B&W Salmo/Sewin

[Sloggi]

I have one of these rods and would like to get another for sinking line work. I use it throughout the summer for sea-trout and grilse on the N Esk, Dee, and Don. Can someone recommend a sinking line including line rating as my current rod handles a Rio Windcutter 7-8-9 but struggles with a similar Midspey (too long a head?).

Perhaps there would be other suggestions for a similar rod although I do like the 11' 3" double-hander!

Thanks, in advance

[Sloggi]

Hello? Anyone out there...

[Fruin]

Sloggi,

I have no experience with that particular rod, but have recently converted a Daiwa 11'3" rod from single hander to double hander; the rod is rated as a single hander for 7/8 lines. I use this for small spate rivers and have found that it works with a normal single handed WF9 and a 10ft polyleader. I wouldn't like to go longer than a windcutter on a rod of this size.

If conditions dictate a full sinker, you may be better with a longer rod, unless you are fishing particularly narrow (or heavily wooded) stretches of river. With this size of rod, on smaller rivers, I prefer to stick to the floater with a weighted fly (small tungsten coneheads or short brass/copper tubes) and/or a fast sinking polyleader.

As for line recommendations for that particular rod, try picking up cheap long belly lines for single handed casting, but up the line weight by 1 or 2 ratings. This will allow a bit of experimentation and should give you a range of sink rates that would cost you a fortune in spey lines

[Sloggi]

Thanks Fruin.

[speycaster]

i have a loomis 12fter double hander for a 7/8 line and i use a snowbee prestige weight forward 9 on it , and it handles like a good un , it takes a 10ft poly tip no probs, wouldnt like to use a full sinkng line though its great for grisle and sewin

[rennie]

Eh up Sloggi,got the 13ft Norway 7/9 and its a belter usually use an Accelerator 8/9 floater and poly-tips but treat myself to a Mid-spey 8/9 multi-tip to use in tight spots on the Tweed and it was fine.Used up to the type 6 tip and the intermediate section with brass+copper tubes,no probs at all.Now this rod will cope with a fully sunk line maybe a DT 8 ish and a weighted tube too if thats whats needed.30yd cast are no problem and more is waiting with a bit of practice.So far had fish between 4lb-9lb and its just fine,in fact it was much more pleasant than the 15/16ft rods I normally use on the Tweed.Pedro.

[Sloggi]

Thanks for the feedback - I guess a 12 or 13 footer would also be ok. I think if I get another salmo/sewin I'll use a floater with poly-leaders