Sink Tips for Winter Steelhead – What is the #1 Best One?

How do you know what is the best sink tip to use for winter steelhead?  Conditions change rapidly during winter, is it best to have a selection or can I adjust it with weighted and unweighted flies?   How do I know if my fly is anywhere near the bottom during winter? There are a lot of variables during the cold water times of year and having the right sink tip can be the difference between success or failure.

When it comes to winter steelhead fishing it’s imperative to get your fly down to where the fish will strike.  Because the water is cold during the winter months steelhead don’t typically move very far to eat your fly.  Getting the fly down to the fish is critical.

Sink Tips for Winter Steelhead- Which ones should I Buy?

We recommend and use the RIO MOW tips.  I like to have a selection to accommodate changing water levels.  I always have the T8, T11 and T14 all in the 10′ lengths.  There are 12′ lengths available also.  These work very well in some situations.  I like the 10′ lengths because the are easier for clients with a wide variety of casting skills to cast than longer sink tips.  In addition, I like to use weighted flies much of the winter.  12′ sink tips can be a bit tougher to cast for beginners and work great with unweighted flies.

T-series sink tips are not tapered.  T-8 stands for tungsten based and 8 is for 8 grains (of weight) per foot.  T-11 is 11 grains per foot, etc…

If I only had one sink tip for winter it would be the 10′ T-11.  This is going to be the most common sink tip to use for most winter conditions and average steelhead speed water.

Sink Tips for Winter Steelhead – How to know what sink tip to use/when?

I like to use the SINK TIP TEST to help me determine which tip to use on any given day.  To do this wade into steelhead speed water (walking speed water) and get out just enough line so that the back end of the sink tip is at the rod tip.  Point your rod tip upstream above you and watch your fly.  You should be able to see your fly and how it reacts to the current.

If your sink tip is too light the fly will be near the surface.

If your sink tip is too heavy the fly will drop and rest on the bottom.

If your sink tip is close to the right weight the fly will sink slowly and hover about half way down.

The sink tip test can be very helpful to get you “in the ballpark” of the right depth.  What is the right depth?  We aim to be at least half the depth of the water.  Getting your fly into the lower 1/3 of the depth is preferred but remember you want your fly to swing over the top of fish not below.  For this reason, you’ll want to be sure you are swinging over the tops of the bigger boulders in the pool.  You can see a video tutorial of the Sink Tip Test in our Ebook for Winter Spey Strategies.

The other thing that can help you determine if your fly is close to where it needs to be is if you are getting snagged on the bottom.  For example if you swing your fly a bit too slowly does it grab the bottom mid-way through the swing.  Does the fly get hung up a the end of the swing, especially if you let it hang a bit too long?  Or, are you never touching the bottom at any time?  These are clues to give you feedback about your fly depth.

Sink Tips for Winter Steelhead – Other Factors

Another factor that is important here is you can easily adjust/fine tune your fly depth by changing flies.  Adding a weighted fly instead of an unweighted fly is an easy adjustment and vice versa.  This is a quicker and easier adjustment than switching out your sink tip.  However, don’t be shy about making the sink tip change if needed.  In low flow situations using a sink tip that is too heavy can have you hanging up on the bottom regularly, losing flies and potentially spooking fish in the pool.  If you are never touching the bottom in a run switching to a heavier tip may save you from a day with no results.

In addition to dialing in the right sink tips for winter steelhead you’ll want to be sure to use the right leader length.  I like a leader length of around 3-3.5′.  Typically I’ll use 12lb flouro carbon or green maxima.  If your leader is too long it is a disadvantage during winter as the mass of the fly resists sinking.  Keeping a shorter leader will not bother the fish and will help keep your fly deep with the sink tip.

Using the right sink tips for winter steelhead is one of the first steps to helping you improve your winter steelhead game.  Getting your fly to the right depth in winter is imperative.  Try using the sink tip test to help you dial in the right one and fine tune it with adjusting your fly.  Remember to use a short leader and pay attention to when you tap rocks (or don’t ever touch bottom) during the swing or hang down.

If you’d like to get coaching on your winter steelhead strategies Water Time Outfitters offers a variety of classes that can help.  Check out our classes and workshops here.  In addition to classes we have a great e-book that gives you video instruction and descriptions of how to get your fly deeper for winter.  Unlock the proven strategies we use with our clients for more success.  See it here: 5 Steps to Winter Spey Success.

Here are some more articles you might find helpful for WINTER STEELHEAD success:

Choosing the Right Fly for Winter Steelhead

High Water Strategies for Winter

Who is Water Time Outfitters?  Water Time Outfitters is a team of guides who offer guided fly fishing and classes on Oregon’s finest waters.  When anglers plan a fishing trip they need to know they’re spending time and money on a great experience.  We aim to surpass their expectations with expert, fun-loving guides and exceptional hospitality, so our guests can focus on their love of fly fishing, maximize their success and take home memories that last a lifetime. See more at: www.Watertimeoutfitters.com