toolman

Great post flyon, thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts on the topic...

LOL...I actually turned the sound up...hahaha...purrrrfect...

Your *hit is getting a little old too Max...

Close, I'm from Dalhousie, but I did live in Campbellton for a couple of years as well. The Miramichi is an incredible river system and the next time I head back to the Maritimes, I'm going to try and fish it for a couple of days.

Really... no character generalizations there in your comments, Al? Maybe you should review your post again. But, don't waste your time crafting a reply, as "it would be lost on me"...You probably don't see anything wrong with that comment either, eh...seeing as how "I need to have my head checked throughly" and all...

So, when we disagree, you choose to make personal attacks?...How about keeping your comments/opinions directed at the subject matter and stick too sharing your experiences. And try and accept that others (not in your small clique), may have something to add to the discussion that may be contrary to your opinions. I too, expressed my preference, experiences and opinion and have also stated many times, that fly fisherman should fish whatever way that suits them best. I also listened respectfully, without making personal attacks, to your views and opinions on the subject....But, if someone makes claims that are contrary to fact/science, then expect that some may disagree. And contrary to your belief, successfull flyfishing is indeed about logic and understanding the science...

You have to wonder then, why many of the International flyfishing team members are showing up at the World Flyfishing Championships with 11'- 12' rods, too fish streams the size of Stauffer, using these rods for all of their fishing techniques, from the various nymphing tactics, including close up fishing such as Czech/Polish nymphing, dry fly presentations, Loch fishing out of boats or from Lake shorelines, etc.? Contrary to what you guys may believe is best, I think these guys have the science of flyfishing pretty much figured out...IMHO, long rods rule, anytime, anyplace, anywhere...

Jay, the Rio AFS line will be fine... Good luck and good fishing. We'll hit the Bow in the New Year.

LOL...Thanks again, Orvisonly...Always a good punch line to go with the bs...I think we should start a petition to make the Bow Spey fishing only... and "bad luck shall fall upon all, who cast their fly upstream..."

LOL...Yeah, there's been a lot of re-inventing the worm, over the years, Don..

This nymphing technique is known as Spanish Nymphing, using what is sometimes refered too as a Bolero rig...(sp?). The point fly is usually the heaviest, but some fisherman use split shot instead of a point fly. (I don't) I've had success with this method using 20' leaders, during hatch season, when the trout are willing to sit/feed higher in the water column, using emergers on the top droppers and a heavy SJW/Clouser/Stonefly nymph as the point fly, ect. But, if the trout have their noses stuck in the rocks, then that's where all of the nymphs need to be as well and you will lose a few flys. The differences between many of the European nymphing techniques often appear to be very subtle, but when used in the appropriate situations, for the correct water type/conditions, they are very effective. http://www.bluequillangler.com/BQA-Univers...nish-Nymphing_2

I understand the more enjoyable part of using your 9'6"single hander for nymphing, if that's your thing and what you know how to do best, but can you explain how using a 9'6" single hander is far better for nymphing, than a two hander? What perceived advantages do you see and using what Nymphing methods/techniques are you seeing these benefits, High Sticking, Czech Nymphing, Long line indicator fishing, Spanish Nymphing, Polish Nymphing?

Hey Gordon, you also fished the Bow this year.

I've had the opportunity to work with some great Spey casting instructors over the past 7 months, which really put my focus on the casting and less on the fishing...That and getting out on the water another 100 times since May, too practise, has also made a big difference...I did sneak in some fish slammin' along the way though, as the fishing was just too good to resist...

Jay, what line are you using on your Loop Spey rod?

I never roll cast but always use Spey casts where the line is completely aerialized off of the water. Doubles, Circles, Snake Rolls, Perry Pokes etc.

Al, I can cast a heavy triple Nymph rig using any type of Spey cast, without any problem with tangles.

I spent the majority of my year on the Bow, as usual and the fishing was sensational... I did get out too a couple of interesting waters on a few occassions, with trips too the Palmer Ranch, in Southern Alberta...private Trophy Lakes in the Cypress Hills of eastern Alberta and Bullshead Res., near Medicine Hat. I had to cancel planned Steelhead trips to the Bulkley River in Smithers, BC and a couple of trips back too my home town to fish the mighty Restigouche for Atlantics. Being the single parent of two teenagers, sometimes sucks...well most of the time really...lol.

I think that learning the different nymphing methods, swinging drys/sink tips and learning to make dry fly presentations with two handed rods, makes you a better fisherman, rather than only learning one method/tactic. Same goes for line systems/casting styles. Learning how to cast/fish with Traditional long lines, Full sunk lines, Scandinavian Shooting heads with polytips, Skagit heads with sink tips, Full sink Scandi heads etc, will also make you a better fisherman. If you learn the how, when and where to use these different options, you will ultimately become a more skilled/experienced/successfull Spey fisherman. Same goes for all of the different Touch n Go or Sustained Anchor Spey casts, including, the Single Spey, Double Spey, Reverse Double, Circle C, Snap T, Perry Poke, Wombat Cast, Scandinavian Spiral, Snake Roll, Two Hand Overhead, Side Arm Spey, using Traditional Scotish Spey Casting, Underhand Casting or Modern Spey Casting techniques. I have studied/practised them all and they are all usefull for different conditions, presentations. As Al mentioned, why would anyone want to take the short road to boredom? That said, folks should fish any way that suits them best, regardless of what anyone else thinks of it...

http://www.flylines.com/templateimages/fly.../Airflo2008.pdf The specs that Headscan has mentioned, are for the Polyshoot XT shooting lines which feature low coil memory, using braided cores, which I have not tried yet. They have different color code/specs than the Ridge lines. They might be better for the cold water, but the stiffer Ridge running lines probably shoot a little better. I have not had problems with the Ridgelines coiling in cold weather/water, but I'll have to pick up an XT and give it a go.

Check out the Airflo 2008 PDF catalogue. It takes a minute to load...Ridge Running lines, #20 yellow and #30 orange... http://www.flylines.com/templateimages/fly.../Airflo2008.pdf

They must have changed their running line specs and color code system, as I have been using these running lines for the past couple of years. Thanks for the heads up.

The Ridgeline 20lb running lines are yellow....The orange is 30lb. As for softer/slower tip flex and hook sets, I used a Deer Creek Spey (which has a softer tip), for nymphing last year and had no problems with it. I really like my Loop Goran 6120 for nymphing, but I have started using my winter rods recently and am re-discovering them again, with better line matches than I used on them last winter. This weekend I pulled out my Loop Blueline 8116 and lined it with a Vision Ace 7/8, which was pretty sensational and a very effective nymph set up. Last year, I primarily used this rod with a 450 Compact Skagit and sink tips. I usually carry two rods for my fishing, one for upstream presentations with Nymphs/Drys and one rod for down and across swing presentations with Drys/Soft Hackles/Nymphs/Streamers.

Many missed takes are due to slack in the underwater leader/tippet system, which delays movement in the indicator when a fish strikes. I like to use #30 Airflo Ridgeline Shooting lines, as they float well, mend well, have high visibility and I can get a good grip on it when casting or managing line through the drift.

An 11'6"-12'6" two hander, can be a magic wand for high sticking, czech nymphing or indicator fishing, giving precise line control out too great distances if needed. I can stand on the shoreline and slam fish from 10' too 80' away. Spey rods give me the casting/fishing advantages, that I don't get from a single handed rod. I routinely cast triple fly rigs with few tangles or issues with turn over. My favorite nymphing line would be a 32'-33' Vision Ace shooting head, which casts effortlessly, turns over well at the front end, floats high and mends well. I add a short, custom cut 4'-5' Polyleader too the end of the line and then add a hand tied Fluro leader.