**Question:
**Should I use Cortland’s LC-13 lead-core trolling line for fast-sinking shoot-ing heads or the Rio T-14 tungsten line? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
-Ted Godfrey, New York, NY
Answer:
Cortland’s designation of the LC-13 line indicates that the lead core inside weighs 13 grains per foot. Rio’s T-14 weighs 14 grains per foot. Which you should use is a matter of opinion. Here are some things to think about. You can buy Cortland’s LC-13 in 100- or 500-foot spools. Obviously, if you buy a 500-foot spool, it is much cheaper. Since most shooting heads run between 27 and 30 feet, that means many heads per spool. Several anglers can team up to purchase a large spool and keep down the expense.
T-14 also comes in bulk, but it’s impregnated with powdered tungsten, so it is more expensive. Also, its sink rate is slightly faster but still comparable to that of the LC-13. However, T-14 is less kinky than LC-13 and does offer fewer casting problems.
-Lefty
