[borano20]

Hello.. Coincidence here. I´ve just done what you´re up to. I´ve tried the SA Short Head MT 8weight line, as well as the Windcutter MT 7/8/9. Didn´t perform very well to me. Wanted something more rearheavy. My absolute (ABSOLUTE) favourite line for my go-to-rod, GIIIe 8136, is the SA Short Head 8weight, 54foot head, 600grain full floater. I recently bought the predecessor, a SA Short Head 8/9weight from a member here. Head was 55foot, at 700grains. Opted for about 46feet, 580grains. Cut about 5 feet from running line, cut, weigh, cut..
Ended at 47feet, 580grain, pretty much spot on. Cut the tip for 15foot lengths, but also to use with 10footers. Went out today, tried the "original" 15 floating tip, to no surprise this was good, 100 foot casts were achieved with a 15foot nylon leader. This line doesn´t have the zzziip of my favourite line, but I believe the running line is a bit heavier on this older 8/9 version.
Replaced the tip with a 10foot, 80grain, type 6 sinker and 4 feet of nylon. Did cast the same length of running line, but the total distance was down to 85feet, accordingly. The type 6 tip is also slightly wobbly, as you might expect. Had to aim a bit higher, but still a bit splashy. Dark came, so I will resume tests tomorrow, using type 2 and 4 tips.
Conclusion?? It can be done, if you find the proper line to start with. MAYBE, domantas, you will see better casts with slighly lighter tips, in type 6 and faster sinkers. I will order such tips, but will have to wait a week for them. I will also start with a AFS Outbound style of line, 38foot head, to try to make that LONGER instead, meaning I will cut for 10foot tips, but try 15footers as well. To make the full choice between 47, 42, 43 and 38foot heads. Winter is coming here, so I hope I´m done before it´s too late..
If I can try the slower tips tomorrow, I´ll post my results here.. Yours borano20

 

[borano20]

Hello.. RIO 8weight tips are 109grains at 15´. I cut my 55foot head at 14´from the point, giving a 14´tip (obviously) , at 100 grains. Not considering taper, weight per foot is what you point at for shorter heads, SSpey. Yours borano20

 

[borano20]

Hello.. OK, some reflections after trying some (around) 15foot tips. They were an inty (Airflo??) and a SA type 2, both very close to the "original" floater. The inty cast great, but not to the same distance as the floater, maybe 6-8 feet shorter. The type 2 wasn´t as fine, felt both heavy and wobbly, lacking still more distance. Not for demo´s, but OK for fishing. Will roam the inventory box for more tips to try, but it will take to next weekend, if it´s mild weather. Should have some 8weight RIO tips rattling around somewhere.. Yours borano20

 

[borano20]

I second getting AL Burhs book you will learn a ton from this.many fly shops carry it.

As long as your sink tip is 20 grains lighter than your main line at its cut (loop) point you will be fine. You will see smooth turn overover get beyond that and your going to experience hinging and other nasty things in the cast. Your level of casting experience also plays into this.

Hello.. So I found my wallet of "Orvis" tips, all four of them stashed inside. Three, not the floater, is marked "8 WT" on a piece of clear tubing, so I reckon we could guess who made them. They are also colour coded. Being 15footers, they should weigh in at 109grains. So I put them on my pair of scales. Look here: Floater 120grains, inty 118grains, type 3 106grains, type 6 118grains. So IF I bought these for my 9weight line, I´d be casting one 8weight, and 3 (almost) 9weights. Doesn´t help your casting, does it??
The trick to drop down one size for your sinking part is something most people know about. But not Cortland. Ever cast one of their singlehanded 444sinktip lines?? `orrible, that´s what.. Yours borano20

 

[borano20]

Hello.. OK, some reflections after trying some (around) 15foot tips. They were an inty (Airflo??) and a SA type 2, both very close to the "original" floater. The inty cast great, but not to the same distance as the floater, maybe 6-8 feet shorter. The type 2 wasn´t as fine, felt both heavy and wobbly, lacking still more distance. Not for demo´s, but OK for fishing. Will roam the inventory box for more tips to try, but it will take to next weekend, if it´s mild weather. Should have some 8weight RIO tips rattling around somewhere.. Yours borano20

Hello.. OK, see what you can learn from mistakes. The type 2 tip I cast yesterday wasn´t the light one I thought. I replaced it with my RIOmade type 3 at 110grains, but before I went on to try that combo, I put the type 2 on my pair of scales. OOPS, it was a 170grain tip! Explains the poorer performance, but also learned that it CAN be used. The 110grain type 3 I cast today was just fine. Couldn´t see the (razor??) loops in the dark, but distance was fine,as "presentation". Next out would be a type 6-8 tip, if I can find one here... Yours borano20