We are very fortunate to have a broad selection of sinking fly lines by many manufacturers. These lines are all excellent, well-made lines that will enable us to master any situations we encounter. There are almost one hundred names used by close to a dozen manufacturers describing these lines.
Since I own a fly shop, an important part is helping my customers select the proper fly lines for the fishing they plan to do. In order to help myself have a workable knowledge of these lines, I use a basic system.
- I think of the sinking portion of these lines as a sinking tip (the first 10 feet sinks),
- a sinking belly (the first 20 feet of the line sinks)
- and sinking head (the first 30 feet of the line sinks).
To help me understand the sinking rates of these lines I rely on inches per second (ips). The manufacturers will state the ips on each sinking line.
This basic system has helped me great in selecting fly lines for my personal use and for my customers.