About Sinking Lines
Back in the late 1970's I asked to have a shooting head made with a built in running line. That way we wouldn't have to cut and splice our lines together. The answer I received was that they couldn't do it and they did not think it would work. I waited several years before I approached them again, and that was the start of our T-Series lines. It took years of cutting and splicing to get these lines to be the perfect sinking lines for fly fishing when you need your line and fly to sink. Now I am being copied the world over on this type of line, but my competition still does not have it right. By this I mean they think you need tapers and different density weights in the sinking portion of the line.
What all of this does is create a line that is not perfectly balanced and does not cast near as well as our T-Series type lines. In addition, these lines do not sink as even as our lines, which creates a tip lag, and makes a poorer presentation of your fly to the fish. I have put a lot of thought into our sinking lines and most important to me was that they would cast and handle very well for the user. And, of course, that they would sink very quickly. Our lines do exactly that. We do not sell hype, what we offer are the best sinking fly lines in the world, for fresh and saltwater fishing. Our lines have a lot of thought behind them.
Loop to Loop Heads
There seems to be a swing towards loop to loop heads, especially on the West Coast. Before you make the change you should consider a few important points. Clearly, the only advantage of a loop to loop line is the fact that you save on spare spools and carry a little less while fishing.
Here's what you give up! Perfectly balanced lines that cast much easier and you never need to worry about the loops going back and forth through your guides and wearing out. It is impossible to expect that each line section by weight or length will all cast the same. It's much easier to have one or two
one-piece fly lines that will always perform properly for you without hinging. In addition, the one piece lines are color coded so you can visually see where the balance is so that all of your casts are completed with less effort.
Looping is in a sense a step backwards as far as Technology is concerned. For my type of fishing I prefer knowing that I have no weak spot or hinging in my line and the fact of knowing exactly what I should expect from the line I am fishing with.
Clear Lines
The "Clear Line Rage", Let's discuss it! They certainly can help out if your cast is not perfect towards your fish. More forgiving because of the clear tip factor. But do not think you can just pound the line close and hit hard, without getting some negative results. The fly line will still make a noise no matter what color it is. Another big advantage is that your leader length does not need to be so long. This is a plus for control when trying to present your fly.
I prefer bright lines and a good cast! Many guides have expressed how difficult it is to follow a light colored or clear type line. Normally guides are telling you "more right, more left, OK Let it go, to short etc.". If you are already a good caster it may not be a huge advantage for you. It's not a disadvantage if you are a good caster and accurate in your presentations.
We've been getting a lot of fish before the clear lines ever came out. Maybe now we can get a few more smart ones!
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Jim Teeny Inc. • P. O. Box 989 • Gresham, OR 97030 • 503.667.6602 • FAX: 503.667.2917
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