chiasson

I did some more casting today and I'm getting better with it. The problems I was having, as you suspected, we're largely technique related. I was doing a bunch of things wrong not to mention trying to cast 90 degrees from shore with next to no water behind me. After watching some Henrick videos and practicing a bit I'm getting the hang out it. What a feeling when everything gels, it feels like I'm firing a laser gun. Regarding the leader length, I've read that 1.5 X the rod length is optimal. Does this rule also apply when fishing with versis/polys as well, or just with straight mono leaders?

To my scandi brothers, I finally got a Scandi head for my switch (Z-5110, 11 foot 5 weight); I ended up going with the Airflo 270 grain compact scandi and a miracle braid running line. This setup cast beautifully, however, I'm wondering what would be the optimal leader setup for fishing streamers with this particular rod and line. I tried a 65 grain fast sink versi leader I had on hand (10 feet and 65 grains) with a few feet of 3x to an unweighted streamer, I couldn't get it to pick up the leader nicely on the forward cast and it would dump instead of laying out nicely. I should mention that the setup did work nice in places where I could put more line behind me, but I was half over handing, not very pretty or practical when I usually have to fish from shore or can only wade out a few feet with trees right behind me in the spots I've been fishing lately, most of these places are tidal still waters, narrow beeches with sharp drop offs a few feet out. Should I try a lighter versi leader or something something completely different? I'm not sure if I need shorter and heavier or be trying a lighter leader that will pick up more easily, maybe cut a few feet off the back of the leader I have?. I'm hoping that made some sense. C

Go for it! I got a 5 weight switch and dig it. Make sure to do some research and seek some experienced advice on how to best line your particular rod for the fishing you want to do before buying a line(s); switches can be tricky to line.

What gets me is that they don't plow many of the secondary roads after it snows in Calgary. I've lived in the NW for three years and many of the streets turn into sheets of glass from packed down snow. It's sometimes like this for days. Where I'm from out east every single road gets plowed every time it snows.

Great, will give it a go this week. thanks!

One more quick question. For the welded splice is it necessary to do welded loops first and then weld them together or can I just taper the two ends butt them up and weld em?

I also liked the part about Steelhead striking short. Last summer I lost fish two nice fish to short strikes (sight fishing), I'm hoping stingers will help this. The show with Aaron Jasper on that site is also good. He's got some great info regarding nymph rig design.

Great discussion about rigging stingers here, play button is at bottom of page, fast forward to 47 minutes and listen till about 52 mins: http://www.askaboutflyfishing.com/speakers...lani-waller.cfm

Brand new vid, I'm not sure it's even out yet. These are some lucky dudes! http://vimeo.com/3074182

Shrimp Cascade

Curious what size hooks everyone is using for their trout stingers? I stumbled across some Mustad 92567R #4's today, they look like they'll do the trick great, but too big for Bow trout?

The Deranged Parrot v1.0

Exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you.

I'm out of town and I know nothing about these so I was hoping someone could recommend a traditional style aluminum fly box designed to hold salmon and spey type flies so I could buy it online. The style with the clips for individual flies is what I'm looking for, I think. I accidentally crushed a bunch of my flies last year lugging them around in a bugger box. I'm jealous of yall getting to fish the Bow year round. The only option I have right now is tidal water. C.

I'm jut wondering about preference for length of the stinger. I figure it would be optimal to have the stringer just hidden within the longest material on the fly, and not any longer, so as not to miss fish to short strikes. I've been experimenting with this and have tied up some Clousers and buggers with small stingers, haven't fished them yet though.

Within the last year a guy posted a review of the 5. I tried to search for it with no luck, you might be able to find it if you root around.

I got the 5110 switch and really like it. Great for long line nymphing, roll casts triple nymph rigs and mends line beautifully. I haven't found a line that I like for casting bigger streamers, but I hear compact skagit lines do it well. I'm gonna pick up one and give er a go. I would think for the Bow that a 5 weight switch or a spey rod of similar weight would work well.

I just watched Spey to Z last night, this video is awesome. I found the instruction to be very well planned out and all three guys are awesome teachers. The Rio video is great as well but I think some of the basic principles of spey casting aren't stressed enough for beginners. I'm curious to see the Skagit vid. Does anyone have a copy and want to trade for either of these other vids, I have a bunch of other fly fishing and tying vids as well?

Awesome looking fly! May I ask what size salmon hooks work well with trout?

DNA Clouser with stinger

I didn't realize it had a tip built in, I thought it was just a special taper designed for casting heavy flies.

I have the #6 Zaxis and I wanna be able to toss heavy and wind resistant trout streamers with it. I've been told that the 200 grain SA Streamer line will work great on this rod. However, I'm wondering if a #7 GPX would be similar (I already have one), it's the same weight approximately, maybe even a touch lighter. The details are: the rod is designed for a six weight line (160 grains) and the GPX is a heavy 7, so somewhere above 185 grains (standard 7) but below an eight weight at 210. The taper cant be the same as the SA express but the GPX has gotta be better than a standard six weight line at tossing streamers and I'm pretty sure the rod can handle it. And, if it does turn out to be heavy couldn't I just chop a bit off the front? Wouldn't this make the GPX more aggressive like a streamer taper anyways? I was also wondering if anyone knew if streamer lines generally are a line weight, or a line weight and a half, heavy?

I've seen videos where flies are rigged to have the stinger hook point facing up and others where it's facing down. I was wondering if anyone knew the theory behind putting the hook up?

Sat down to tye some dries and nearly pulled my hair out, so I made this.

So you just jam the tube between the bodkin handle and the vice jaws?