Striper fly fishing

Swimbaitspence · Post by **Swimbaitspence** » Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:06 pm

If you were to bank or wade for stripers on American/Sac/feather would a sinking line be better? Can a floating line with a weighted fly or right leader get you down enough to get bit on the swing and strip? Thinking of an 8wt.. also barbless flys on American? Thanks

JVGondal · Post by **JVGondal** » Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:17 pm

Intermediate Sink tip is not a bad idea. The tip stops sinking when you start to strip line back In

Definitely do not use a full sinking line
Look at rio ghost tip lines Some have a 3 foot intermediate sink tip. I wouldn’t go more than that far as sinking
The river really is not deep.
You definitely do not want a full sink line from the shore or wading. It will get hung up in the rocks.
Sinking lines are best from a boat

Honestly I would go with a floating line.

You can fish a weighted clouser minnow and or add shot to the leader if you want to get down more
But really stripes feed on the surface often enough

Swimbaitspence · Post by **Swimbaitspence** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:16 am

Thanks for the reply. Good feedback. I assume I have to pinch down my barbs on my flies too?

JVGondal · Post by **JVGondal** » Sun Jul 06, 2025 9:14 am

Not 100% sure but I believe so on the barbless

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Mon Jul 07, 2025 2:02 pm

I'm by no means an expert on this as I'm going to try it for the first time with a fly rod at some point later this week. From the reading and looking that I've done, I get the impression that a 9wt with an intermediate tip is kinda the preferred way to go. I'm going to give it a go with an 8wt & WF floating line as it's what I have on hand and I'm not sure I want to go too far down this rabbit hole.