Santa brought the rod for Christmas...purchased a Konic 4 to slap on the butt section...and just recieved the custom made Scandi line in the mail from Oregon this past weekend. Now I just have to learn how to cast this 12' monster and I'll be set!! If anyone out there has suggestions on good videos for learning to spey cast I'd be interested in hearing about them.
Can you say...New Addiction???
good luck with that!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think a little luck is exactly what I'm going to need (I'm definitely lacking in the skills department).
DeleteLooks awesome man. You should be able to cover the whole width of the white with that when they are running water.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to use it for swinging some flies on our large tailwaters and also for some white bass and hybrids below places like Truman where you need lots of distance but have very little back-casting room.
DeleteI don't know a thing about spey casting. But I can give you a tip or two about these addictions...I've got many. Have fun Jeff!
ReplyDeleteThanks Howard...just wondering what you're tip for me might be concerning these many addictions?? Maybe to quit while I'm ahead!!
DeleteLearn to keep secrets from your wife and have long thin boxes sent to you at work.
DeleteProbably the best advice I've been given in a long time!! Luckily my wife is an understanding lady or I'd have been out the door a long time ago...
DeleteI've always wanted to learn how to spey cast. It's a very interesting technique....I am no help. ha :)
ReplyDeleteMe as well Justin , that's why the rod is now leaning up against the tying desk. Somehow I feel like I'm having to learn to fly fish all over again , which isn't all bad , it's always fun to try something new.
DeleteI love learning new things, especially, fishing related. Spey casting is on my list of things to learn. It looks interesting and beautiful, when done right.
DeleteJeff, I am not any help here, either.....................
ReplyDeleteHowever, not all is lost, I am impressed with the Konic Reel, too!
Thanks Mel...looks like I'll just have to resort to the old trial and error style of learning on this one. That Konic is a really nice reel for the price , I'm liking it so far.
DeleteThat ought to be fun!
ReplyDeleteYes it should. But what would be really fun would be to sit back and watch me try to cast it for the first time , that would be entertainment!
DeleteI don't fish this way, but I do enjoy people who do. To watch spey casting is to watch living art.
ReplyDeleteNice desk Jeff.
Thanks Alan....I totally agree , just watching someone spey cast it seems almost like an art form. I have several places where I should be able to utilize the fishing style to my advantage once I figure it out.
DeleteThat old desk has seen a few fly patterns tied on it's surface over the years , I think every fly fisher should have his own tying room with a desk like that. I've spent many long winter nights huddled over that desk (and enjoyed every minute of it).
I am monitoring these comments for good advice. I am currently building one of my own. Mine is a 10' switch rod, but the same concept. I don't have a clue!
ReplyDeleteLynn
That makes two of us Lynn! I am definitely looking forward to playing around with it this year , once you get yours finished we should get together some weekend and throw some flies around somewhere. The White should be a great place to practice with lots of wide open water and even a few fish swimming around. Kind of a beginners spey clave...
DeleteThe one I am building is fiberglass. That could throw another curve into the learning process !
DeleteThat will be cool...a glass switch rod. Mine isn't a terribly fast rod either so I'm not sure if the action of the rod will be too much different. I'd say we'll both be watching a good number of youtube videos on spey casting before it's said and done!
DeleteWhat weight did you get?
ReplyDeleteI got a 12' 5wt Switch Rod a year ago. Used it off and on during the entire season. Caught just about everything on it...carp, catfish, white bass, (small) wipers, largemouth bass, crappies, bluegills, trout, etc. Its fun and challenging. I'm not particularly skilled at it, and most of my experience with it so far has been on still waters. Towards the end of the season, I was discovering that I could cast an Airflo 40-Plus line further into the wind than with the Switch Rod. But I also wonder if that is mainly because of my inexperience and poor casting techniques? So...I'm not much help...but it IS fun, and even medium-sized crappies and 12" trout put up a great fight on this gear. Good luck! Maybe I can learn some things from you as you teach yourself. :)
It's a 7 weight Dave. It might be a little heavy for some of the small trout rivers I fish frequently but my main goal is to utilize it on larger tailwaters for both brown trout and wipers. I've even got a trip in the works for this Fall that may lead me up North to try my hand at some steelhead fishing (the real alterior motive for the rod!).
DeleteIt's kind of fun learning something new again anyway , whether it turns out to be something I use alot , only time will tell.
Good luck with the Spey casting. I don't do it so I can't help. However, I am a huge Waterworks-Lamson fan. I have a Konic in every size they offer, a Speedster and a Vanquish. Love their stuff. Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThey do make some quality reels. I've got 9 lamsons , everything from Litespeeds to Konics and love them all. They are the only reel I fish with anymore...
DeleteDown goes another one. I'm teetering and about to fall for those long rods. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim....I'd think you'd have lots of good reason to delve into the spey/switch rod market out there. Those large rivers and the runs of salmon and steelhead that make their way into them are perfect for swinging flies with a spey setup. I'm looking forward to it , always fun to try something new!
DeleteAwesome...now you'll be able to sling a rescue line out to me when I need a little help!! My new addiction arrives tomorrow...took yours and a few others advise to get a vise and whatever else comes with a kit...gonna be a great spring!!!
ReplyDeleteCool Drew...You'll get lots of enjoyment out of tying your own flies. When we get together and fish I've got a bunch of feathers I can give you to help get you started. I've got an abundance of pheasant and duck and even some grouse feathers that you can use when tying lots of different nymphs. Have fun!!
DeleteI've been playing around with a 6wt switch rod off and on. I'm far from competent, but I have found that understanding the different types of lines and what knowing what's on the reel really helps to determine the type of casting that will work best for a given set-up. Just the other day I found what I think is easily best video that I've seen on skagit and scandi lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6JPcWpQyFg
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up on the video Luke. It was very informative and , as you said , cleared up a little the vagaries of different lines and how they are set-up and used.
DeleteWhat I need is just to get some on the water practice with someone who knows a little about what they are doing.