Two more choices to consider:

1) A multi-tip line. Yes, the "hinge effect" will bother some, but for
coldweather steelhead and LM bass, probably noty. I just used one, an Orvis
7-weight with an intermediate tip and a fluorocarbon leader, to catcvh a
bunch of bluefish on Long Island.

2) A floating (or even sinking-tip) line with braided leaders of variable
densities. I use these all the time (Airflos, mostly, in floating,
anti-wake, intermediate, slow sinking, fast sinking, extra-fast sinking, and
super extra-fast sinking), and they are easier to cast than high-density
lines and a lot easier to carry around a large assortment of densities.

GaryS
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:07:35 -0600, rw
wrote:

Scott Seidman wrote:
wrote in news:s3pmb39l502b3vq2mam9usttjlr80pcmrs@
4ax.com:


On 9 Aug 2007 17:13:43 GMT, Scott Seidman
wrote:


"Don Phillipson" wrote in
:


"BobS" wrote in message
m...


1. For a 9wt rod, is a floating, sinking or an interchangeable line
better suited for steelhead/salmon fishing in fast water?

If steelhead or salmon are taking in fast water, they
are usually on the bottom, i.e. you need a sinking or sink-tip
line (selected according to how fast it will sink the fly
and how deep the water is.)


IMO, using a floating line and adding the weight to your leader is much
more facile.

Um..."facile" or "tactile?"

Curious,
R



Looking for the right word. I was shooting for "more suitable in more
situations". Maybe adaptable?

Been noticing a tad of aphasia lately, has me a tad worried.

"Facile" is a perfectly good word for what I took to be your intended
meaning. It has negative connotations in its first meaning, but its
secondary definition is on point.

I wasn't thinking of the negative meaning, and no, it isn't the "wrong"
word, it just seems "tactile" is closing to what I thought was his
most-likely meaning.

I have little use for sinking lines in fast water. A floating line with
an indicator is usually more effective. Sinking lines are very useful in
stillwater.

Credit where it's due - if one were coming to ROFF for advice on
fast-water salmon, etc.*, fishing techniques, I'd offer Steve/rw's
opinion is among the more-experienced voices regularly around...that,
and I agree - I'm not much on full-sink lines for such, either...

TC,
R

*...and no, I'm not particularly interested in another round of "that
ain't a REAL steelhead"...um..."debate"...