13' Scandi Style Rod

[colliedog]

I'm looking for some advice.

I am looking for a short, fast rod around about 13' suitable for casting shooting heads and short head spey lines in 9 or 10 weight.

Looking through the tackle lists I am having difficulty locating much. I believe the old Loop Greenline range may have fitted into this category but don't know about any current models.

I would welcome input based on experience from forum members

Cheers

CD

[petersc]

I've owned a number of rods in this class and casted a bunch more. The nicest I've owned to date is the Guideline Le Cie 12' 6" 9/10. Matched with 10/11 heads cut down to 510-530 grains, it'll handle a very broad range of fishing distances. I've used it for chinook salmon, casting just over 20' in a small stream, all the way out for steelhead at 120'. When I go out on my local river with this rod, it literally draws audiences of other fishermen, with its combination of distance coupled with very low effort. I know of a few Guideline rods being sold locally as a result of anglers watching this rod perform.

If you want to go American made, then the T&T 1309 is very nice. I've helped a friend dial in his and we found that heads in the 480-490 range worked well. Loomis GLX Stingers are quite nice if you plan on primarily using floating lines, with the 8/9 working with about 450 grains.

One of my other favourites was the Loop Blue 8124 but it's no longer made. I haven't had a chance to try any of the new Loops to know if they have any similar models. The 8124 wasn't a powerhouse, but it was a very pleasant fishing rod that always put a smile on my face. I used it with heads in the 425-450 range.

I also had a chance to spend a bit of time with a Scierra in this class (don't remember the model, but it had a blue blank). Very, very nice if you prefer a bit softer action.

HTH

[robson]

Vision GT4 Catapult 13' 8-9 and Guideline LPXe 13' 8-9 should do the job. I've tried the Catapult and it is a strong fast rod that and I will get the LPXe tomorrow to try out how it performs. It is one of the best sellers for shortish shooting heads here in the Scandinavia.

I don't use much spey lines with rods under 15ft, but I think these rods should not be limited to shooting heads only.

[splash]

CD

You can pick up the Stingers at half price from Fishtec at present. The WAC had a few Greenline's on sale (Yes - really) Personally I'd go with the Le Cie and you can join the converted :)We might even pursuade CLaG to have a cast but then again...

Splash

[rennie]

Slight departure from the origins of the thread,thought about trying the Scandinavian style of casting before but didn't get there,using a 13ft B+W Norway7/9# with a mid spey multi-tip 8/9 and would appreciate advice on which shooting head system to go for. Cash friendly scores points as the outfit will not be used as much as other outfits,as an aside would I be better off getting line/s for my 15ft6 Sovereign 10#reason I ask is Norwegians I spoke to on the Dee last year said the shorter rod was better and a rating of 8/9 was the one to go for. Pedro

[salmonfly]

rennie said:

Slight departure from the origins of the thread,thought about trying the Scandinavian style of casting before but didn't get there,using a 13ft B+W Norway7/9# with a mid spey multi-tip 8/9 and would appreciate advice on which shooting head system to go for. Cash friendly scores points as the outfit will not be used as much as other outfits,as an aside would I be better off getting line/s for my 15ft6 Sovereign 10#reason I ask is Norwegians I spoke to on the Dee last year said the shorter rod was better and a rating of 8/9 was the one to go for. Pedro

I will have to a agree with the Norwegian, 13ft or under is better with an 8/9 # line for summer fishing.

[ibm59]

robson said:

Vision GT4 Catapult 13' 8-9 and Guideline LPXe 13' 8-9 should do the job. I've tried the Catapult and it is a strong fast rod that and I will get the LPXe tomorrow to try out how it performs. It is one of the best sellers for shortish shooting heads here in the Scandinavia.

I don't use much spey lines with rods under 15ft, but I think these rods should not be limited to shooting heads only.

Try a Snowbee 2D 9/10 on a 14' Guideline Lpxe and you might change your mind. Goes like the proverbial sh*t off a very big spade. Much more delicate than some of the shooting head setups that I've seen hurtling about recently , too. Cracking floater+tips setup.

[robson]

14' is a great rod but I'm not planning to buy it (yet). I have the LPXe 15' and 13' will arrive today.
Don't you guys use Hardy Mach lines at all? I found they fit nicely to the shorter rods.
BTW haven't seen any Snowbee lines in my rivers, while I know they should be good thought.

[jock]

Robson,
Could you let us know what you think of the LPXe 13' it is a rod I'm thinking about it for summer fishing both spey style and possibly some shooting head work.

Thanks,

Jock

[robson]

Tested today with shooting head Vision ACE 29 grams 12,7 meters. Very good, but could be a bit heavier line, 31-33 grams should be ok. I don't have speylines for 8-9 rods, but tested with Windcutter 8-9-10 floater. Don't much like that line, but it was easy casting. This rod is fast, but still not difficult for timing. The tip is not too sensitive, so spey lines should not be a problem. But if you are doing speylines mainly, you should test it first with proper line, before buying.

I think it has the same action as 15' LPXe, and a bit faster than LPXe 14', if this helps.

[woburn]

Evenin All,

Can thoroughly recommend the LPXE 13'. Use mine with Loop's old shooting heads and can't fault it. Long casts, very little effort.


Sam

[jock]

Robson,

Thanks for your report. Whatever rod I buy it will be used mainly for summer speycasting on small/medium sized rivers and the occasional, if ever, shooting head session.

Thanks again,

Jock

[robson]

Going to try it with the 9-10 Vision Spey Ace 65 ft line today. Usually this line works better, when one line size heavier than rod.
It's -2 Celsius now, but hopefully it gets warmer 'till mid day. Will report later how it goes.

[robson]

Worked like a dream. Even with my limited skills, +25 yards was effortless. I don't know if it really needs a 9-10 line, but this time it was spot on.

[jock]

Thanks Robson. I will give the rod a try at the GRC and see how I get on......I better start saving

Cheers,
Jock

[colliedog]

Thanks to all who replied to my thread - after setting it up I B*ggered off to the south of France on a (non-fishing holiday) - should have stayed on the Cote d' Forth where it seems to have been just as warm and dry.

A lot of good things seem to be said about the Guideline Le Cies and LPXes - I look forward to trying them out.

As a point of interest, I tend not to use shooting heads primarily for long distance work - its more about fly control and water coverage when I want to move the fly by hand - eg stripping a collie or sunray square across a big pool - with a long headed line, you tend to have to pull in half the head to cover the water near your bank and then have to roll out the head before casting - with a short s/h this is not necessary and makes this technique a lot less like hard work.

For longer distance work where a more delicate presentation is required I'm already a convert to the Snowbee 2D floating and sink tip lines as advocated by ibm59

CD

[ibm59]

colliedog said:

For longer distance work where a more delicate presentation is required I'm already a convert to the Snowbee 2D floating and sink tip lines as advocated by ibm59
CD

To avoid any confusion , I meant using a Snowbee 2D floater with various home made tips ( as per What polyleader post) and not the Snowbee 2D sinktip line which I've never used. Can't see the point in a fixed length/ sinking rate factory built sinktip line when it's so easy to make your own. Regards. B.

[albyn73]

Try this site, i'm not saying they are any better than "B&W", " Guideline" or any other but no harm in looking. In the T&S April 2006, they did their usual rod tests and the Slate rod came third, G Loomis glx £899, came last....www.dream-fish.co.uk

[splash]

In the T&S April 2006, they did their usual rod tests and the Slate rod came third, G Loomis glx £899, came last....www.dream-fish.co.uk [/quote]

Yes interesting, on their website, the 14ft SPX Spey Rod is listed at £3429. They obviously have been taking tips from the WAC..... ;D

[colliedog]

ibm59 said:

colliedog said:

For longer distance work where a more delicate presentation is required I'm already a convert to the Snowbee 2D floating and sink tip lines as advocated by ibm59
CD

To avoid any confusion , I meant using a Snowbee 2D floater with various home made tips ( as per What polyleader post) and not the Snowbee 2D sinktip line which I've never used. Can't see the point in a fixed length/ sinking rate factory built sinktip line when it's so easy to make your own. Regards. B.

Thanks for the clarification ibm59. Generally I am not a fan of fixed sink tip lines either, preferring to use multi-tips but find the Snowbee is a bit different - firstly, the tip is the best part of 30' (its somewhere between a sink tip and a full intermediate), secondly, it turns over and presents a fly far better than any other sink tip I have used, thirdly it is a slow/intermediate tip - therefore it is my preferred line fishing glassy glides in low water where I need delicate presentation, the ability to mend frequently and want to avoid the fly skating.

I must seek out the what polyleader post as polyleaders on floating lines are something I have never achieved satisfactorily results with.

Regards

CD