Spey line for Guideline LPXE 13 ft 8/9 rod

[ianjones]

Hello,
Can anyone recommend a suitable line combination for this rod, i have been using the snowbee 2D line but i struggle to load the rod effectively, the 1D works better but i found the head length a bit too short.......

ian

[speycaster]

hi mate you need a 9/10 in the 2 d

[speycaster]

iuse two 9/10 2d s one for my floater , and one with 3ft cut of the front taper for my sink tips [10/14 ft long ]i find this set up ideal , by the way i use a sage european 14 ft er
cheers billy p

[petersc]

I own three LeCies and one Snowbee -- Guideline ratings don't match Snowbee ratings. I cast the same heads on my 9/10 Guideline as I do on my 10/11 Snowbee. To put it in perspective, a CND GPS 8/9 line is nearly identical to a Snowbee 3D 10/11 line. Snowbees are rated similar to DT lines, while Guideline match North American ratings.

Just to confuse the issue, Snowbee uses the same weight for 1D, 2D, and 3D lines, while other manufacturers increase weight when increasing length. This is why your 1D works while the 2D is light.

As a general rule, when matching UK lines to Guideline rods, go at least one over the rating.

[williegunn]

Peter It is a good job the North Americans invented Spey Casting where would us poor Scots be?
Could I suggest that the rod is rated incorrectly, and the line is right?

Look at the Grandspeys originals head weight about six stone, the XLT was not far behind. Oh let's redesign the line weights

Bit like ladies dress sizes, all American ladies wanted to be a small size so they made the clothes huge violla even fat women could get into small sizes........instant slimming.

[beanieboy]

You will find the Hardy Mach 1 9/10 will work very well with your rod, albeit the head is on the short side at about 55'

[petersc]

Malcolm, you'll get no argument from me over rod/line ratings. I think they should all be based on a length of generic, industry standard, salmon DT line. The Skagitheads can do their own thing.

Easier to change the line than the rod though . . . .

The Guideline ratings seem to deviate more, the heavier the line, so that 7/8 and 8/9 are close to others but 9/10 and 10/11 starts to get heavier. The older Guideline PT 10/11 heads are heavier than a Vision 11/12 over the same length.

No comment about dress sizes (married to a size 8).

[ianjones]

Thanks for the advice, incidentally both the 1D and 2D were the 8/9 rating so i will try a snowbee 9/10 in the 2D, i was also considering the windcutter 8/9/10? i also feel the need for an intermediate or sink tip, again any advice gratefully appreciated......
Ian

[speycaster]

i have a brand new snowbee 2d unsed 9/10 if your interested pm, me

[speycaster]

ive just had my other 2d choped by ten foot it will now cast all my 10 ft tips , floater,intermediate, fast sink and very fast sink tip , poly,s and braided wish id had it done befor lol

[petersc]

Ian

Go with the 2D Snowbee 9/10 . . .

Having said that, I'm not sure why you would need a line longer than 55' on a 13' rod?

[williegunn]

speycaster said:

ive just had my other 2d choped by ten foot it will now cast all my 10 ft tips , floater,intermediate, fast sink and very fast sink tip , poly,s and braided wish id had it done befor lol

I thought I suggested that the front taper was too long here.

salmosalar.proboards80.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1160582270&page=1

But was told otherwise.

[williegunn]

petersc said:

Ian

Having said that, I'm not sure why you would need a line longer than 55' on a 13' rod?

I would go a bit lomger 65 ft max for the 5 X rule. A Carron 9/10 perhaps

[petersc]

williegunn said:

petersc said:

Ian

Having said that, I'm not sure why you would need a line longer than 55' on a 13' rod?

I would go a bit lomger 65 ft max for the 5 X rule. A Carron 9/10 perhaps

Yes, but if you tack a Polyleader on the end, you're at 65'. Staying at 55' provides flexibility. From what I remember, the Snowbee has a front taper of only 20' or so -- much shorter than a Windcutter so turnover shouldn't be a problem. I did get to cast and fish an uncut Snowbee 3D with a Polyleader on the end and it worked just fine with no need to cut it back. Much better than some more "famous" lines.

The cheapest line you can buy is the one you already own. If Ian has a 1D that works, stick a Poly on the end and you have a line that's roughly equivalent to a Delta Long or MidSpey.

[petersc]

springer said:

My experience is that Snowbee lines dont like poly's or heavy flies without getting the scissors out, guess its what different people class as fine, but given a bit of wind it becomes hard work.

Or it's a matter of rod type, loop shape, and line speed. I was using a friend's Loop Green 9140 with a 3D and a fast sink salmon Polyleader with a fair-sized fly. I was impressed by the turnover. Do a side-by-side trial with a Poly on the end of a comparable Windcutter or MidSpey and the Snowbee will look great. That said, if you don't mind doing line surgery, it will turn a Poly or a tip over with more authority if cut back -- any line will.

[speycaster]

i think we maybe confusing the issue of the 2d like most people agree that they wont turn Polly tips over with ease [they will] but you have to pull the length of the tip you are using in by that length so you find the load point ,then roll cast the tip or perform a scadghet cast to get the tip to rise to the surface ready for your spey cast , the reason for performing surgery on the line is so you don't have to do this , the text book method for using sinking tips is to perform one of these two casts so you perform the spey cast properly, you don't ruin the line as the piece you cut of with the addition of a loop on the cut end you have your floating tip you then have a line which doesn't lose its delicate presentation but will cast tips of all density
hope that makes it a bit clearer as you will have noticed i have chopped one line by 3ft for my shorter tips and the other by 10 ft for my longer tips , i know its not everyones cup of tea but it suits me but we all have to find whats right for ourselves as i said I'm happy with my set up that i can cover 99 percent of all types of water, tight lines billy p

[petersc]

Interesting differences in approach. For a couple of years I hung Polyleaders off of the end of a Delta Spey and would not pull in any line in compensation, nor ever roll cast it up.

If you're pulling in 10' of line to compensate for the length of the Polyleader, I can see why you might have some turnover issues. If you're using a 9/10 2D as an example, by doing so, you've effectively turned it into an 8/9 2D. Less load = less line speed = less turnover. In this case, I would go along with your assessment to cut the line rather than choke up on it.

This is why I suggested Ian stick with his 1D and just add Polyleaders as he ends up with a line that's a 2D in length and a tad heavier than a 2D, so he isn't sacrificing any rod load. I suspect he will not have any turnover issues with this set-up.

Cheers

Peter

[petersc]

Springer

Perhaps a simpler explanation: Any chance that Snowbee produced more than one version of this line?

The data I received from a Snowbee vendor over here indicated a front taper shorter than a Delta or Windcutter. The Snowbee line I tried turned over a Polyleader with authority, so much so that I had the urge to go buy one. The line you described has a front taper more like the one on an XLT and that wouldn't turn over a Polyleader if your life depended on it.

[williegunn]

springer said:

As I said earlier in this thread and to agree with Malcolm (which is unusual in itself )Imo ALL Snowbee lines don't like poly leaders or heavy flies.

just my humble opinion.........and a bit of basic physics

Another difference.......................I don't do humble.

[petersc]

springer said:

As I said earlier in this thread and to agree with Malcolm (which is unusual in itself )Imo ALL

Ive just measured a 1,2 and 3D line and the front tapers get progressively longer along with head length but the 1D still has a front taper of 14' significantly longer than a Delta, with the last 3' being almost level line.

Found what I was looking for -- go on Snowbee's site, go to their Spey line FAQ and select "view profile" for the 3D. This diagram shows a taper of about 23'. The Delta Spey has a taper of about 30'.

I've owned three 9/10 Delta Speys and two Delta Long 8/9s (don't ask why, sad tale). The construction differences between comparable lines were significant. My buddy has a 9/10 Delta with a very skinny tip while my current one has an extremely thick tip plus a very fat running line. Unlike my earlier 9/10s, this one takes up more room on the reel than a 105' Worcestershire DT-10-F, shedding about 150 yards of backing.

I'm wondering if Snowbee has phased in some changes to the taper . . . . the one I tried definitely had some "oomph" in the turnover with a Polyleader on it.

Maybe Bob Wellard can stop by to comment.