Hi Peter,

For stripers out here in CA we use either the 'Teeny' type real fast ~25'
sinktips or shooting heads with fly line running lines.

For tropical flats fishing most use a weight forward floating full line most
of the time. The second most popular flats line is the weight forward clear
slow sinking full lines.

I used shooting head for the pas 40 years and my comment is "only use a
shooting head system if there is an advantage". Well that advantage can be
saving money because you don't have to buy so many spools. Another advantage
is that you can change heads quickly and have everything from a float head
to a lead core head.

I don't like them because I don't like to have those loops in my line for
many situations like stripping streamers or wet flies. I don't think having
the set of loops 'clanking' through the guides is good when you are trying
to perceive a subtle take. For stripping wet flies in lakes for trout or
stripping on the flats I prefer full fly lines.

A head system with good braided mono or new welded loops and a good running
line fits in some situations but is not the answer for everything. In fact
many fly fishers will never need them for their particular fly fishing
profile.

I would not recommend shooting head over 30 feet for anyone wading with a
normal single handed rod. Especially with large bulking streamers.


After all these years I pick my time and place so I can fly fish with full
length weight forward floating line most of the time. I also prefer to use a
leader and mostly unweighted flies. I am headed for Cancun in August where I
will use a weight forward 8 floating tropical line all week in shallow water
for baby tarpon, snook, permit and bonefish. I guess I enjoy fly casting as
much as I enjoy fly fishing?

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Peter Charles" wrote in message
om...

Trying to straighten up a bit of mess, reduce lines, and spools.

I have a mixed bag of 10 wt. and 12 wt. lines and heads that get used
for pike, stripers, and with spey rods for steelhead and chinook. I
could replace all of the lines with Airflo heads in 35' - 10wt., 35' -
12 wt., and 45' - 12 wt. sizes, in floating, intermediate, T3 and T7
for each set. I already have five or six of these so it's no biggie
to complete the sets. In the process, I can sell off three spools and
six lines.

Question is, has any one of you sal****er/striper/pike topguns ever
tried to live on a steady diet of shooting heads only?

Peter