64$ Question

[potbelly]

Just bought a Shaky Odyssey 14' 9/10, never fished for salmon before so casting is dodgy to say the least. I had a play with it at the fishery and for £45 it seems a very good rod indeed.

Now for the burning question ..... what line would suit it and me (complete novice)?
I will only need a floater and poly leaders, mainly single/double spey casting will be involved.

Any advice is more than welcome as the line will probably cost more than the rod.

[tayspringer]

Rio windcutter. This spey line has a 54 foot head which is great for the novice or advanced caster. You can add poly leader to the end and still it is a manageable line. You can choose either the multi- tip version or the standard windcutter line. I prefer the standard line and add my own sink tip leader to the line. Go for either an 9/10/11 0r 10/11/12 rated line. I have used the latter on my 9/10 and it goes well equally as does the 9/10/11

Regards

[potbelly]

I had a play with a windcutter last year and it seemed OK, but, there are some bad comments about them on the net (mainly by Willie Gunn I might add ).
When I say complete novice I mean with a doublehander, I can do the casts with a single hander so it's just a matter of getting used to using the left hand as well, and the other 5' of rod. Left hand on top is going to be a bummer also, feels like someone has changed my arms around.
A mate has the windcutter so I'll pinch his for a day and give it a go.

cheers

[potbelly]

I had a 15 minute play with it today using a #10 DT line. I had the start of the head in my left hand so there was 13½' of head inside the tip ring. Seemed OK and it was putting out 20yds jump roll and snake roll casts and shooting a bit of running line. Overhead was touching 30yds with a shoot because it was going in the bushes on the other side of the lake. It may have been able to take a bit more head out of the ring but I didn't want to push my luck, didn't fancy going back to the shop with 5 pieces and saying "That's bust, I'll have the other one".

But that's with a DT, what WF/Spey line would it like, #10/11?

[potbelly]

I take it that the spey lines don't end up like slinkies then? After being bitten by a few of their floating trout lines I'll need some convincing.

Just found them for £15, I'm convinced. ;D

[say]

Graham,

I've read quite a few posts now that you praise the airflo delta spey highly. Maybe it was just me but I bought a 10/11 a year or so ago and I thought the line I had was terrible.

The main problem was the memory, I found the line coiled but it did get better the longer it was used during a session. I also noted that the turnover was improved when a 10ft sinking tip was added.

I should also mention that I bought it from a well known auction site for £15. The seller claimed it was not seconds

SAY

[say]

Graham,

The line I had was all one colour 'green', this may explain why I had problems

I went and bought a loop quattro the other week and now I find out the Monteith is the one to have, how typical

SAY

[potbelly]

That puts the £15 Delta out then, it's the old one.~~~~~~~~

So I take it that I'm looking for a shortish head between 50' and 65' in a #9/10. As I have the snowbee xs #5 and love it what about the snowbee 2D #9/10 62' head, will this take 5' poly leaders OK?


Sorry for all the questions but it's not as straight forward as I thought, no more #5 rod needs #5 line.. sorted.

[speycaster]

i purchased two snowbee 2d,s floater,s and choped 10ft of one to accomidate tips up to 15ft in all sink rates its surperp i also bogught the quattro multi tip and snapped my rod they are much heavier than they state , a common fault with a lot of lines , the 2d will turn over all sink tips aslong as you roll cast the line to the surface first

[potbelly]

Cheers, as most of my fishing will be with the floater and no sinking tips I'll get the 2D, I'll get the cheap Delta to use with tips so I son't have to cut any head off the 2D.

I think that sorts that one out, right then, Poly leaders.........only kidding.

[say]

Speycaster,

I'm sure I read your post earlier regarding the loop being heavier than standard and went for the 10/11 to suit my Norway 10/11 and it seems fine but if I'm honest I think the head is a little short.

SAY

[bg110960]

Hi
First post for me. I tried a Rio Windcutter on a Loomis 15ft on the Drowse in Donegal on Sunday. Once I had worked out the correct way to use the tips(thanks to Easky) it loaded the rod very well. I found it very easy to use. In fact on occasions it threw too well and I ended up in trees on the other side of the river. Clear intermediate tip was particularly good

[munrokiller]

Potbelly,

I have an almost new (used twice-max) Snowbee 2D you can have - free to a good home.

As a matter of interest, I have used the Carron Jetstream for the past 2 years and in my opinion there is no better floating line on the market. If it's a Multi-Tip line you're after, go for the Monteith Multi -Tip System, designed by reputable Tay Ghillie Jock Monteith and made by Airflo. The price may seem slightly expensive at £125 but it is an excellent line and will cover just about every river size and condition that you are liable to fish. PM me your address and I'll send you the line - ( Got a new washing line last year, a windcutter I think and don't need another !! )

[potbelly]

Thank you, extremely generous offer. PM sent.

I had a play with an IG 75' head floater last week, I couldn't manage that much line out so I'll stick to the short heads until I know what I'm doing. Nice line though.

[munrokiller]

Paul,

Your Snowbee 2D line is on the way.

Happy Casting & Tight Lines

[potbelly]

I don't know about the happy casting bit, I'll be casting though.

Thank you kindly Sir.

[potbelly]

I had a play with the 2D on grass today overhead casting, very nice. Even better when I got it right and the backing knot rattled up the rings, very very nice. All I need now is for the river to drop so I can go play at being a speycaster. ;D

[speycaster]

:)go for it mate you will do fine