Trout and Salmon Speyline review

[storlaks]

Just got my copy of March T&S.

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the recent Speyline review in the T&S was awful.

It's far from objective and not helpful in any regard. They class any line with a head lenght of less than 65ft as too short (for their style of casting) and even compare them to shooting heads. In my experience shooting head lenghts are usually a maximum of 45ft.

As most experienced casters know, short and medium headed speylines can be extremely useful, not only for the less experienced to gain confidence in casting, but also for certain situations where you may have bankside vegetation that inhibits casting and also for deep wading.

Personally I'd prefer if they catagorised the Speylines(short, medium and long) and based their feedback and comments on the merits of the lines to do a job and not what they think best suits themselves.

I use all lenght of Speylines for various fishing situations and find each one equally useful and enjoyable to fish. I'm sure the readers of T&S would welcome a more constructive and objective review.

Rant over (-:

[wilbert]

I had pretty much the same feeling when I read the article but its all about being able to cast 40+ yds these days. They should have had more categories and tested out some lighter lines on smaller rods too or made it quite clear in the review that they would be doing more reviews to cover all types of lines in future editions. All the testers had a similar style and preference so it was no surprise that the results were very close.

I don't get the chance to make 35+ yd casts very often as for most of my fishing a 20 to 30 yd cast will cover the whole river. To be honest anything over 35 feels like hard work for me but I have managed to cast a full IG 65' head floater all the way to the backing ( 3 casts in a row) and it went out straight but I had wind assistance and I was stood on a rock 1 foot above the water which helped loads.

For me it was not a real world test but for the better casters it would have been of more use and relevance. Lets hope the next test is aimed at Mr Average.

[kercock]

I agree totally,.T/S must think their readers are all long casters,I have to say though that the last one of the survey on spinning rods was just too daft to be true,

[elwyman]

The 3 reviewers were all expert casters and they obviously preferred the longer head lines.

As said above, it would be more sensible to split the review into medium head and long head lines.

PS - the guy who did the spinning rod review last month caught a 32lb Tyne springer :olast week, on a spinner.

[JAD]

Well being someone thats starting Salmon fly fishing for the first time this year this T&S review didn't help me at all. I need all the help I can get. So I'm lucky in one respect that I'm a member of this forum and get lots of good advice ;D

JAD

[storlaks]

"The 3 reviewers were all expert casters and they obviously preferred the longer head lines".

That's my point. The paying subsrciber or buyer of the T&S isn't looking for someones personal preference, but what they are looking for is constructive feedback, useful information and objective critisism.

I know and fish with expert casters and they are not all as blinkered or stereotyped as these guys. Quite simply they are not doing the job they are being asked to do.

These reviews should provide both novices and experienced casters valuable information, but they fail to do this.

[iainjay]

Totally agree, I would like to see a review by Mr.Ordinary Joe who has fished on Such & Such River and is a 100% average caster.I feel I could associate more with him in his assessments of different lines.

Cheers

[woburn]

I agree. Some of the golf magazines now do equipment reviews by readers of different handicaps. In my opinion it works much better because other readers of the same standard can get an idea of what might work for them.

It's interesting but completly pointless for the average reader to know what spec clubs Ernie Els uses because the average reader couldnt even get the ball airborne with Ernie's clubs, let alone play a round of golf with them.

Sam

[williegunn]

But could ordinary Joe tell floaters from shit?

[storlaks]

OK, let it be ordinary Joe that can cast a bit ((-: It definately should be someone who can offer constructive feedback other than how far they can cast the lines. Presentation, turn-over, fishing with tips etc etc...are all attributes in lines that I (and others) take into consideration before buying. All these guys do is put a size 10 allys on and throw it as far as they can.....WOW!!!

I can do that (-:

[Tyne Angler]

Still not read the review but out of interest who were the testers ?

[tyneandrew]

Kenny MacDonald, Grant Sutherland & Graham Mackenzie

Can somebody tell me exactly what a cast of 40yrds entails?

[sjf]

tyneandrew said:

Can somebody tell me exactly what a cast of 40yrds entails?

OK this is how I do it, 3 or 4 very large Malts, a warm fire and a comfy chair. After about an hour sat there sipping my drink I can be assured of casts flying over perfect water, where huge salmon head & tail perfectly as my fly accurately swings just past the tricky lie.

I usually stop fishing when the Old Trout elbows me and tells me I may as well go to bed.

[tyneandrew]

A lot of nice Malt is the key then!

Just curious if it is a matter of standing behind a line and it is then where the end of your fly line touches down (cast and fly not included)?

[tyneandrew]

Didn't think it would include the cast and fly. I was trying to calculate how far i could cast on the Tay and calculated it as follows. 15ft Norway / IG Internediate 75ft head / 4 ft cast.

So, from where i was stood and after casting i had about 10ft of white running line outside the rod tip

+
75ft head, green

+
4ft cast

+
15ft rod

=104ft / 34.6yds.

Would love to see someone get it our further with my kit!

[tyneandrew]

ok - i'll take that! This was casting in perfect conditions, stood a good ft above the water, perfect wind behind me, great set up etc....

I just don't understand how Grant S in the review says he could cast a full 45yds of IG floater 75ft head 'with ease' or as Kenny says 40yd casts are 'effortless'

Perhaps i'm not as good i think i am at casting ;D

[fishingd0]

40-45 yrds is a massive cast when in the water.

Grant and Kenny are very good casters but I think they put a little too much Emphasise on distance and not the performance of the line at joe averages distances.
IMO I think presentation is a key factor when fishing regardless of whether you are casting 20 or 40 yards. ittle too much

[macd]

yep Kenny is my father.


i agree with much of what has been said, but I think storlaks is a bit hysterical in his criticism of the testers. Maybe all that time in france has rewarded him with a gallic temprement. ;D


But he is spot on about the format of the tests. They each test all the lines. And simply cast with them and give an opinion. That is what is asked of them.

I agree there is too much emphasis on distance, but who would blame them, most of the lines are marketed on distance.

Its fair to say that the tests would be improved by considering when it might be better to use a shorter head on a smaller river or tight spot- I would use a DT myself- as gordon says its about presentation.

I had my own criticisms of the test. Graham and Grant use bruce and walkers and their reviews reflect that and their style, which is to lift a lot of line and shoot little.

I took issue with them saying that a light line is no use on a 15' rod. I use an 8/9 65' on mine and get by just fine.

As far as novices go my old man would have them learn with a DT- but they are collectors items as all the manufacturers are obsessed with ......distance.

ill share the views of the thread with the old man.

Ross

[betanut]

I'd have to say that the review of the Spey lines was, well, a wee bit predictable
macd makes the very fair point that the tests and the way the lines are marketed is all about the distance 'thing' wheras to my mind at least it makes more sense to say if they're 'fishable' (if you know what I mean?). I don't think the testers can be fairly criticised for their reviews. However those responsible for the piece might liked to have given more thought to how the every increasing types of lines match up with the seemingly unending developments in rod design. Just how many different lines and rods do we need???

Double Tapers are still available and are still a personal preference......... although my head (no pun intended) has just been turned by the Snowbee 2D floater - effortless casting ;D

[wilbert]

I don't think that anyone has criticized the testers as they were just doing their job as a tester any criticism is aimed at T&S for the way they put the test together and for picking very similar casters to review the lines. More thought needs to go into any future reviews unless they (T&S) are getting back handers to promote certain rods, reels, lines etc.