Hey guys been trolling here for a while and finally joined to try to get some straight up answers from the veterans. I'm not new to fly fishing but am new to fly fishing the Salmon River, i.e. I haven't yet, but will come the 2014 season. The fish have been kickin' my but on spinning gear for years so so I haven't even had the nerve to try on a fly rod. Well gonna bust my cherry next year,sooo... now come the stupid questions from the rookie. From what I read and have observed on the river why doesn't anyone seem to use sink or sink tip lines to get the fly down into the "strike" zone?

You will see most fishing esp winter will be a deep high stick nymphing trying to create as little drag as possible.
Not saying a sink tip won't work but that method is better suited for an across & down swing method.
Now and spring are the times to give it a go if you wish. Once winter sets in it will be a low and slow dredge

I have occasionally used a sink tip looped on the end of a floater to swing flies. Had varying success. They tend to hang up on the SR, unless you're in fast water, and if I'm swinging flies, I'd rather get bit by aggressive fish up in the column than skulkers on the bottom. They are useless for drifting nymphs and eggs, as you lose all control and feel. They would be good tools for lining and snagging, but that's beyond  dead last on my list of usefulness. I have used short pieces of lead core tied into the leader between the butt and the mid section to get flies headed down in the winter. That worked OK.  I use lots of sinking  shooting heads in other fisheries, but the SR doesn't seem to be conducive to their use. Just my opinion and experience, anyway. Good question!

fichy & tuna thanks for the replies. It's guy like you that made me want to be part of this forum. I've been trolling here and  the other one (SC) but they just seem too elitist for me and feel like I'd be tarred and feathered for not being a PRO.

Like fichy said, it gets hung up easily... there are areas that would swing one well with good water flow but on average a poor choice and your tip will end up getting beat up by the rocks

May I just add time and place.
There are several spots on the SR (given few others there) that fish great with tips.
But with the crowds that are the norm  it is rare to get the opportunity to fish them.
Adding a minimum of shot gives you much easier change in deapth and speed of drop of youyr offering so going from spot toi spot you can add or subtract weight so as not to be either dragging bottom (stealth lifting as PA calls it) or not getting down to a level that the fish react to it (can be just off bottom or just under the surface on any given day) which is mostly the bottom 1/3 of the water column.

   War Eagle welcome. I have learned alot from people on this board it has definetly cut down on the learning curve and gets you through the days when your wishing you were fishing.

Welcome!   I forgot earlier.