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338 Posts
Okay I know we have beat this one to a pulp, but nobody has posted about the SA Shorthead on the Steelhead Specialist. Well, Juro suggested the 8/9 might be around the right weight, but based on my experiences with the rod and using Peters casting weight chart to compare it to other lines that I had tried, I ordered the 9/10 just for the heck of it. Well, before it showed up a new 9/10/11 windcuttter showed up in my hands, so I had some comparing to do. I first cast the Windcutter, and was pretty happy with it as far as loading the rod. It shoots and turned over well, though the day I had it out it was blowing stupidly (as always!!) When the SA line came I spooled it on up right quick and got on the water for a bit. It takes up a heck of a lot more room than the windcutter, is a heck of a lot fatter, is a good bit heavier, and is less stiff (more supple) The first few casts were pretty revealing. It produces a deep and powerful load with a minimum effort, and when I don't suck, rips through the air in nice pointy loops. It is about as heavy as I would ever want to go on the rod, but it certainly didn't feel overloaded to me and no amount of crappy casting would break the rod tip down and produce tailing loops. The line turns over anything I had in my box, and produced high line speeds. I was impressed, but I am not sure if it was better then the WC. For me, a little more casting of each line is in order, as I like them both (though they are noticably different) and I will chop the one I like the least for tip work. If you like a light load and generate a lot of power in your casts, the SA line would probably be a lot better for you in th 8/9 size. If you are like me, and need to feel the rod loading a little more deliberately and slowly, the 9/10 might be cool for you. Also it does Slloooow the rod down a bit.
