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After doing some reading I feel like I have a reasonable understanding of lines and how they are used. But some things are still a little vague. Spey lines seemed to be grouped into 4 categories. There are lot's of custom variations but if you go to your local fly shop you have 4 main groups to choose from.
1) Long belly lines. These are lines that have bellies from about 60' to as long as 100'. They include lines like the Airflo Delta Long, Rio MidSpey and Grand Spey and SA XLT. With these lines you are casting and swinging most of, or the whole belly, without stripping line.
2) Short belly lines. The belly on these lines are from about 50' to 60' long and include lines like the Airflo Delta, Rio WindCutter and SA Spey Short. You fish these lines a bit shorter and often will strip in some of the line and shoot it back out during the cast.
3) Scandinavian lines. These are short shooting head lines. Usually between 30' and 40'. These lines are well suited to underhand casting and you fish these lines by shooting a LOT of line during the cast.
4) Skagit lines. These are very short heavy shooting heads. Usually between 25' and 30'. They are used for throwing heavy flies and fishing deep. I think Rio makes the only commercial Skagit line. Not exactly sure how you cast these lines. (An abbreviated underhand cast?)
5) Ummm... Switch lines? Is this just 10'11' rodds that can take either a heavyish single hand line or a lightish spey line depending on whether you want to overhead cast or spey cast?
If anyone would like to expand on or correct any of the above please feel free...
Now that I've been casting a while I feel like I'd like to try some of these other line types. My issue is that I have a TFO 12'6" 6 wt rod. The Airflo Delta 6/7 that I have on it now matches it well. If I wanted a long belly line I assume I'd probably choose the SA XLT 6/7 line? I don't think there is a Scandinavian line available for this rod. The Rio Scandanavian 7/8 might work bit it may be too heavy? Should I try and make one? Any pointers on how? (I've been reading Dana's newsletters on underhand casting and want to give it a whirl.
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1) Long belly lines. These are lines that have bellies from about 60' to as long as 100'. They include lines like the Airflo Delta Long, Rio MidSpey and Grand Spey and SA XLT. With these lines you are casting and swinging most of, or the whole belly, without stripping line.
2) Short belly lines. The belly on these lines are from about 50' to 60' long and include lines like the Airflo Delta, Rio WindCutter and SA Spey Short. You fish these lines a bit shorter and often will strip in some of the line and shoot it back out during the cast.
3) Scandinavian lines. These are short shooting head lines. Usually between 30' and 40'. These lines are well suited to underhand casting and you fish these lines by shooting a LOT of line during the cast.
4) Skagit lines. These are very short heavy shooting heads. Usually between 25' and 30'. They are used for throwing heavy flies and fishing deep. I think Rio makes the only commercial Skagit line. Not exactly sure how you cast these lines. (An abbreviated underhand cast?)
5) Ummm... Switch lines? Is this just 10'11' rodds that can take either a heavyish single hand line or a lightish spey line depending on whether you want to overhead cast or spey cast?
If anyone would like to expand on or correct any of the above please feel free...
Now that I've been casting a while I feel like I'd like to try some of these other line types. My issue is that I have a TFO 12'6" 6 wt rod. The Airflo Delta 6/7 that I have on it now matches it well. If I wanted a long belly line I assume I'd probably choose the SA XLT 6/7 line? I don't think there is a Scandinavian line available for this rod. The Rio Scandanavian 7/8 might work bit it may be too heavy? Should I try and make one? Any pointers on how? (I've been reading Dana's newsletters on underhand casting and want to give it a whirl.