RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket | Compact Skagit Head for Tight Water
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RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket

RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket
RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket
F/I/S3
RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket
S3/S5/S7
RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket
(Click to see larger image and other views)
Brand: RIO
Skagit Style - Sinking Shooting Head: Are you ready? The ultimate Skagit sinking head for anglers needing to get flies deep quickly, slowing swings down, and making second or third passes through runs.
Made In: USA
Price: $64.99
Product Details

Compact Skagit Head for Tight Water
A shorter must have Skagit Head when fishing runs with conflicting currents that prevent your standard Skagit head from swinging properly.  The perfect scenario for the Pickpocket would be when your floating Skagit head swings the run and looks like a snake swimming across the run. The Pickpocket solves this and helps slow down your presentation. Absolutely a great addition to your arsenal. Think also of winter steelhead fishing in colder water temps, where slowing down can make all the difference.

  • Steal casts in tight quarters: a compact 20' head that loads instantly when backcast room is scarce.
  • Built to turn over heavy tips and big flies with a powerful taper modeled after Elite Skagit Max.
  • Multi-Density Control reduces the “hinge” from head to tip for smoother energy transfer and better depth control in mixed currents.
WHY IT WORKS
Pickpocket is a surgical Skagit head  designed to “steal” casts where space is scarce for anglers fishing brushy banks, steep cutbanks, and awkward angles. The short head is easier to lift at the end of the swing, resets fast, and keeps you fishing effectively when a longer head simply won’t fit. Pickpocket loads instantly and punches heavy tips and big bugs into narrow lanes with surprising grace.

RIO's Elite Skagit Pickpocket heads are the perfect delivery system for casting heavy sink tips and efficiently getting down in the water column when fishing the bottom is of utmost importance.

The heads feature RIO's Multi Density Control - a seamless blend of three different densities that removes the hinge point from head to sink tip, ensures the smoothest transition of energy when casting, and provides the very best depth control when fishing variable currents of pools, runs, and pocket water. With the ability to swing under conflicting surface currents and slow your fly down in colder water conditions, maximum control is best achieved with these sinking heads vs a floating head configuration. In addition, mending control is heightened when using sinking heads, as you can adjust the rear floating section without moving the sinking portions of the line closer to the fly.

Now featuring a S3/S5/S7 “Dredger” configuration in the most popular winter fishing grain weights of 525gr and 600gr, for the ultimate performance in getting the fly to the bottom quickly and keeping it there throughout the entire swing.

- Head lengths are relatively short, making them easier to lift at the end of a swing for the next cast
- Powerful taper modeled after the Elite Skagit Max
- Power turns over the heaviest tips and flies
- Multi-Density Control maintains a straight line connection while allowing flies to sink below fast and turbulent surface current
Features -
  • Ultra-low stretch ConnectCore Plus for maximum performance for solid, low-stretch feel
  • Built with RIO's exceptionally slick, durable SlickCast coating
  • EasyID - Printed line designation system for quick identification on the river
  • Front and Back Welded Loops - for clean, fast rigging
  • Multi-Density Control for a smoother connection and improved depth control
Specs -
SKU UPC Head Weight Head Length Color Sink Rate
6-19830 730884198301 475gr 20ft (6.1m) Black/Gray/Salmon/Blue F/I/S3
6-19831 730884198318
500gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Gray/Salmon/Blue
F/I/S3
6-19832 730884198325
525gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Gray/Salmon/Blue
F/I/S3
6-19833 730884198332
550gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Gray/Salmon/Blue
F/I/S3
6-19834 730884198349
575gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Gray/Salmon/Blue
F/I/S3
6-19835 730884198356
600gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Gray/Salmon/Blue
F/I/S3
6-19836 730884198363
525gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Blue S3/S5/S7
6-19837 730884198370
600gr 20ft (6.1m)
Black/Blue S3/S5/S7

I love these heads for winter Steelhead.  At 20', they cast very well on shorter rods and really slow your swing down to a crawl.  And do not be afraid of the Sink 3/Sink 5/Sink 7 dredger.  When you really need to get down and stay down, this head does the job.  It casts surprisingly well for how heavy it is.....just don't let your anchor settle too long before you go! - Charlie (GFS)

Q: What makes Pickpocket different from a standard Skagit head?
A: It’s a compact 20' head that loads instantly and excels when you can’t form a big D-loop: Ttight water, tough angles, and limited space.

Prefer we place the order for you and set up your account? Let's talk fishing - Call 541-386-6977
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"Don't leave home without it."

Brock on 10/22/2025 10:15:59 AM

Review: One of my favorite Mult. Density Skagit heads going. This head allows you not only to swing your fly deeper but slower as well. Opening up more water that would be difficult to swing effectively with a floating head.

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