Shooting Head line

[dickandjill]

Hi
I am new to fly fishing and have been using WF floating line.I have just bought a Shooting head sinking line to flyfish for Pollack here in Cornwall and would like to know how to correctly fit it to my reel.With my WF line I just used cheap 30lb fly line backing.With the Shooting head line do I just use the same sort of backing but just more of it(as the SH flyline is only 41ft long) so as to fill the spool or should another sort of line go between the backing and SH flyline? Or could I use normal 40lb mono and do I still need a backing line?Also what knots should I use or can braided loops be used for all joins?
Thanks
Richard

[rammses]

good luck and tight lines

[bigads]

Get yourself some more backing, then remove your other fly line along with the backing. Store it in big loops flat on the floor if possible but hanging is ok. If you hang it just remember to move it every so often, save any kinks forming.

A shooting head line might be a little more difficult to cast, the head will go much deeper in the water. Just pull it a little closer to you and and give it a few false casts, to get a bit of line back out again.

Good luck

[Welsh man of the valleys]

Dickandjill have a look on these sites, with a shooting head setup you need a couple of hundred yards of running line, Amnesia in about 20lb-30lb is a good choice for running line thin and supple don't tangle to easy

http://www.ukswff.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/index.php

TTFN Kev

[dickandjill]

Hi
Thanks for your replies.Very helpfull
Richard

[Rocket69]

with a shooting head setup you need a couple of hundred yards of running line,

Dunno how big your fly reels are mate but i've never seen 1 that can take that amount of line!

As already said tho you wont go far wrong with amnesia to use with your shootinghead.

[Ajohn]

Not used a shooting head in the sea but have made a lot of use of them in still water.

When choosing a shooting head it's better to get one heavier than your rod or casting will take. On an 8/9 rod you may well find that a 9 is too heavy. Run it through you rod and gradually cast more and more till you reach a length that's comfortable and then cut the line to length leaving a few feet in the rod.

Personally I would use purpose made shooting head backing. It's bit like a light fly line much easier to handle and braid joints are fine. Plastic coated dacron sea line would be find if there is any about still. I really don't think you will need anything like 200yds of backing.
There are a number of shooting head backing here. You might like to try a 20lb trout intermediate.
http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Fly_Backing_Running_Line_92.html

John

[dickandjill]

Hi
I'm still undecided between: braided backing,Amnesia or Airflo Polyshoot.
Which will be easiest to use .Braided backing or Amnesia are cheaper than Polyshoot but are they much more likely to tangle?
Will 30lb Amnesia tangle less than 20lb?
Thanks
Richard

[Flyguy]

Hi
I'm still undecided between: braided backing,Amnesia or Airflo Polyshoot.
Which will be easiest to use .Braided backing or Amnesia are cheaper than Polyshoot but are they much more likely to tangle?
Will 30lb Amnesia tangle less than 20lb?
Thanks
Richard

Polyshoot would be the easiest to use as it is basically standard floating running. Braid is ok but is very rough on your fingers (think burns) and Amnesia coils so needs constant stretching. Yes the thicker the line the less it tends to coil.

I would start on Polyshoot until you get the hang of throwing SH's.

Flyguy

[philtherod]

With a sinking line you MUST roll-cast your line onto the surface of the water before initiating a cast, otherwise there is a distinct possiblilty of turning your rod into a multisection model. A quick roll cast or two will ensure this doesn't happen. I use 20lb. amnesia in red or green for backing, cut off the first 15-20 feet at the end of the season and rejoin at the beginning of the next.
Hope this helps

philtherod

[Shropfisher]

Dunno how big your fly reels are mate but i've never seen 1 that can take that amount of line!

As already said tho you wont go far wrong with amnesia to use with your shootinghead.

Best Fly Reels for shooting heads are the wide arbour type, easiest way to fill up is to use two spools, put your fly line on the spool first, then your backing, then re spool onto your other spool casette, this way you fill the spool first time, and they will take up to 200yds of backing, a shooting head might only be 15 yards, the rest is running line.

[lumpy]

hey first time posting, long time flyfisher. my best advise for a running line for shooting heads is to get a very cheap 4 wt floating or slow intermediate line. run your fonger along the head of the flyline until you meet the point where the flyline becomes noticebly thinner, this is the running line. cut here and attach it to the tail of your shooting head with a braided loop. this set up causes alot less tangles than with a normal mono or braid running line, especially if your inexperienced, you mit loose distance due to the length of the line but i wouldnt worry as it is quite rare for you to need a 40yard cast or that conditions allow you to.