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headscan

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Posts posted by headscan

  1. Ok, I completely retract what I said about the Rio AFS head. I gave it another try today and it works incredibly well. Since I don't have a skagit head for this rod yet I used it to throw some big streamers. It was a little tougher than using a skagit, but still got the job done.

  2. Keep in mind that it's still (like all things Google) beta software. There are still going to be bugs and various other things that break it for the first while.

     

    I installed it on a Windows virtual machine and thought it was ok. The interface matches Windows, but unless they make the interface as nice as Safari and Firefox on OS X I won't be using it.

  3. Has anyone fished the Willamette in and around Portland? I'm going to be in Portland for work later this month and I'm wondering if it's worth bringing a long rod with me. If I have to go too far outside of Portland for a shot at anything then I probably won't bother. Any other options that I'm not aware of in the area?

  4. The reason I prefer nail knots rather than loops is 1. Shooting line with a nail knot is much more productive than with loops..I find you lose way too much energy as the loop clunks its way through the guides....Nail knots do not lose as much energy..2. When fishing in "Icy" conditions the impact of ice on a nail knot is very minimal...Loops seems to accumulate ice and really get clunky. 3. When fighting a fish and the nail knot hauls through the guides @ mach 10 not much clunking....the loop wants to take guides out with it. The weakness of the Nail knot is you must constaintly be on top off it to make sure you are not pulling through your existing running line...if you don't then you lose your line :crybaby:

     

    Since I'm using scandi and skagit heads the loop is pretty much always outside my rod tip when I cast, so I'm not concerned about that. Plus part of the reason I went to mono running line was to switch between heads without having to change spools. I'll keep the icing in mind for the winter, though.

  5. So I tried the Rio 5/6 AFS head on this rod today. The 40+ beats it hands down. Don't know if it's the AFS head, me having trouble finding the right load point, or what but I'm sticking with the 40+.

  6. almost cried one time i blew my Skagit head off @ my nail knot to my slickshooter and watched it swing into a log jam...spent 30 mins and almost died a few times over trying to get it back...ended up going shopping and getting a new 550 grain skagit.

     

    Heh, this is exactly my greatest fear since moving to mono running lines. I'm using loops instead of a nail knot, but a loop can fail too...

  7. Headscan,

     

    I have an airflo wallet loaded up with 20ft of t-14, 15 ft of W/C floating tip, 5ft and 10 ft cheaters, a 300 grain 24 ft bigboy, 400 grain 24 ft bigboy, 500 grain 24ft bigboy and 600 grain 24ft bigboy...pretty full wallet however is does its job...for a Scando head and Skagit head it should work but thats about all she'll hold...But wallets are way cool to have and i pack 4 with me so think you may be that guy. B)

     

    Did you get the Airflo wallet locally? I looked on their website and didn't see it. I'm ok with having more than one of them and just having all the lines for one rod in one wallet, then the tips in another. Don't like to have too much in a single spot anyways. Almost had a heart attack when I dropped my tip wallet in a few feet of water once...

  8. Yeah, that's much bigger than what I'm looking for. I'd like something that I can fit into a jacket or shirt pocket when I travel light. If the Rio wallet was just an inch taller and maybe half an inch thicker that would be exactly what I want. Maybe next time I'm in Wholesale or Russel's I'll take a look at those worm wallets if they have them.

  9. Now that I've moved to using mono running lines on my spey reels I'm stuck trying to carry my various heads around. I have a Rio wallet for my skagit tips, but it's too small to fit scandi and skagit heads. When I google the only results I get back are for the same Rio wallet and a Cortland one that looks to be the same size or smaller. Does anyone have a suggestion where to find something like the Rio wallet only large enough for heads?

  10. If you aren't having any luck on dries or nymphs then streamers are definitely worth a shot. Some days I head out with the intention of only fishing streamers. They can also be really effective in the dark or when the water is cloudy because of their size. If you go by the theory that fish "see" using their lateral lines when there's little visibility then it makes sense that they'll detect a size 6 streamer moving more water easier than a size 16 nymph. Since a fish typically won't expend more energy to eat than it gains from the food they may be more willing to move for a streamer than a tiny nymph if there isn't a steady supply of nymphs in their feeding lanes. If you see lots of baitfish in the water and not much bug activity, something like a clouser might be a good bet. It all comes down to knowing what's in and around the water, whether it's bugs, minnows, or leaches.

     

    When you fish a streamer, do the swing and strip like RedWiggler says, but make sure to let it dangle for a second or so at the bottom of the swing. I get the majority of my hits on the dangle or the first strip, though sometimes they'll hit during the swing or follow the streamer all the way to your feet. Also, vary the way you strip the streamer in. Sometimes they like slow and steady but small, fast, jerky strips can be really effective.

  11. Isn't clunky how Dec described the Deer Creek? The Decho has a nice medium action that feels like it almost flexes to the cork (have to see someone else cast it to watch the flex). I didn't feel that I needed to adjust my casting from the Goran to this rod. Fantastic rod for around $300. Anyone looking for an entry-priced two-hander has to consider these rods alongside the Deer Creek.

  12. Picked up a 12'2" 5 weight Dec Hogan Echo (Decho) rod at Fish Tales today. Lined it with an 8 weight Airflo 40+ head attached to an SA mono shooting line and 10 foot floating polyleader.

     

    In short, this is a kick ass light spey set up. At 12'2" the rod is a good length without being too heavy and has an action that totally suits my casting style. Feels just as good shooting a few rod lengths of running line or just moving the head around. I was on river left (my weak side) and still managing to get beautiful casts on doubles, circles, and snake rolls with little effort. Can't wait to get the Airflo Compact Skagit 420 so I can give that a whirl on it.

     

    As a bonus while I was getting it dialed in I hooked a smallish rainbow. He wasn't big enough to go to the reel or anything, but still managed to put a good bend in the rod and didn't feel like I could just surf him in with it.

     

    Yes, I'm aware that I have an illness. I call it RAD - Rod Acquisition Disorder.

  13. If that's the case, you could do that with headscan's line loop as well to make it glide through the guides better.

     

    Never tried it, but I suppose it could work if you can fit the tubing over. Much easier to use some UV knot sense or Aquaseal to sort of form a bullet or torpedo shape around the the part with the nail knots so it doesn't catch on the guides. Also keeps water from seeping into the end of the line which can cause your floating line to sink when it gets waterlogged. I think the tubing on the folded loop would potentially cause it to be too bulky.

     

    The good thing about the folded loop is that if it breaks (it eventually will) while you're on the water you can easily make a new one in five minutes with a little practice.

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