New Fly-line: "Chuck and Duck"

Jim Teeny has his own range of fly-lines, but the ones that are of special interest to me are his sink-tip lines. I have used his sink-tip lines for years because they really do sink like a rocket - used for wet fly fishing on big rivers like the Tongariro they were superb for covering the water, and getting to the bottom really fast. They had one draw back though, they were absolute brutes to cast and gave new meaning to the term "chuck and duck". I tried using these lines for nymph fishing, but found I lost too much line control and could not control the drift. That was because I did not know enough to fish them properly. Now Jim has introduced the aptly named 'Chuckand Duck' line. It has a shorter sink-tip, just 8', but more weight in the tip. It looks as if it will be great for reaching the bottom on bigger, swiftly flowing rivers, and is ideal for fishing big water and fishing for salmon with a fly. Using a nymph means casting only slightly upstream, then immediately throwing in several up-stream mends, allowing the tip and fly to sink, then as the line tightens, swing across the river or pool - which actually is not a great deal different to fishing a wet fly. It is a very efficient way of covering the water. But, and it is a big but, this lines are a genuine pig to cast, which Jim Teeny makes clear. The best way is to roll cast the tip up onto the surface of the water, then make just ONE backcast and immediately go into the forward cast and send the line on its way. Trying to false cast will end in tears, with your line around your ears at best, a fly in you ear at worst.

- By Bish