Jump to content
Fly Fusion Forums

toolman

Members
  • Posts

    2,570
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    172

Posts posted by toolman

  1. Flow rates have dropped from 300cms too 150cms in the past two weeks and the T-8 tips are now effective. Soon, floating and intermediate tips will be my go to set ups. I would like to try intermediate sinking heads for the fast riffle water.

  2. A fast sinking Scandi head would have been excellent during the past 6 weeks of high flows on the Bow river. I used 14', T-8 tips, with weighted flys and seldom got hung up through the swing untill the line almost hit the bank on the hang down. Fortuneatly there were lots of trout holding in the slow water along the bank and striking when the fly finally reached the zone. There were many fish holding further off the bank in very fast water, but it was difficult getting the fly down deep enough and getting the swing speed correct.

  3. Hi Al,

    The front tapers on Scandi lines are too fine and do not have enough mass at the tip to turn over a sink tip as heavy as T-14, unless it was a very short piece. The front taper of the Spey line must be at least 14 grains/foot to turn over T-14 and then there is the mass of the fly to add as well.

    The majority of Scandi lines work well with medium size/weight flys and sink tips up to T-8, around 70-80 grains total. Some Scandi lines have fine tapers, such as the Elixir, AFS Heads, while others have stronger tapers, such as the AirFlo, Guideline PT, Vision Ace Short, Tonic Heads.

    T-14 is for very large/heavy flies and deep and/or fast water. For Skagit, there are some lines that have a tapered tip such as the Airflo N.W. Skagit head, which allows the use of T-10, too about 90-100grains. Compact Skagits can handle T-14 and large flys with ease, as there is very little front taper and the line weight at the end of the Head may be 20-25 grains/foot or more.

  4. Rick, the smaller trout are usually pushed into the shallow water along the shorelines. When the flows drop back to near normal, the fish will settle in for the summer and there will be areas holding many small trout. I call these areas, nursery runs and usually avoid fishing there, but sometimes when I am swinging flies to the bank, the little guys hit. Last season, there were a lot of small trout settled in the run across from the FC boatlaunch, also in the trib at Mallard point, Bonnybrook, below the Southland bridge etc.

  5. I am seeing a healthy balance of all age classes of fish, including smaller trout. The smaller fish often need to live on the fringes, due to the pressure put on them by the larger fish, who take the best territory. There sometimes are locations that will hold a lot of jeuvenilles.

  6. Rob,

    I would consider an 8/9 Vision Ace DH floating head, 29g @ 10.7m. Cut the line (from the rear of the head) back too 2.5x rod lengths and add an appropriate polyleader (3m-5m).

    The Vision Ace DH line will Spey cast, Overhead cast, Roll cast very nicely and you can use all types of Polyleaders from floating to super fast sink rate. They are currently my favorite Scandi line.

    Vision Ace lines are also available in shorter lengths for casting large/weighted flies.

    http://www.visionflyfishing.com/page.php?p...=32&pid=128

     

    Best of luck to you and your colleagues on your fishing holidays. Take lots of photo's/vids to show us.

  7. You need to keep the pressure on the big trout or they will sometimes just lie on the rocks with little energy wasted or bolt downstream on you. As soon as the fight starts, put the pressure on. If they take off, let them go a little ways to burn up some steam, then pull again. Anytime they stop, put the pressure on big time. I don't often have scraps that last more than a minute or two before they are at my feet or they get away. Don't forget, we all lose some time. Also, apply lift pressure with your rod held high at the 12:00 o'clock position and if the trout jumps... yell loudly....YEEEEHAWWWWW!

    Just to remind yourself what a good time you're having.

    ps. Nice Broonies!

  8. A big thank you to TG, adc and dryfly, for their generous contributions to the StreamWatch program. Glad that you gents found a few fishies to play with. Incredible photo's dryfly. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

  9. Hey Gordon, I still have not had the chance to cast the Vision Spey Ace long belly line I picked up from you.

    BTW, when you get out fishing on the river Spey in the next week or two, I'd like to see a few pics of those Sea run Browns that are starting to come in.

  10. Got a chance to get out on the water for an hour to test cast the first of my set of 6 new Vision Ace shooting heads.

    I used the 6/7 @ 23g and 10m in length, on my Loop signature 6120 and it was a perfect match for the rod.

    This is one of the nicest casting Scandinavian Shooting Heads I have ever tried. Can't wait to cast them with a variety of floating/sinking polyleaders, flies and also with my other rods. I purchased the Vision Ace heads from Deschutes Anglers, in Maupin, Oregon.

  11. It sure was a fun flyfishing adventure with some great guys. Tim did a fantastic job as our Host/Guide for the weekend.

    Many thanks for your generosity, hospitality and support of the Streamwatch program.

    A few more pics...

     

    Bloom...

    IMG_1174.jpg

     

    Rick...

    StoneflysandHopper026.jpg

     

    Greg...

    StoneflysandHopper043.jpg

     

    My new rod...Loop 6120 Signature Series. This stick absolutely rocks!

    IMG_1175.jpg

  12. Is that a reliable indicator of a business sectors economic viability?

    Lots of young people also don't want to work up north in the oil patch, (like their dad did..) but that does'nt mean there's no money in the oil business. My own kids want nothing to do with the industry I work in, even though I earn a respectable living doing so.

    ps. Back to the water issue... :P

  13. I'm no expert but I believe the farmers may need that water to grow food. And since I like to eat I guess I'm alright with it. ;)

     

    Farmers grow crops to make MONEY...whether their crops are for human consumption, bird food or bio fuel...it's all about making ca$h.

  14. I use a variety of sizes, but I try and match the size of the natural aquatic worms found in the river, if I can find any.

    The aquatic worms I've seen recently, were about a size #8-10. As mentioned, I also use SJW's as control flys, to regulate depth, so in fast water, I use a larger/heavier worm to get the rig to the bottom, quickly.

    Also, try using Red Bloodworms (Midge Larva), in size #14-18. They are common in the Bow and a lot of fish will be eating them in May/June.

×
×
  • Create New...