Want slightly more distance

[karlsson]

I've just had a look at OPST Commando lines . . . £52.99 for a 12ft line. (13' 6" for a 5/6)

OPST Pure Skagit Commando Heads

These are innovative Skagit shooting heads with an efficient, easy casting design and size ranges that are suitable for traditional Spey rod and optimised for shorter switch rods and single handed fly rods.

www.anglingactive.co.uk

Any chance these guys are related to Tom Bell?

I know for a fact they aren't

 

[LukeNZ]

Throwing nice tight loops won't get you far fishing locally.
View attachment 29626
most of the fishers I know learned to fish in the burn and river, had anyone had got lessons it wouldn't have been much use to them for the fishing they done, a lot of self taught went on to be very successful anglers not necessarily the best casters.
View attachment 29627
I might well be wrong I'll happily stand corrected but I don't think an instructor can help an individual to fish the likes without considerable money outlay.
I wouldn't mind a few lessons but I don't think there essential to success.

Al

Al, .....you need to get a working bee together, get down there with your chainsaws and slashers!

 

[LukeNZ]

Morning Luke yes for the right circumstances a skagit line is a great asset to have, i've only recently considered using one on the river with a sh rod, like others I seen them as crude splashy lines and never considered using my one for anything other than casting pike flies.

I found casting it touch and go a bit hit and miss, it had to be anchored to get a consistent turn over and landing straight but I'll leave that for the trout spey thread .

Al

OPST Skagit heads in the lighter weights. 180-220gn. with a 2-5ft. floating OPST micro tip then 9-15ft. maxima green (of course!) leader. Delicate as any Scandi head. And at least as delicate as any WF/DT floating line that properly loads the same rod. With guaranteed extra distance if you want/need it.

Go with the mono type shooting line in lighter head weights - OPST Lazar or similar, but specially if you want more distance.

I go for the OPST heads in Smooth (running line integrated), to avoid the head to running line loop snagging in the tip ring, and also because line speed is reduced slightly because the integrated running line is coated they feel, well - smooth!

 

[Hardrar]

I’ve used the Rio outbound, Lee Wulff Ambush and OPST Commando lines, but in a saltwater (and very windy) situation out in the Flatts and they work really well and load really fast for the quick casts needed, but a stripping basket will help you achieve the extra few yards you require, as much as changing your line.

 

[Paul_B]

I’ve used the Rio outbound, Lee Wulff Ambush and OPST Commando lines, but in a saltwater (and very windy) situation out in the Flatts and they work really well and load really fast for the quick casts needed, but a stripping basket will help you achieve the extra few yards you require, as much as changing your line.

Could be right about the basket, the amount of times I cast short due to the line pulling up weeds

 

[Hardrar]

Could be right about the basket, the amount of times I cast short due to the line pulling up weeds

If you tie it high round your waist, the out bound line doesn’t have to pull the loose line from so low down either, which acts as a brake. Worthwhile investment and saves your line from abrasion in Gravel, Coral etc.

 

[rusty]

The original post seems tohave been removed

Who? Why? How?

Rusty

 

[glueman]

Why all this distance when the fish are passing by your feet

 

[speytime]

Why all this distance when the fish are passing by your feet

Why even bother with a rod

Al

 

[rusty]

Why all this distance when the fish are passing by your feet

You are quite right. George Barron suggests a mid actioned rod and fish close in.
Since I have been fishing the waters in question for over 50 years I am inclined to agree.

Rusty

 

[ohanzee]

Why all this distance when the fish are passing by your feet

If you can cast 80' you can still catch the ones passing by your feet, and the ones 80' away.

 

[LukeNZ]

If you can cast 80' you can still catch the ones passing by your feet, and the ones 80' away.

Same at 100’ft.+ too, without a single false cast! Nice lot of swing time, that is a long arc!

 

[LukeNZ]

Why all this distance when the fish are passing by your feet

....said Gollum?

Now don’t go getting all ‘precious’ about it...

 

[glueman]

....said Gollum?

Now don’t go getting all ‘precious’ about it...

Actually said to me by a guide, forget the ones out there what is wrong with the ones under your feet.
Do you disagree with that statement

 

[boisker]

Actually said to me by a guide, forget the ones out there what is wrong with the ones under your feet.
Do you disagree with that statement

Yes... why not have the challenge of catching both... no one would suggest don’t bother with the close in fish, so why the reverse....
perhaps your guide was a realist and just knew your casting wasn’t going to get out any distance...
Personally if fish were rising at 70’ and beyond I’d want to cast to them... aerialising a decent length of line is great fun

 

[glueman]

Yes... why not have the challenge of catching both... no one would suggest don’t bother with the close in fish, so why the reverse....
perhaps your guide was a realist and just knew your casting wasn’t going to get out any distance...
Personally if fish were rising at 70’ and beyond I’d want to cast to them... aerialising a decent length of line is great fun

Most of my fishing is done on small rivers that are bank and no wadeing so 70 ft would be a complete waste of effort other than catching cows on the other bank

 

[karlsson]

Most of my fishing is done on small rivers that are bank and no wadeing so 70 ft would be a complete waste of effort other than catching cows on the other bank

And most of my fishing is done on the baltic coast, 70 feet would have me staying home on a windy day, so not having game is a waste of time
Context matters alot....

 

[LukeNZ]

Actually said to me by a guide, forget the ones out there what is wrong with the ones under your feet.
Do you disagree with that statement

Not at all GM.

Have a very merry Christmas!

 

[rusty]

Here is the original post-

• Jul 26, 2020
• #1

I am an experienced caster so no advice needed there. I have the 9’6” Sage X 5w and want to know if loading 6w line will give me a better experience on the large windswept Elan valley reservoirs? I’ve never really loaded one weight up but am curious. Don’t want a 6w rod either as I enjoy the fight my
5w gives me with those small brownies.

We have been around the houses but the answer is 'NO'

Rusty

 

[ohanzee]

Here is the original post-

• Jul 26, 2020
• #1

I am an experienced caster so no advice needed there. I have the 9’6” Sage X 5w and want to know if loading 6w line will give me a better experience on the large windswept Elan valley reservoirs? I’ve never really loaded one weight up but am curious. Don’t want a 6w rod either as I enjoy the fight my
5w gives me with those small brownies.

We have been around the houses but the answer is 'NO'

Rusty

The little extra weight will slow the action of the rod a bit, feels nice at very short range, and bend the rod a bit more, it will also shoot easier, you will like it for a while but gradually feel it a bit spongy, switching back to the 5 weight at that point will feel zippy and more dynamic.

For me it feels spongy after 10 mins.