[Skilly]

I am in search of the best two handed nymphing tool I can find for big water. Because of the arthrits in my hands I have sold off all my singlehanded rods except my 3 and 4 weight rods. I can no longer stand the pain of casting them.

I talked to Bob Meizer and he sent me 3 of his two handed rods to try. The 106 5/6, the 11'4" 5/6 and the 11'7" 6/7. For the past couple of weeks I have been fishing them on the Deschutes for Redsides. I have been extremely pleased with them. No PAIN.

The 106 5/6 is the 10 ft 6 in. 5/6 weigth.
This is a very pleasant rod to fish. It did spey cast well and with my 3 fly set up and a yarn indicator I was able to cast it, to about 50 ft. It felt allot like my old Sage 6100 and more of a single handed rod for me. So I tried it with one hand and of course I suffered for it. It would be a great rod for smaller streams. Or larger streams in the hands of someone who doesnt have the arthritis that I have.


11Ft 4 in 5/6

I really liked this rod ! It was effortless to cast, I mostly used a double Spey or a Perry poke depending on the wind. I could easily strike the fish with one hand, mending was easy. I fished this rod for about 4 hours straight without any pain. I didnt keep track of the fish but landed several. The biggest fish was on this rod. It does not over power the 16 inch fish yet handled the larger fish well. The largest was probably 5 pounds.

11 ft 7 in 6/7
This is also a great rod light and easy to cast. This is the rod I would want to take with me to fish the beaches of PS. I wish I would of had it when I was walking the bank just north of the Narrows bridge. It would be perfect with a sink tip, and a candle fish fly for the Silvers and Blackmouth I used to catch there.

All in all I am very happy with all the rods, the 11'4" is my favorite so far. I still have the 12'6" and maybe a couple more to try. Mmmm I`m getting spoiled. It seems there is a new kind of Rainbow in the Deschutes. Bright silver big and mean. Anybody else seen this?? Not Steelhead.

 

[t_richerzhagen]

11' 7" for 5/6

is one you need to try too. It is very similar to the 11' 4", but with a little more omph. It is a delight to fish, but then, that is a personal perception, as it is with all rods.

 

[Skilly]

thanks

Ted

Thanks I will put it on my wish list to Bob

Skilly

 

[Brian Simonseth]

Meiser Rods

Skilly

Speybum gave me one to play with (11’7” 5/6); I’ve been using it all week. You should play with this rod.

Like Ted said this is a nice rod.

I’ve tried many lines on it (I know every one cast different) Windcutter, Midspey, Triangle Taper, SA Spey Short Head all dry lines but the best line I used was Mach 1 Salmon WF 8/9 hands down the best dry line for his rod. 65 – 75 ft. cast was easy.

Now sink-tip lines; I build my own sink-tip lines; any were from 420 – 480 grains works great.

I also tried Rio Scan (tip head) 7/8 with Ed Ward style sink-tip (136 – 146 grains). The total grain weight was 480 with Rio Scan head (I never cut the Scan Head) with Ed’s style sink-tips. Same distance as the dry line. This is the line I’m going to use for sink-tip fishing with this rod.

Oh buy the way after trying this one, I’m getting one.

I hope this help’s you out.

 

[Grampa Spey]

Skilly Meise's 10'6" 5/6

I have had Bob's 10'6" 5/6 Switch Rod for about a year. It is a great little rod and has caught a lot half pounders on the Rogue, Cuts on the Chetco, small mouth bass on the Russian River in N. California and some nice trout on Putah Creek before they closed it last year. It is my rod for a local pond with large perch and the smaller bass.

In my older hands and minimal casting skills, it has 3 limitations.

1. The strong up stream winds that we have had the past two seasons limit my casts to about 40 to 50'. That may be the fault of the Rio Wind Cutter 5/6 floater that I use.

2. Hot fish like shad and bigger small mouth or large mouth bass seem to overwhelm it in my goal to get a fish in as quickly as possible to keep from killing it with a lactic acid overload from too long of a fight. I would how it will handle a big Redside in the Deschutes with high water flows.

3. If the fish, seam, flat spots are out past 55/60', I don't have the skills to get a good cast and air mend or quick mend with the rod.

In those 3 conditions, my new Sage 6126 will be the go to rod with the MS 7/8 with tips or the Wind Cutter 678 with the upgrade
and tips. It slices and dices the wind. It enabled me to beach red hot shad in a little over a minute. Last but not least size 2/4 flies and the tips with tip compensator are handled with no problem.

On most trips both rods will go with me. If the fish are close (50' or less), and they aren't rockets like shad, Bob's 5/6 will be the rod of choice. Also, if I'm dry fly casting in that distance, Bob's 5/6 is a dream rod for dries. In tight situations with brush, overhead tree limbs and sometimes casting in a canopy of trees/brush, Bob's 5/6 will be the rod of choice. There are places on Putah Creek if I tried the 6126, it would become a 10'6" or shorter rod.

I feel fortunate to have both rods for my late spring, summer and early fall fishing in N. California and S. Oregon. At this time, I see Bob's 10'6" 5/6 like a finishing hammer when light to medium power and fine touch are both needed. The 6126 is more like a mini sledge hammer to be used in windy conditions, large and heavier/faster water and hot and mean fish are out there.

 

[Moose]

Brian

Is the Mach 1 8/9 you like the Plus or the regular Mach 1 line with the 39 foot head? I'm going to get one for my CND 13' 6/7 Expert and want to be sure which line it is that seems to work best. A while back Juro suggested this line to me, and I think it was the 39 footer. I made a mistake buying a Wulff triangle taper spey 7 when I should have bought the regular triangle taper line and gone up a couple of sizes. This line just won't roll out for me at all. Feels like an untapered rope, doesn't load well. I understand they put some level line sections into the taper so it's really not a true triangle taper. At 39 feet are you Skagit casting the Mach 1 or is it too light for that?

 

[Brian Simonseth]

HARDY MACH I WF 8/9 - 39ft 12 meters - 21 grams 324 grains
I haven't casted it on the Export.




Sorry about that I didn't read the second question. I am a "Skagit Caster" and that was what I was doing with it. It's a great match for that rod (Meiser 5/6/7 11'7")

:hehe:

Speybum gave me another one to use!
This week I have Meiser 5/6 13', report at the end of the week if the river come back in?

:hehe: :devil:

 

[DLoop]

All in all I am very happy with all the rods, the 11'4" is my favorite so far...

Yes, that is a very easy Meiser rod to fall in love with.

 

[JGS]

Another Fan

I too became a fan of Mesier's trout speys at the Sandy Clave. I had previously purchased a Meiser Switch 8/9 and stopped by his area at the Clave. Once I had a chance to cast some of his rods, I ended up buying four including the Switch 5/6 and the 11'4". Both rods will have tremendous application on the Deschutes and can't wait to put them to use.

Question for the 11'4" folks, what lines have been working well? I heard someone offer that the Midspey 6/7 worked well and could even toss some light tips. I believe I cast it with a Windcutter 5/6. The Midspey 6/7 seems like it might be heavy for a rod that should be well suited to trout. Thoughts?

Have to say, I am a Meiser fan and can't wait on these two rods along with the 13' 5/6 and FES. Meiser, hope you are busy on the rods and not reading the FlyTalk!

Thanks, jgs

 

[t_richerzhagen]

JGS

The midspey 6/7 was shortened. I believe Aaron Reimer (speybum on the Board) has done that and can give you good information. Bob Meiser is also a good source of information on the various rods. He will know or be able to connect you with someone who will have the answer.

 

[Robert Meiser]

Hey John,

No worries....Actually doing both.....};^)....!!!

The 6/7 Mid-Spey is WAY to much for the 11'4" 5/6.

....Although will fully butt load the 6 wt 13'~ 3 pc. very nicely.

The 11'4" 5/6 wants a window of 280 to 400 grains.

Just did a couple late afternoons on the Rogue salmon fly hatch with the 11'4" 5/6 taking Tim Rajeff's Sandy Clave dry line advice.

For this rod he recommended the AirFlow Delta single hand line for 7/8 with a 10' Trout poly tip for dry line work. A total of 56 ft. which is perfect for mending the dry line drift.

It was a sweet match, and turned those big bugs with ease.

Good advice from Tim.

The 11'7" 5/6 wants a window of 340 to 480 grains +.....So on this I tried the same line, only as an 8/9 wt.

Worked very well for punching the afternoon wind.

Meiz

 

[Robert Meiser]

John,

Forgot to add.....Aaron may be adjusting the 6/7 mid spey for the 11'4" 5/6.

May be best to talk with him about that.

My recomendations were suggestions for dryline ~ dry fly drift, and soft hackle/wet fly swing, using off- the- shelf AirFlow's

Meiz

 

[DLoop]

Re: Another Fan

Question for the 11'4" folks, what lines have been working well?

I'm very happy with the Hardy Mach I 8/9 on this rod for tip work.

 

[Brian Simonseth]

Meiser 13' 5/6

JGS

I'm testing that rod right now, so far I've work on the dry lines. So far I've use 4 different lines on her the best one so far is SA 6/7 Spey short Head (49ft. head 450 grains)

:hehe:

 

[JGS]

13' 5/6 Lines

Brian,

What lines were included in your 4? I know you are a fan of the SA series and I really love the Short Head 8/9 on my Skagit Specialist.

Have you tried the Hardy lines on the 13' 5/6 Meiser?

Thanks, jgs

 

[Brian Simonseth]

JGS,

SA Spey Short Head 6/7
Windcutter 6/7/8
Hardy Mach 1 9/10
Rio Midspey 6/7

 

[voodoofly]

13 foot 5/6

Hi All,

I tested this rod in the early spring. I used a DT8F, DT9F and a Rio DC300. I liked the DT8F and was casting a fly, shot and large thill indicator to the 64' tag I put on the line. My best fishing distance was at the 52' tag. I'm not a great caster and I had trouble when the wind was blowing. That stuff was sailing all around. I overhead casted the DC300. The day I used that line the river was really flowing and the line didn't get down real deep. I easily lifted up the 24' tip. The rod really launched this line on the shoot.

I ended up purchasing the 13' 6/7 I also was testing. I could cast this one better in windy conditions.

Gary

 

[Brian Simonseth]

Meiser 5/6 13’

With last rod I still make my sink-tip lines the same way, with Ed style sink-tips (136 – 146 grains)

This rod took 430 – 450 grain head (Skagit Line) really will. Casting it in pretty good winds.

Now the dry line:

SA Spey Short Head 6/7 47ft. head 450 grains
Windcutter 6/7/8 54’6” head 455 grains
Hardy Mach 1 9/10 47.5ft head 463 grains
Rio Midspey 6/7 65ft. head 490 grains


I like the SA line the best; I use it in some real windy condition.