“Float vs. Sink Tip: Crack the Code for Stillwater Fly Success”
Manage episode 491003650 series 3651478
Your fly line choice is not just a technical detail—it’s the gateway to catching more fish, faster. In this quick-hit episode, Greg lays out exactly when to grab your floating line or switch to a sink tip, and why making the right call can be the difference between fish in the net or a long, fishless drift.
Whether you're stripping buggers, wind drifting, fishing a chironomid, or hovering nymphs mid-column, knowing which line to use will instantly level up your stillwater game.
🧠 What You’ll Learn🟩 When to Use Floating Line
Best for shallow water precision and keeping flies above bottom clutter
Mandatory for indicator setups—no exceptions
Dominates in calm conditions with slow retrieves or wind drifts
Essential for naked (non-indicator) techniques and controlled suspension
⚫ When to Use Sink Tip
Go-to for hitting deeper zones and drop-offs where fish are holding
Crushes it in wind and surface chop—stays in the strike zone
Perfect for keeping weighted flies (like buggers or leeches) in the column without crashing to the bottom
Offers stability and consistent depth control when you’re stripping or drifting
“It’s not just what fly you use—it’s how and where it travels. Your line makes that happen.”
💬 Final ThoughtsFloating lines and sink tips each shine in different moments. Knowing when to pivot isn’t guesswork—it’s strategy. Nail this decision and you’ll keep your fly where the fish actually are, not where you hope they might be.
🚨 Call to ActionIf this helped clear up the floating vs. sink tip mystery, hit follow and leave a review. Got questions or your own fly line moment of clarity? Message Greg—let’s get the Stillwater community talking.
🎤 Till next time, keep your presentations sharp and your lines tight. See you on the water!
40 episodes