OPST SHS (Sustained Head System) Floating Tips are precision-engineered floating line sections designed for switch and Spey rods, integrating seamlessly with OPST Commando and Skagit heads. They keep your flies in the surface film or just beneath it — essential for skating bombers and Sunray Shadows for summer salmon, swinging traditional wet flies, and fishing the dusk rise for sea trout. Available in three lengths to match any two-handed rod and water type.
What Are SHS Floating Tips Used For?
Floating tips are the choice when fish are feeding near the surface or when a high, natural presentation is required. Unlike sink tips that pull your fly down, SHS Floating Tips keep your fly in the zone where summer salmon and sea trout are actively taking — on the surface or just beneath it. They are essential for skating dry flies and bombers for summer salmon, swinging soft hackles and wet flies for sea trout at dusk, and presenting surface patterns on classic Spey rivers across Europe.
Which SHS Floating Tip Do You Need?
7.5ft (2.28m) — 55 grains (3.56g)
- For single-handed rods and lightweight switch rods
- Ideal for trout Spey and micro Skagit setups on smaller rivers
- Excellent for skating small flies and swinging soft hackles
- Best for 6–10ft rods
10ft (3.04m) — 75 grains (4.86g)
- The most versatile all-round choice for switch rods
- Perfect for medium-sized European salmon and sea trout rivers
- Excellent balance for swinging wet flies and skating patterns
- Best for 11–13ft switch rods
12ft (3.7m) — 90 grains (5.83g)
- For full-length Spey rods on larger rivers
- Excellent for skating large bombers and Sunray Shadows for Atlantic salmon
- Best for 13–15ft two-handed rods
Key Features
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Sustained Head System design — seamless integration with OPST Commando and Skagit heads, eliminating hinging
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Three length options — 7.5ft, 10ft, and 12ft to match any rod and water type
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Precision-weighted — 55, 75, and 90 grains for perfect balance with your head system
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Superior flotation — stays on the surface even in choppy or broken water
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Smooth turnover — delivers delicate presentations despite two-handed power
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Durable construction — built for repeated use in European river conditions
Perfect For
- Skating bombers and Sunray Shadows for summer Atlantic salmon on Scottish, Norwegian, and Icelandic rivers
- Swinging traditional wet flies for Atlantic salmon on classic Spey rivers
- Sea trout fishing at dusk along Scandinavian and Baltic coastlines
- Swinging soft hackles and spider patterns for sea trout on Welsh and Scottish spate rivers
- Trout Spey fishing with the 7.5ft tip on smaller European rivers
- Presenting surface patterns for large brown trout on medium to large rivers
What Is the Sustained Head System (SHS)?
OPST's Sustained Head System ensures that their floating tips integrate seamlessly with their Commando and Skagit heads, creating a smooth, continuous taper from your running line through to your fly. This eliminates hinging at the head-to-tip connection and delivers superior casting performance and presentation — particularly important when skating flies on the surface where any disturbance in the line will affect the fly's behaviour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are OPST SHS Floating Tips?
OPST SHS Floating Tips are floating line sections designed for switch and Spey rods, engineered to integrate seamlessly with OPST Commando and Skagit heads. They are available in three lengths — 7.5ft (2.28m), 10ft (3.04m), and 12ft (3.7m) — at 55, 75, and 90 grains respectively, to match different rod lengths and water types.
What is the difference between SHS and Commando Floating Tips?
SHS Floating Tips are heavier (55–90 grains) and designed for switch and Spey rods. Commando Floating Tips are lighter (30–50 grains) and designed for single-handed rods and micro Skagit setups. Choose SHS tips for two-handed rods, Commando tips for single-handed rods.
Which OPST SHS Floating Tip length should I choose?
Match the tip to your rod. The 7.5ft (2.28m) tip suits single-handed rods and lightweight switch rods up to 10ft. The 10ft (3.04m) tip is the most versatile choice for switch rods of 11–13ft on medium rivers. The 12ft (3.7m) tip suits full-length Spey rods of 13–15ft on larger rivers. The grain weights are optimised for each length to ensure perfect balance with your Commando or Skagit head.
Are OPST SHS Floating Tips good for skating flies for salmon?
Yes — SHS Floating Tips are ideal for skating bombers, Sunray Shadows, and dry flies for summer Atlantic salmon. The 10ft and 12ft tips are particularly well suited to classic salmon rivers in Scotland, Norway, and Iceland, where skating surface patterns is a highly effective summer technique.
Are OPST SHS Floating Tips suitable for sea trout fishing?
Yes — SHS Floating Tips are excellent for sea trout fishing at dusk, when fish are taking flies in or just beneath the surface film. The 7.5ft and 10ft tips are well suited to swinging soft hackles and wet flies for sea trout on Scandinavian and Baltic rivers, and on the spate rivers of Wales and Scotland.
Are OPST SHS Floating Tips available in Europe?
Yes — OPST SHS Floating Tips are available from Balticflyfisher with shipping across Europe. OPST are the originators of the modern Skagit system and their products are trusted by guides and anglers across Europe from Scotland to Scandinavia.
