Help on sinking lines.

[anotherbarrelMrHooper]

May I start by saying I dont know much about sinking ratios and so on.
The problem I have is I bought a fly fishing beginners combo.
I use it for mackerel from the rocks where I fish.
The sinking line I have for my wieght 7-8 rod doesnt sink fast enough,and when I retrieve it quickly to induce a take, the fly comes up to quick for the speed I want to work the fly at.
The fish turn away from the fly if it travels to slow.
Plus I fish 2 or 3 flies which are heavier than trout flies.
Any sensible advice would be greatly appreciated.
A few fly patterns would be good.(most of mine have been battered by bad casting)

[bigads]

You could try using a ultra fast sink tip to drag the flies down quickly....this would also help keep them down.

For mackeral anything shiny will do.

[ickypimp]

I agree with bigads, sinking lines are a pita to use and to lift off the water sink tips are much better,you could also try weighting the fly and using a longer leader

[deka]

hi when tying your flies use a gold bead and a cone head , this will get the fly down deep , also if you are using a sinking line then try a di 8 or similar . i agree that you can't just lift them off the water to re cast but you should be able to get to the depth that you want.

[ickypimp]

why do you want to fish a sinking line anyway.... they are a pain in the ass to lift again.. you have to strip the fly right back in and roll cast in the first instance...

best line for swffing is a ghost or sink tip, a floating line with a 15 foot intermediate tip... they kick a little when you cast them but you get used to that...

[Doppelganger]

I use a fast sinking line (3) and a wieghted size 8 zonker for mackies/sewin etc. depending on the backcasting distance available you should use as long a leader as you can get away with, but no less than the length of the rod. use a sturdy leader too, around 18lb. this will help it sink a little faster and might save the fly if it snags on the rocks behind you.

[ickypimp]

tie clousers as deep clousers, sparse dressing and lead dumbell eyes.. sink like stones

[borntofishforcedtowork]

cud just by a di 7 or hi dis. im too lazy to tie aload of dif flies with dif heads and weights to them. wack pretty much any fly on one of those lines and it will sink like a rock. lol. Also if u use a sink tip on ur line it can sometimes be harder to cast with. With a fast sinking line it is sumwhat balanced and easier to cast. Again using goldheads to cast with can b difficult at times too. aslong as u have a relatively sturdy rod, u can cast with ne sized fly with summit like a di 7 or hi dis.

[AndyS]

You can always use the flies you have and just clip a small lead shot in front of them!