For the depth that short sinking leaders typically provide might as well just use a long leader and flies with tungsten bead, cone or eyes. Other than that - the line, leader and tippet must be straight and at the surface so that you can control and lift the line to start with. Initiating a slow steady lift allows time for the fly to rise. Look for the tippet to show as in indicator. If you manage that - the roll casts isn't necessary.

 

If the Sonar tip and the first few feet of the head were sunk, a roll cast with that line wouldn't provide enough energy to raise it all to the surface AND turn the cast over.

fishOn4evr's advice to use a long leader, (at least 10-12' or so of mono instead of a sink tip is my advice, as you'll need more than just a few feet of tippet off the end of the line to make decent casts), makes a lot of sense.

Work on switch casts, setting a proper anchor, and maybe your double-spey until you get things dialed in, then you can start experimenting with sink tips.

Also, lighter, aerodynamic flies like soft-hackles will be easier to master starting out.

 

If the Sonar tip and the first few feet of the head were sunk, a roll cast with that line wouldn't provide enough energy to raise it all to the surface AND turn the cast over.

fishOn4evr's advice to use a long leader, (at least 10-12' or so of mono instead of a sink tip is my advice, as you'll need more than just a few feet of tippet off the end of the line to make decent casts), makes a lot of sense.

Work on switch casts, setting a proper anchor, and maybe your double-spey until you get things dialed in, then you can start experimenting with sink tips.

Also, lighter, aerodynamic flies like soft-hackles will be easier to master starting out.

To get a little depth follow the above advice on leader length and a tungsten bead but use fluorocarbon. I don’t have the specific line that you do, but have something similar. The following 13’ formulation modfied slightly from Steve Godshall works for me: 74” of 30# Seaguar STS followEd by 26” of 20# and 26” of 15# and 3’ of tippet (4-8# ) depending on the fly.

 

This line will lift short versa leaders. You can try bringing the line back more quickly into the D loop. You may need two or three roll casts to get the tip onto the surface. Key is keeping things moving.
Or why not try a C cast which will unplug a tip way better than a roll cast.
If necessary you can make a higher lift of the rod. Assuming no wind or an upstream wind to help lift the tip.
This line is like a long head spey line in that it is not designed for heavy tips.
If you want a single hand line to do that then have a look at a single hand skagit line.
I hope you don't write off the Rio line it presents mono leaders with finesse and versa sinking leaders. It will cast ok over head too.
Mike

 

FishOn4evr, Culverspey and Mikey O: Thanks for the excellent advice. My next plan was to try the versa leaders and then test out a circle -c spey cast, so glad my novice thinking was going in the correct direction.

I really like Rio products and my limited experience with this line is very favorable; it rolls casts very well and false casts extremely well. I really look forward to trying traditional spey style casts with it. Hope to hit the practice lake on Monday.

Culverspey: this is definitely a rig for trout-sized soft hackles, wet flies and small streamers.

I'll follow up with another post once I have more experience to share.

Randy

 

Randy glad to have been of some assistance.
Wish I could be with you inperson for a day to get you started. It is so frustrating trying to help with the written word. Based on my own experience I know it would not have worked for me.
I.wish the major rod makers would take a lead and help their customers to gain a good.cast. But probably bad for business as so many believe it is.necessaey to find a rod and line that suits them. That approach never ever works.
Mike

 

I have to say, trialing various shooting heads wts and lengths and different sink tips on my 2-handed spey rods has been a lot of fun and very educational.

Now the move to single spey: I'll get the same education by trying different versi-leaders and leader length...but, no doubt a good coach would save time and money (wasted on the wrong heads and leaders).

However, once you get a now rod or line dialed in, its a pretty cool experience.

Thanks, Randy

 

Yes it is Randy. Takes time and effort and more than a few bob.so well done to you.
The knowledge you gain by these hard yards is priceless . It makes dialing in a new rod a great deal easier.
Then as you progress as a caster as well as a Fisherman you may find you prefer lighter lines than those suggested by the maker. Heh you might change your preferred rod length and action.
It never ends. Until you get old and realise a couple of rods and a few lines will serve you pretty well most of the time. Life becomes beautifully simplistic which goes well with our sport.
Mike

 

Airflo trout polyleaders and fluoro tippet work too