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Posted By: Blu_Cs Lines for Spey Rods - 03/07/17
Friends:

I started a new post because my last one started to stray into different topics.

My quandary now is fly lines for Spey Rods. I have two spey rod blanks I am tying up for a trip to Alaska this summer. Handles are now attached and I need to place and roll the guides.

The 13' blank says (on the blank) it is rated for an 8/9. the 15' blank says its rated for a 10/11. Both are Rainshadow blanks.

This is my first foray into Spey Rods (aside from an experience 50 years ago, from which I remember little), however I am no stranger to fly fishing with what I have recently learned are called "one-handed" rods. Now I learn that I should be looking at Scandi or Skagit lines.

OK, I'll bite, but how do I cross reference the standard AFTMA fly line weights to one of these other line types?

Thanks in advance!

Blu_Cs
Posted By: 1minute Re: Lines for Spey Rods - 03/08/17
I still see some Spey lines with weight designations offered on the box. Presently, I'm in the same boat with a new build of a 16 footer in hand.

My solution will be to attend a local Spay Clave where the manufacturers show up with all their products, and one can walk to the river and give each a try for a hour or so at no cost. Not aware of any such event, however, in your neck of the woods. If one can find contact info for the actual blank manufacturer, they will probably have some grain window information for you.

The Scandi and Skagit setups are fine and rigged such that one can switch among a variety of tips (heavy sinkers to floaters) to match conditions. They are head systems, designed mostly for distance, and one also needs some running or shooting line behind. I'd be inclined to line up for the heavy side of one's rod designation. If things are too heavy, then one can gradually reduce the lengths of his heads until things come into balance. These would likely offer the greatest versatility if one is going off into unknown waters and conditions. Their downside is that one can do very little effective mending once his fly is in the water.

If one's into mostly shallow water fishing, then I tend toward long belly super Spey lines or even floating double tapers. I don't like to waste time striping in line between casts. The whole idea of Spey rods is that one can handle fishable lengths of line with minimal manipulations.

If there's anyone at all around with some lines, I'd also suggest trying their setups on your rods. Usually one begins casting, gradually lengthening his line until suddenly the system seems to come alive. At that point, make an attempt to determine the weight (grains) of the line/leader that was outside of ones tip top. That would be a good starting point if one is making purchases based solely on grain weight.

Also, if one is not truly an adept Spey caster, he might round up a local authority that can really give the rods an effective test. Spey casting is easy, but not for those that have 30+ years of single handed work behind them. Newbie's learn faster than experienced single handers.

One might also go to a Spey forum and pose the same question mentioning the brand and all possible specs for his rods. There's a good chance someone has handled similar makes and models, and they can offer authoritative advice.

Here's a link to a forum I frequent:
Spey pages link

Here's a discussion of your issue on that same forum.
Line designation link

If at all possible, do try to find a source where one can give things a test run. At retail, one can easily tie up $100 to $175 for a Spey line and that's a bummer if one is not happy.

Good luck with your builds and keep us up on your doings,
Posted By: 1minute Re: Lines for Spey Rods - 03/09/17
Forgot to mention one potential downer issue with the Skagit/Scandi head systems, and it's the loop to loop connections for assembling the components. Under normal conditions, they'll run through the guides fairly easily. If one's out in freezing situations, something I seem to do about 3 times a year, those connections hold extra water, ice up heavily, and often stall at the guides. Makes casting difficult and can generate a break off if one gets a heavy hit and can't feed line.

It's damned near impossible though to acquire dedicated sink tip Spey lines in the US anymore, so one's locked into the loop to loop deals. Progress in a direction I don't really care for. Seems to be a bit more variety in lines if one is willing to do shipping from the European markets and can think in pounds.

Have a good one,


Only crazy people fish at those times, so one should be fine in your neighborhood. A nice November session on eastern Oregon's John Day River
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Here's short grain window discussion that might help.
Grain Windown Link


Posted By: Customstox Re: Lines for Spey Rods - 03/25/17
Open up youtube and then do a search for Red's fly shop and scroll down through them until you find one about spey lines. They do a very informative video on what works
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