Bill Kiene semi-retired
07-20-2015, 09:35 AM
...........because trout fishing has changed.
When I started into the fly fishing retail in the 1960s we did not have as much to offer in the way of fly lines as we do today.
Most would only have a floating line and then maybe a few would have a full sinking line for a second line.
This was before sink-tips were invented. In the 1970s the sink-tip came along and it was a big deal. I think guys up in Oregon and Washington were making their own sink tips and then the fly line companies caught on to it.
In the 1970s we usually outfitted people with a good weight forward floating line and a 10' type 3 sink-tip line on an extra spool.
Some who fished lakes would get a third spool with a weight forward type 2 sink rate in a full sinking line.
I think around the turn of the century they invented the clear slow sinking full length fly line for trout which took over the number one lake line market.
I think indicator nymphing in streams must have gotten going in the 1980s? so most stream fly fishers only needed a floating line to fish most free stone streams, top to bottom.
A traditional lake fly fisher might have several pools with different sink rate full line on them.
Most still water addicts who fish from boats will actually have several complete outfits set up with different lines.
Today, stillwater chironomidae anglers use floating lines with special leader and indicator systems in lakes so them don't all need all those spools and full sinking lines.
Not saying that we don't sell spools, but not near as many as we did years ago.
In two-handed / Spey fishing most use looped heads today so they don't need a bunch of spools either. Full line for Spey are kind of hard to find now.
**I am only talking about what is common or popular now. Naturally, we all have our own ways of fishing and they are all good.
When I started into the fly fishing retail in the 1960s we did not have as much to offer in the way of fly lines as we do today.
Most would only have a floating line and then maybe a few would have a full sinking line for a second line.
This was before sink-tips were invented. In the 1970s the sink-tip came along and it was a big deal. I think guys up in Oregon and Washington were making their own sink tips and then the fly line companies caught on to it.
In the 1970s we usually outfitted people with a good weight forward floating line and a 10' type 3 sink-tip line on an extra spool.
Some who fished lakes would get a third spool with a weight forward type 2 sink rate in a full sinking line.
I think around the turn of the century they invented the clear slow sinking full length fly line for trout which took over the number one lake line market.
I think indicator nymphing in streams must have gotten going in the 1980s? so most stream fly fishers only needed a floating line to fish most free stone streams, top to bottom.
A traditional lake fly fisher might have several pools with different sink rate full line on them.
Most still water addicts who fish from boats will actually have several complete outfits set up with different lines.
Today, stillwater chironomidae anglers use floating lines with special leader and indicator systems in lakes so them don't all need all those spools and full sinking lines.
Not saying that we don't sell spools, but not near as many as we did years ago.
In two-handed / Spey fishing most use looped heads today so they don't need a bunch of spools either. Full line for Spey are kind of hard to find now.
**I am only talking about what is common or popular now. Naturally, we all have our own ways of fishing and they are all good.