Sinking line
Also called Full sinking line, Full sink
A sinking line is a fly line built to sink below the surface so you can fish deeper without adding as much weight.
- Group
- Fly lines
- Category
- Gear & tackle
- Level
- Beginner
- Water
- Fresh & salt
Last updated
What Sinking line means
Sinking lines are fly lines with a dense coating that drops under the surface instead of floating. They come in different sink rates, from slow-sinking “intermediate” styles to fast-sinking lines meant for getting down quickly.
They show up most around streamers and wet flies, in lakes, deep pools, and saltwater. You still attach a leader and tippet, but leaders are often shorter than with a floating line so the fly follows the line down instead of hanging above it.
Unlike a sink tip, which only sinks at the front, a full sinking line pulls the whole line down. That changes how you cast, how you manage slack, and how you retrieve, because the line wants to stay subsurface.
Why it matters on the water
Depth is time. A sinking line puts the fly in the zone sooner and keeps it there through the retrieve, especially in wind, chop, or current that pushes floating line around.
It also changes the angle of your presentation. With a sinking line, the fly tends to travel on a flatter, more controlled path, which helps with consistent swing depth and steady streamer retrieves.
Read next
- Floating lineA floating line is a fly line designed to ride on top of the water. It is the standard choice for dry flies, indicators, and many shallow nymph and streamer setups.
- Fly lineThe fly line is the thick, weighted line that loads the fly rod and carries the cast. It connects the reel and backing to the leader.
- Intermediate lineAn intermediate line is a slow-sinking fly line that fishes just below the surface instead of floating high or dropping fast.
- Sink tipA sink tip is a fly line with a floating rear section and a sinking front section. It helps get flies down while keeping the cast and line control of a floating line.
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