The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I'm all packed for my annual steelheading trip, and I'm planning to swing more than I have in the past.

I've got floating lines, 10 foot poly tips in various sink rates and LC-13 in different lengths that I can loop to loop to my floating line. I'm totally covered in the nymphing arena, so no problems there.

My question is, should I bring longer 25' - 30' shooting heads and running line? I hope I don't need to as I'm already taking up a heck of a lot of tackle.

I'm planning to fish the Russian, Eel, Mad, Trinity and maybe the Klamath and American. If the fishing is lousy, I could end up in Oregon.

I'm gonna read my emails up until 3 a.m. Monday morning when I head for points north.

I know there isn't much time to answer, but the question didn't hit me 'til now.

Thanks,
AB

guess it really depends on how you want to fish - if i were doing a swing trip on those rivers, i'd fish a skagit or afs system with tips - the tips are 15' - which is more than enough - i see no reason why you'd need longer tips and running line. this of course assumes you're fishing a two handed rod and spey casting, where you definitely would NOT want the longer heads. i would start with the floater and intermediate and expect to have to go down deeper at some point.

if you're swinging with a one handed rod and overhead casting, then the longer tips may come in handy for casting purposes, but of course will make mending a little more difficult and i've never found them to be that helpful for swing fishing - they're great for salt and big water when you need to get seriously deep fast.

i'd leave the longer tips and running line at home - if you can cast the LC-13 tip across and down where you want it to go - you'll be fine...

as you know, there are a lot of ways to get a fly out there for the swing, and all flies look the same on the dangle

have fun