jack

Before you buy another line, take about 70' off the reel, clean it and treat it with vinyl protectant(any auto stuff you have) allow to dry, then try casting. If the line is improved then the finish of the line is suspect. If not, take a magnifying glass and check your rod guides for abrasive scoring. From personal experience, I was not really satisfied with my casting, some years ago and on closer examination found my rod guides had been scratched up pretty good from using dirty fly lines. Ended up changing out all my rod guides and painful lesson learned. Just a thought. j

It is an exercise in using a bit of patience and allowing the backcast to form and load the rod. For guys who insist on the fore and back "rapidcast" and who can't adapt, it will be a disaster. It is not as ungainly as chuck 'n duck, though. j

Free advise: Do the research on the lines you are contemplating and the alternatives. The Rio specs will show you what will cast the best and why. http://www.rioproducts.com/photos/file/RIO...ng_08_specs.pdf Rio Gold was developed for Sage's fast action, instant rookie gratification casting. Fast action rod, combined with a super weight forward head will allow a newbie to cast 60' on the first try, without having to learn anything: "Wow, whatta great setup !!" But, experienced casters can use the same lines for punching wind with their "rocket rods", also. Don't leave lines on reels for 6 years. The PVC degrades. If you put lines away, take them off the reel, coil them and put them in a ziplock and park them out of the light in a cool/dry storage. j

I doubt if that's possible. (Here comes the aforementioned subjectivity and preference, as well as some knowledge-based bias) ZAxis is a "casting stick" in my opinion, while Scott tends to build "fishing sticks", even their fast action ones. j

Rod "action" is always subject to personal objectivity and past preferences. (Is this a 2pc by any chance?). The S3 is light and fast, but, has a progressive taper that allows a gradual increase in "backbone" as the load deepens below the upper 1/3 of the rod. They are highly sought after. I liken them to a Gatti G4 with "attitude". There are similar rods "out there" that are not as pricey. The S3 is to me, what a fly rod should be like and my own rod design criteria reflect that mindset. j

It's actually a common setup on steelhead rivers in Warshington and Oregon. Brian Niska developed a new Loop "Whistler" Spey Line(manufactured by S.A.) that incorporates the concept into a single spey line with a very small diameter section in between the sinking heads and the floating head section of the line. Brian explained the concept to me on the phone one evening, two winters ago and I used it on the Bella Coola for salmon and the unintentional steelhead last year. It works for spey and single hand. My next "research" is on the Columbia this summer. That is big water and pretty deep(12'-15') in places where one would like to drag a weighted "Electric Bow River Bugger" through. Keep in mind that you won't need as much of a sinking head if you use this system, the T14 doesn't have to drag the floating line down with it, so less weighted line is required. j

If you are fishing rivers(more than 4-6' deep), an old "Left Coast" trick is to separate the floating line and the sinking tip with a 3'-4' length of 25-30lb mono. This allows the floating line to stay on top of the water, the sinktip to settle below the faster flow(top foot or so of water on a river) and effectively get down to the slower water near the bottom where fish travel. The thin diameter mono does not "hydraulically lift" the sink tip from the bottom like a larger diameter fly line would. j

Appreciate the objective input, guys. The national head office is in Calgary, and I think probably it is his intention to stay for some time, which will include a family. Move will probably not be until late summer. "Fishing" is not on the radar, yet, he is still involved in competitive teams sports, baseball, basketball, volleyball, etc. j

Stay open-minded, keep trying sticks. Just tape over the brand names and find one that fits you. Then look at fitting the budget. Nymphing works best if you can "high-stick" at various times. There is also a requiremewnt for the odd roll cast. Longer is better. j

http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?...=8565&st=20 j

It will be tested this summer, then by September we have to decide if there is a market and if it will fit properly. The idea is bamboo performance, simulated bamboo looks and an extra tip, for a non-bamboo price. 8' 4pc 3/4wt. j

Glad that rod is working as intended. The design came about from a combination of ideas for long leader chironomid techniques combining punch to combat the afternoon plateau "breezes" on interior B.C. stillwaters. Two of the protoypes coming are for small streams and rivers with resident "fun-sized" trout. Both are moderate action, one, an 8' 4pc with a "bamboo-like action" and the other will be a "trout spey". Both rod concepts came to me after the Elk River drift and spending a couple of days on the Crow and a trib of the Livingstone. j

There are a couple of prototypes coming in June that will need "real world" testing. Tim will be getting one of each for evaluation related to potential in the market. Two of the new designs are directed toward Alberta fly fishing. Amundson dealers will also be receiving the new fly boxes by mid-June: MSRP: $19.95

If they are TFO "First Cast" they are probably out of China, same factory that makes Cortland entry-level lines(and many other brands). If they are TFO "Special Delivery" they are probably SA made. Just my guess from looking at the product and packaging(and knowing a little about both suppliers). j

Ryan: Apply at all the colleges/universities/SAIT. Should be the same as here in BC. They are changing out systems right now and are always crying for IT people. My "much better half" is the administrator of Thompson Rivers U. campus, here in Bill's Puddle, and they and the main campus in Kamloops are always short people. j

No details at all, Mike. Head office is in the NE, but there are several other locations possible also. "The Man" just told him to start packing his bags. If/when he gets a house set up, my honey and I will be there. Trade you river time for stillwater lessons. j

Doesn't matter if he fishes, Colin, The "Old Man" will come and visit !! j

"Major career move." He'll be part of a new management team. j

"Traffic from outlying communities is an issue. They don't want to have to cross the city every day. Please send several trainloads of good weather with them. " Appreciate that insight. With exception of today, there really hassn't been any to ship, honest. No doubt they will be looking to buy. The home values in 'Loops have been pretty good over the past 3 years, with no real drop over the last 6 months. Thanks guys. j

Our #1 son may be headed for Calgary this fall as part of a corporate management shuffle in a major grocery chain. Thought I'd take advantage of resident knowledge and get some recommendations for areas to buy and live for two "D.I.N.K.s" (Double Income, No Kids....yet) Daughter-in-law will be looking for a position in Human Resources. They will probably be flogging their 3 bedroom 3 yr. old home in Kamloops, if this thing comes together. Thanks for any suggestions.

A very, very knowledgeable flyfishing guru once told me: "If you're doing everything right and still not getting into fish, add 2' of tippet." j

"Funny you should mention an "inexpensive" version on a Fly Fishing website. Sorry Rick, kind of lost it there for a sec. Reverted back to being the habitual "frrrrrugal lad". j

12 lb "Not So Secret Lake" AF3N on the WWF4-1005. I don't know about anyone else, but I had to "learn" new landing techniques for big fish on the 10' rod, in the pontoon. And if I can "plug" the most helpful "accessory", my long-handled Moby Whale C&R net, is a livesaver.... make that arm and fish saver. j

Being an old bugger with many moons(and suns) in unshaded environments, from age 55 yrs I have developed a "sun allergy" that manifests itself as an itchy rash and small blisters on the backs of my hands and forearms. It is a precursor to skin cancer. SPF 50-60 (Safeway has an inexpensive waterproof type), sungloves and long-sleeves are my "flyfishing ensemble" for the past 10 years or so. It's just something one must do to avoid a potential ugliness such as Melanoma. Damned if I'll give up flyfishing. j

The "nominal fee" is to cover shipping and handling from the warehouse in Burnaby, B.C. Nothing else. I know it brings up ongoing questions, but with mail and courier rates changing(always upwards, have you noticed?) it didn't seem practical to set a specific "amount", because to CYA the shipping would mean charging over and above the true shipping, initially, to cover inflation "down the road". Warranty replacements are shipped at the most reliable and inexpensive way and we are negotiating new rates all the time, in order to keep all our shipping costs down. By the way, I just spent 3 days "testing" the new Wind Warrior 905-2 and 904-2, chironomiding on some Cariboo, BC stillwaters. These are a couple of sweet sticks, but, when the damn winds came up, the situation called for the 1005-4 to punch a 6wt SA Sharkskin "Magnum" line with indicator, swivel and 15' leader/tippet into the teeth of that "breeze". j