Early spring/late autumn set up

[storlaks]

WG, as I mentioned in my earlier reply the use of tips combined with lines other than a floater can be very useful. Last year I used the Hardy Mach I fast intermediate (2" per sec) and cut the front taper back 15ft and used my RIO tips to great effect. This year I'll cut back the Mach wet II and do the same. By using this method I can have sink rates ranging from 3" / 3" to 3" / 8" per sec. Fly and tip sink first which is what I want.

[salar76]

thanks for the info guys - much appreciated. shame i missed out on the half price b&w's johy norris were doing!

[williegunn]

graham said:

You have to agree, the tips work rather well at times though. ;D

I've seen you get lucky once or twice I must admit

[ceilidh]

WG,
I was interested by your comment that one should raise the rod very slowly before making the initial roll cast to bring the line to the surface. Is this in order to induce a possible take on the dangle, or in order to improve the subsequent roll cast?
I usually raise my rod fairly rapidly (in the belief that this will bring the line closer to the surface, as if fishing a sinking line in a fast stream) but must admit that I sometimes need to make two,or even three rolls when fishing heavy tubes on a fast sinking line before starting the actual cast.

[ceilidh]

Thanks for that reply Graham,
In the perfect beat and under ideal conditions we can, of course, apply the textbook solution and get a (nearly) perfect cast most of the time. However, as you rightly say, there are many situations where the line comes into slack, shallow or obstructed water or back eddies, before the cast is fully fished out and where salmon may still be lying, particularly in times of high water. Under those conditions I normally find that making two or more very rapid roll casts reduces, but does not totally eliminate the chances of snagging the bottom.

[williegunn]

The slow lift is the important part it is the lift that takes the line to the surface, the roll cast is just to reposition it prior to starting the spey cast. I always think the term rolling a line to the surface is a misnominer.