Can you use floating line to catch shad/stripers?

[Jim Boryan]

  

 Hey guys,      

                   I have an Orvis 8wt. with WF floating line and I'm looking forward to coming back to  Arlington to get in on this shad and striper run. Can you catch stripers/shad on floating line or do I have to shell out the money to buy sinking line and a new spool to keep it on? 

                   Being a broke college student, buying a new spool/sinking line is obviously not ideal.  Any feedback would be appreciated. 

 

[Rob Snowhite]

Hickories for shore. Either use split shot or heavily weighted (small crappie jig) flies. Fish in eddys. 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Brendan]

Never had a problem catching them w/ floating line... just gotta cast a little further upstream and be a little more patient for the dart to dive. 

[Terry C]

Jim, for a small cost you can buy a 15' sinking polyleader and attach it to the front of your floating line ( loop to loop ) and now you have a nice sink tip.  It will get you to the fish easier.   Also I have found as the water warms up ( now ) the shad  can be caught closer to the top.  

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 5:55:35 PM UTC-4, Jim Boryan wrote:

[Forrest Allen]

Jim,

I tried my 5 wt floating line from shore a couple of times this year, and only caught hickories in the single digits (though I got Americans on it last year). Like Brendan said, you really have to be patient and let it sink for a while. Sinking tip line is pricey (I bought mine as recent grad too - painful), but it almost guarantees you'll start catching the higher numbers you hear people mentioning all the time and the Americans. If you get out there, heavier darts will help you. 

Consider what type of fishing you'll be doing most too. If you think you'll only ever use the sinking line for this ~month+ span, is it worth the price? Also, if it is just for the shad/striper run, consider how far into the run we've already come. Maybe wait for a bday or something so you can be prepared for next years run if you are only going to have a few chances to get our there in the next couple of weeks?

Forrest

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 5:55:35 PM UTC-4, Jim Boryan wrote:

[Yambag Nelson]

Like everyone else has said, you can certainly catch some depending on conditions, but it won't be ideal.  As far as stripers, you can catch them (schoolies in particular) on a floating line but highly unlikely you will get a big one like some you see in the pictures..  At least near fletchers that will be the case.

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 5:55:35 PM UTC-4, Jim Boryan wrote:

[Evan D]

This is my first post to the group, but received a lot of help from people I've met on here!  I had the same questions this year (re: floating line).  I opted for a sinking polyleader and haven't had any problem getting into a ton of shad.  To get down even farther, use heavy weighted flies and casts upstream with mends before you start your swing.  No need to buy a sinking line for 1 month/year IMO. Good luck!

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 5:55:35 PM UTC-4, Jim Boryan wrote:

[HeaveToo]

Go to a sink tip line and fish the Rappahannock.  People catch stripers there just below the Route 1 bridge.

I fish the Occoquan with a sink tip poly leader and catch my fair share of stripers.  Check out the water depth you are fishing, it might be deep enough for a sink tip!