Light line - Spey v DT

[munro]

For fishing last summer I used my 13' Alltmor 7-9 with a Snowbee 9/10 Spey Floater.
I reckoned this line was a tad heavy (Daiwa recommended a size 8 Daiwa Spey but I couldn't get hold of one)
During a recent visit to Dundee I called into a well known tackle shop and after some discussion left with Cortland 444 DT8F which was sold to me on the basis that longer casts were less likely in summer and presentation would be better (cost £40). Today whilst idling away the time on e bay I spotted an Orvis Wonderline Advantage WF8F Spey- never being able to miss a bargain I bought this for £18.
Questions - Are these Orvis lines any good? If so which one do I put on my reel? Spey or DT?

[munro]

Graham, apart from the "feel " of the line when casting what are the differences in practice between the two types of line. I have a cupboard full of DT lines which I bought before I joined the "other" forum. After reading the recommendations there I abandoned DT lines more or less untried for Ian Gordon Floater and Loop Quattro lines (both of which which I like hence the purchase of the Orvis Spey line)

[macd]

I agree with graham on this. When Im fishing light, I use a 13ft daiwa and a DT 9. Wouldnt bother with a spey line.

I need to replace it now, but not many DTs around. mine is a Hardy ice blue, but they dont make it now- its was a cracker of a line.

Anyone know where I can get DTs (other than from drinking heavily) ;D

[munro]

If the DT's confer no advantage -in fact from what you say they seem inferior (at least in terms of distance).
I think I'll just let them stay in the cupboard and write the expense off to experience. I'm quite used to casting Spey lies now so unless there was a real advantage with a DT line there seems no point in messing about with it.

[munro]

Graham,
On the Teith overhead casting is practically impossible for most of the beats I fish so its all Spey or Roll casting - how would the DT perform as against the Spey line?

[ceilidh]

As Graham says you won't be able to shoot as much line when fishing a DT, so you are casting virtually all the line which the rod can lift and only gathering in a short amount before recasting. However, when fishing a floater in fastish water you may have slightly better line control since the belly of the DT will be easier to mend than the thinner running line of the spey lines. In slower stretches, where one may need to handline to give more life to the fly, I would prefer the spey lines since you can shoot all the line, whereas with a DT you might need to do a roll cast to extend the line before recasting. If I had to choose just one line I would opt for the spey type, but I do still use a DT quite frequently. The Alltmors have a nice ' easy' action which is ideal for a DT. I suspect that some of the modern ultra fast actioned rods would be less happy with this type of line.

[munro]

On arriving at the river what would determine anyone whether to fit the spool with the DT as opposed to the Spey line ? As far as I can see nobody has pointed out any significant advantage to using the DT (apart from a slightly better mending in fastish water against which however needs to be set a loss of distance)

[macd]

munro said:

On arriving at the river what would determine anyone whether to fit the spool with the DT as opposed to the Spey line ? As far as I can see nobody has pointed out any significant advantage to using the DT (apart from a slightly better mending in fastish water against which however needs to be set a loss of distance)

better presentation.

loss of distance is down to the caster not the line.

[munro]

Thanks guys - beginning to make sense to me. Sounds like in the summer it's likely to be the DT for the Teith and the Spey line (possibly) for middle Tweed . I'll just spool both lines.