SA Streamer Express would also work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eastern fly 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 My first dedicated streamer rod was a 7wt., running a floating line. With that I have a Rio Versa Tip. That way I can change the tip for what ever I need on the water. In another spool I ran a DC 24' type 6. There is also a type 6 in the Versa Tip but I cut that one back a little. My next rod will be a 10wt. Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smokymountaineer 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 You should consider how the rod will be used: Floating on high generation versus wading on low water. If floating on high generation, I would recommend a full sinking line typically but that may be too much line for a fiberglass rod. I don't have any experience with anything other than floating lines on glass. If wading (and given my previous thought even if floating), an intermediate line may be better suited. I really like the RIO outbound short more than other intermediates I've fished but do think it tends to run 1/2 to a full weight above the rod weight it's rated for so you may consider underlining for the fiberglass rod. All this being said, if you get really serious about streamer fishing you may want to think about a faster action rod than glass can provide. I know they are making some pretty fast higher weight glass blanks now but I imagine it take a fair amount of coin to get into one of them. You can likely pick up a fast action graphite rod much cheaper. There are some excellent values out there from Echo, Redington, and TFO if you're not wanting to spend a ton of money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSzymczyk 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 I would fish what is available to you and learn to use it effectively. I for one, would find it distasteful to have a rod dedicated to only one type of fishing. as the old saying goes, "don't fear the man who owns ten guns and hits once in ten, fear the man who owns one gun and hits ten in ten." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ihang10 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 Get a couple of inexpensive reels spooled up with different lines. Problem solved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 ^^we have a yatzee^^ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVUontheFLY 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 Or to have multiple lines you could get the new waterwork lamson liquid kit. It comes with a reel and two extra spools. I have one reel that works for 2 different rods and 3 different situations. The kit is only $150-160 and comes with a nice carrying case. http://waterworks-lamson.com/products/lamson-liquid-3-pack/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whatfly 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 WF with Polyleaders of different sink rates would meet your needs. Personally, I think the bigger problem is the fiberglass rod. Would not be my first choice for streamer fishing with sink tips of any kind. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Christopher K 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 I would agree, having a few spools would be your best choice, usually I fish floating lines but I don't fish any water nearly as big as the Bow. One thing I would ask is are you wading or casting from a boat? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fish For Life 0 Report post Posted February 19, 2015 Hey guys, thanks for the replies so far they have been very helpful. To try and answer some question. -Almost all of my fishing will be while wadding, so most likely the old downward cast and let it swing. -I know that its defiantly not the best rod, i just want to cast it to see what its like, and if i do like it i will then go buy several lines for it. Its a 60 year old glass rod and im not sure how im going to like it thats why i only want to buy one line for it at the moment. -Like i said, im going o be using it mostly on the bow which has fairly deep fast water. So i want a line that can get the fly to the bottom as fast as it can and stay down there as long as it can. -I would prefer some sort of a sink tip or full sink over a floating, so that i don't need heavy flys or split shot to get it to the bottom. -I was trying it out with my 10 wt line just to see what it was like, and in the end it actually cast it fairly well. So im not worried about it being a glass rod or getting overpowered. -I know that its defiantly not a go to rod for streamers but its all i have at the moment; other than a 5wt which is a bit small, and a 10wt which is to big. If i get into streamer fishing and don't like the performance of the rod i will defiantly be getting a better graphite rod. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Christopher K 0 Report post Posted February 19, 2015 A 7wt glass isn't really all that bad power wise, you just may be lacking in distance and I'm not sure how it will handle those tips. If looking at other rods I'd take a good look at a 6 or 7wt switch for your needs, it will easily handle tips and big flies if you're wading. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites