Floatant, Sink, Weight, Indicate

Leader Sink Treatments for Fly Fishing

Getting your leader material to sink is very important for a number of reasons when fly fishing. In this blog post we take a closer look at popular fly fishing leader sink treatments and why you need them.

Why use sinkant?

Firstly, if your tippet floats on the surface film it is far more visible to the fish – especially if the lake surface is calm or if you are fishing small dry flies to selective fish on the river. A floating leader can also hinder the descent rate of your flies – not good if you want to fish a team of super glue buzzers deep, or unweighted wet flies for example.

Leader material, whether Co-polymer or Fluorocarbon often has a glossy, shiny finish that can potentially spook trout – more so in bright conditions. Many leader treatments have the added benefit of taking the shine off the leader, therefore making your tippet less obvious to the fish.

Do I need to de-grease fluorocarbon?

Fluorocarbon sinks faster than nylon or co-polymer due to its higher density, so once it is actually under the surface it will sink quickly. However it can be hard to get fluorocarbon to break through the surface tension – this is due to it's inherent stiffness, shininess and oily, slick finish fresh off the factory spooling machines. Fine diameter fluorocarbon is particularly prone to staying put in the surface meniscus unless it is de-greased thoroughly.

Furthermore fluorocarbon is almost inert and does not absorb any water or dirt whilst fishing to help it sink. (Unlike mono or co-poly). Therefore de-greasing fluorocarbon regularly is required if you want to consistently cut through the surface film in technical situations at the surface.

What Is Fly Fishing Sink Putty?

Sink putty is usually a tungsten putty that is extremely malleable, easy to use, and efficient when getting a fly deep in the water column. This putty is found in a can that will for sure last you forever! It has a rather dark and grey color that will keep it disguised as maybe a rock or even a piece of dirt, which will keep your prized catch focused on your flight at the end of the line. This fishing putty is also non-toxic, which is a big problem with a lot of the lead weights on the market today.

Why Use Sink Putty?

Further casting and deeper diving are both attributes of using sink putty versus an unweighted line. Being part metal, this putty is very durable and will last you many trips out on the water. Not only is this putty amazing for weighting a fly, but it's also great for balancing out hooked bait and making sure that you have the best chance of catching the eye of a hungry fish. The ease of use when it comes to putty is unbeatable by even your average split shot. No longer will you have to bite a split shot onto a line when you can mold some sink putty on your fly line, and hit the water.

Why Is Putty Better Than Other Options?

Once again, using fly fishing sink putty is so easy to use in comparison to split shots, so durable and long-lasting, and very unsuspecting due to its dark and mundane look. Don't let this look fool you, this putty should be a staple in your arsenal and will never let you down with the high quality we provide you with. In some cases, even using a weighted line and flies are inferior to fly fishing sink putty simply due to its versatility and ease to remove and add weight in a breeze.

How To Use Fly Fishing Sink Putty

Using sinking putty is so simple when compared to other forms of adding weight that it hardly needs an explanation. Simply remove the putty from the container, mold your desired amount around your line, and cast away! Using this putty is so easy that adjusting to changes in tide, water depth, and current can be negated by simply adding more putty on your line.