Sink Tip Ratings Explained
T-7 to T-14 Tungsten Sink Tips
The “T” Designation
T-series sink tips (e.g., T-7, T-8, T-11, T-14, T-17, etc.) are tungsten-impregnated, level-density sinking lines used in fly fishing—most commonly for swinging streamers, intruders, and wet flies for steelhead, salmon, and large trout. The “T” stands for tungsten, and the number indicates the grains of weight per foot of line.
Sink Rates
Sink rate describes how fast the line sinks through the water column, usually measured in inches per second (ips).
It depends primarily on:
The density of the coating (tungsten content)
The diameter of the tip
Water temperature and current speed