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Since Rio doesn't make a Skagit 350, I asked Simon to loan me some WC Upgrades, 789 and 8910 and the WC 91011 without tip 1 and 2 to try. I, also tried my WC 678 upgrade with my new Sage 5120.
I used Rio's Sinking Fluroflex 12' Salmon Leader and two' of 10# tippet and size 4 and 6 sinking flies.
To test the upgrades, I used a 36' section of shooting line to connect the upgrades. I felt that 3 rod lengths of shooting line, 30' of Upgrade and 12' of sinking leader would cover most trout water and half pounder water I will fish with the 5120.
The two WC Upgrades including my 678 with 36’ of shooting line were fairly constant in casting the UpGrade and the above leader/tippet and fly. Shooting 24’ , two rod lengths was fairly simple, it became more difficult to shoot the full 36’.
The WC 91011 was a little better, but due to the shorter head length than a standard Skagit, it maxed out at 3 rod lengths.
So I decided to try my Skagit 450.
The best Skagit turned out to be my 450 Skagit. It was the easiest to cast and consistently got 60' to 80’ (including 27’ of Skagit head, 12’ of Rio’s sinking leader, 7 ips, and two foot of tippet with a size 4 or 6 sinking fly.
My 5120 with the Skagit 450 was able to cast* 3 rod lengths of running line with the 12’ leader and fly with no problem. If I timed everything ok, 4 to 5 rod lengths of running line were shot out, often with the line pulling against the reel at the end of the cast. This was done over two days in high swirling winds, an incoming tide, and zero room for a back cast.
Last but not least, with my overhand Skagit cast*, the little 5120 was casting about as far as I can with my 6126 with the Skagit 450 and a lot less effort.
*Warning any resembalance of my so called Skagit Casts to Ed Ward's or George Cook's is totally accidental.
I used Rio's Sinking Fluroflex 12' Salmon Leader and two' of 10# tippet and size 4 and 6 sinking flies.
To test the upgrades, I used a 36' section of shooting line to connect the upgrades. I felt that 3 rod lengths of shooting line, 30' of Upgrade and 12' of sinking leader would cover most trout water and half pounder water I will fish with the 5120.
The two WC Upgrades including my 678 with 36’ of shooting line were fairly constant in casting the UpGrade and the above leader/tippet and fly. Shooting 24’ , two rod lengths was fairly simple, it became more difficult to shoot the full 36’.
The WC 91011 was a little better, but due to the shorter head length than a standard Skagit, it maxed out at 3 rod lengths.
So I decided to try my Skagit 450.
The best Skagit turned out to be my 450 Skagit. It was the easiest to cast and consistently got 60' to 80’ (including 27’ of Skagit head, 12’ of Rio’s sinking leader, 7 ips, and two foot of tippet with a size 4 or 6 sinking fly.
My 5120 with the Skagit 450 was able to cast* 3 rod lengths of running line with the 12’ leader and fly with no problem. If I timed everything ok, 4 to 5 rod lengths of running line were shot out, often with the line pulling against the reel at the end of the cast. This was done over two days in high swirling winds, an incoming tide, and zero room for a back cast.
Last but not least, with my overhand Skagit cast*, the little 5120 was casting about as far as I can with my 6126 with the Skagit 450 and a lot less effort.
*Warning any resembalance of my so called Skagit Casts to Ed Ward's or George Cook's is totally accidental.