ogilvie

SA,Rio,Cortland and AirFlo all have Multi tip line systems that work well. However,these systems are designed for "not too deep" fishing situations and cast OK in most stuations. If you want to fish deep in Lake,Ocean and pools then you might consider a specific line for these instances.

Just got back from the North ...have to get on the water to get some re-organazing of thoughts... Keep this thread going...

Well like everything else in the world economy fly reels are no different. Hardy reels are being made/assembled in Korea,as are their rods...mostly! It is fair to say that the quality will not change but their value as collectables may over time shift,yet history will tell that story. AS for a reel being nothing more than a mechanism to store line,true in many cases,tell that though to 20 LB. Steelhead fresh from the ocean in fast water as it feels the prick of a hook! Or a 5 lb. Brown trout picking up a #10 nymph. A good reel creates a cushion between our sought after quarry, our lure knot, and our ability to react. This same question is active on most fly fishing(fishing) sites...every region has it's specific dynamics as does this.one. Interesting the relationship between Hardy and Phleuger on this site. All I know is that there is nothing worse than hooking into the fish of a lifetime only to be greeted by terrible grinding noises and the eventual breaking off ,snapping the line,rod or something of similar nature.. The Loop CLW is probably the most widely used back-up reel out there. The body of the reel is a composite,the guts a fairly good drag system making it a good alternative. Don't drop this reel,,,the thin plate spool material will braek in the cold and on hard surfaces...the initial CLW reels had a serious problem with the handles breaking off during battles with good size fish. The re-design improved this issue... Snowbee has answered this market demand with their XSD Cassett reel system.they built their XSD reel system around their excellent drag using a die cast body and composite spools..."Best in Test" England 2007. I tested them on large Chinook this past fall cranked to the max with ZERO issues...and in Salt Water....as well as Fresh. 2008 will see a 460 version and an 1112 version to compliment their 780 all for less that $200 If lucky will have some with us in Clagary for the Fly Fishing Show

The Greatest issue in the Spey Casting World here in NA is the mis-information about lines...another point of interest is as Al says,we really don't need all this info'...the worlds line manufacturers can't even get thier sh.t together about being somewhat universal...so,some companies are matching grain weights to their rods making all the decisions very simple...this is the only real way to get the correct lines into the correct hands for the correct rods! So now if we can get the rod manufacturers to put recommended grain weights on their rods life would be much simpler. The PNW of our continent has been a big influence over the past 6-8 years ...however,Skagit style is only Skagit style,and now with compensators and various adaptors we are once again arriving at mid to long belly lines. Over the next few months we should have a lot of fun with this and make fishing that much more intrigueing.

That is a very nice little rod! I just sold the pre-runner to that rod to a serious Spey fisher...had too many in the closet,,,but not that rod...I have all 3 versions of that rod and definitely love them.!Not the greatest rods to fish 30lb fish with but anything under 20lbs. Tim(Rajeff) has some good lines for tha Lamiglas rods, Rio's 5/6/7 Windcutter is nice and Hardy Mach 1 or 2 lines(if you can get them ). Also,a great match for that rod will be the Beulah Elixir 6/7 spey...several of the fellows on this board have just received some of the Elixir lines ...see if you can cast it..you will be hooked! C PS..I'm on my sons computer in Prince George,here for the NewYear celebration...miss the Steelhead on the Island...

"There can be Only One" Hardy

I had to vote for Hardy Angel simply because the rod holds value and fish as well and better than most. The Hardy Angel single handers out fish(in hand feel) any other manufactured. However,there are many more great rods mentioned on this thread...

My goal for 2008 is to finally fish for Brown Trout on the Bow(the only serious trout species that has eluded me) and a Grayling...and of course surpass the 30 Lb Steelhead barrier ...

BAsically it's an enlongated version of the Snap "T" or a Circle Spey....very fast and very positive move to deliver your fly/anchor basically to where you want it...this cast permits you to pivot your body about 200 degrees and you know what that means... my wife is chaseing me.. gotta go C

What do you mean filling your pockets???!!!Thanks for the laugh..I needed that..For those of you that may have the delight to know my wife Val...she is a Brit' born within hearing distance of some Bell(Cockney),,,anyway,she has "qued" her entire life and when we first met she had me 6 hours early at the airport(last Time),anyway,we are off today and she is chaseing me about the house to leave way too early so...thanks for the laugh...of course I'm doing everything to stall...very good at that ! Life is great...have a good new year! High Sticking is as Gordon says a great way to nymph...here on the Island we have a few places where we can do this on the larger rivers and very effective... OPPPSSSS she's behind me..have to gooooooo

Well I was out today trying some new line matches and variations with weighted flies ,poly tips and so on. During some of the casts I noticed that if I left about 8-10 " overhang with a slightly weighted streamer(Steelhead) ,on the 7/8 Elixir Spey Line ,14' FS POlyTip,casting the Snowbee Tamar,standing in fast water up to my belly,a simple Snake Roll deliver the line gently about 90' without working the rod. A Cack Handed Snap Z delivered about 100' with the same effort...these are very productive and interesting line designs...a winner for sure C

Had to get out today and swing a few flies...great day ...lost One nice fish...water is perfect... All the new toys are either there or soon to be... Greyhound...One package went by mail... Have to go visit a son in Prince George for a week ...Steelhead will have to wait C

The nicest Rotary I've tied on is the Stenzel..sold my Nor-Vice and Mongoose....both good vices but not for me...I now tie on the Waldron vice(expensive)....and my lady ties on the Stenzel. The Stenzel isn't a clamp jaw vice but a pin lock device that locks the hook with a short turn of the knob...Simple is very good! Fully rotary and simple as hexk....but pricey! C

What I've seen of these rods is somewhat limited but I have fished with a fellow from japan on several occasions in different years who used these types of rods...No reels,just an elastic type line that is somehow positioned down the middle of these rods...but trust me,centre of Gravity plays a major role in manageing these tools..Squawts are needed and the ability to rotate while being in the squawt position...and these rods are telescopic ,graphite and can be very expensive($2,000.00 plus!) and not fly rods

There are some very good DVD's out there ...Rio's Modern Spey casting,The older Rio's International version, Derek Browns and a few more. If you can find a copy of Mike Maxwells tape you will have a very clear understanding of what a spey cast really is ..if all goes well we (Gord McLeod) will have some new cds of Scott MacKenzies at the fly fishing show...and if there I will have it playing on our screen much of the time.. Welcome to the world of Spey casting and more importantly,Spey Fishing... Remember....the fish are not alway on the other side of the river! C

Both the Pentax and the Olympus waterproofs are good for we mere fishers. I have been useing them for 4-5 years now and have only had One issue several years ago...I didn't lock the camera and it did leak...but was repaired and it works fine...in fact I do Magazine work with the pictures so that tells you something. Pentax sells a silicone jacket for the Optio camera that assists in greater depths... When taking pictures with underwater cameras there is a time delay between exposures.....unlike film that is almost instant...once you get by this it gets better. Good luck and have good fishing C PS...in cold weather the lens might condensate on the outside if you have had it underwater...getting the drops of water off the pictures is another issue...I bring along a clean lens cloth at all times

we do have a banner on this site if that helps(Nile Creek Fly Shop),...but Email(fly-fisher@telus.net) here is good or call the store during the day 250-757-2095 Res # 250-752-5887

May the warm breezes be at your face and tight lines be regular...Have a good Xmas Speygillie... Courtney and Val And of course may your kilt remain fit and draft free!

On December 26th and 27th we are having a once in the Year major sale...40% off all new Snowbee and Beulah products available, Our little shop will go into hybernation for January and February so that we can do the Fly Fishing Shows and maybe get some Cuba fishing in....and Bow if the water permits. So,contact us during those days to get these great deals...we will ship directly or bring with us to the Calgary Fly Fishing Show. If there is something we don't have in stock ,we will order it and honour the 2 day event only. Courtney

This is a topic I took to the Store with me today, deeply embedded within my physcie(?) For the major part of the Beach fishery this year I cast and fished the Grey's 11' 7wt single hander..yeah it's long and powerful,almost full flexing,but the ability to deliver full line casts was so apparent that i would be a fool to cast another rod that didn't meet that standard! Yet ,being the eternal gear fool, I decided to fish a proto type Beulah Single hander(now discontinued) 9'6" 8 wt with a Snowbee XS Two Colour floating line(9wt) and found a match made in heaven. Both rods deliver the entire line(90') on a single pick-up..the edge goes to the greys simply because I can use it often as a switch rod when the power is needed! Two Handers are much the same...there are several rods that I grab very quickly because I know and recognize their abilities under all conditions. Two rods Stand out very clearly for me..One being a 12'7" Beulah and the other a 12'6" Snowbee;both very different in initial feel and action but once dug into there is a reserve of power ability readily available to hand...so for me Progressive action with plenty of back-bone is the ticket...even with my 3,4,5wt,rods this same standard applies. However,the main ingredient that helps one recognize "THEIR" favs are the line matches. Thanks for the imput...this is very helpful C

Over the years I have been very fortunate to have worked with many of the Worlds best rod manufacturers in some degree;casting,testing,compareing,developeing and so on. Both single and double handed...but my question to myself and I suppose ultimately to you, an age old question is, " What makes a very good rod?" One that is your go to outfit that bears total confidence in what you are fishing. Many times when I am guideing clients into remote Rivers after Fresh Water Salmon (to 40 lbs)and Steelhead (to 25 lbs) that question enters my thoughts as my preparations evolve. And of course the same is true with One Handers for use in connecting with spectacular Sea Run Cutthroat Trout and Rainbows. My answer will be somewhat biased but I will say that the Middle of the Road offers many benefits. Lets see where this goes? C PS..of course we all understand that all the fishing circumstances and types will have a drastic effect on this..

The friendliest of all the colour coded series was actually the Yellow..seriously. The Newer and first edition of the Grey or Goran Andersen rods were and still are exceptional rods...I have both the 13' yellow and Grey and the 14' Blue,Yellow and Green. The problem with the Green series is that they are prone to breaking in the Handle section...these are still very nice rods; and yes they are discontinued! C

Gord you are making this really freaking tough??!?!!The details please... BTW...was out today ,decided to whore myself with gear and failed miserably,,,,..so ,perhaps with some help from the fish gods I asked for forgivness and swung flies on my favorite stretch of the Glorious Stamp River...and low and Behold a bright Winter Steelhead of about 12 lbs decided to entertain me for a while..beautiful fish,yes it was snowing,yes I was cold and yes I landed this beaut....have been doing some work on smaller heavy flies ...worked well. I must say that swinging a fly is sweet...takes all the competition out of the day! If I don't chat with you before Xmas have a good One>e from both of us C

The coatings and core are the issues with Tropics lines...many of you lake and cold water fishers know what coiled fly lines are like...yet they perform better in warmer waters...Mono core lines are or have been the saving lines in the heat..Today the coatings are much better and designed to hold their body better in the heat... as for bringing Two Handers to the deep south is really not an issue...but I do know that the guides don't like Two Handers there...if you are a good caster and have a good line then 100' casts are simply made with One pick-up and cast...you may only have One shot... Surf casting is something else though... C PS..the Snowbee Tarpon Line is(sky blue) designed for One pick-up and fire....quite the line...but you need a good stick! C

Hello you guys...?? I just sent several lines South myself...One of the Lines is a Snowbee Tarpon line(intermediate) that is very heavy and slick..I did use it here on the west coast for Coho but found it too much for my 8/9 Switch,thats right,tooo much. The line weight was 48gr.,about 750 grains...ideal for a smallish Two Hander. If you are useing a longer than 12' Two Hander then shooting heads is the way to go...adapt a Scandanavian Short Head shooting head with a slick running line and you are off to the races. I have a dealer in Belize that has gone through several dozen this year..lost most of the lines to shark hook-ups!