[xgolfman]

I got the 8/9 version of this line this week and today was my practice day so headed to one of my beautiful closed rivers to try it out...

The rod i'm using it on is my new bruce and walker 8/10 13' powerlite that likes short heads around 640-670 gr. and is pretty much a powerhouse rod...

The 8/9 weighted it at 622 gr. so I was a bit worried as i thought it would be around 610 but that wasn't even close to an issue...

Honestly this line Ronda Rousey'd me...I have been messing with skagits again this year after a long hiatus...The 640 max on this rod will fly fly aways...I have been trying a couple of the Rio intermediate heads and like them...they are sticky but seem to do the job...So with the Zone I kind expected more of the same...

I was SO wrong, the Zone first off picked up off the water a lot easier and just jumped off the rod....just jumped...easy on the inclose casts to...fished really nice on the tip and intermediate section only...


Tips I used were first the I-Mow intermediate lite tips
Second set up was with a I-MOW intermediate Med. tips...
Next was 10 of T11 and finally 12.5' of T8

Fly was 3" of palmered rabbit cone head tube...I can't use hooks now as the rivers are closed so a loop at the back worked and I was still able to see what it was like in fishing conditions..

The I-MOW lite and med. intermediate tips both were stupid good...the extra weight on the Med. ones didn't effect the casting at all...
The 10' of T11 could feel the "stick" of the line more but also sank down deep yet was easy to cast with the single spey and barked the reel on snake rolls..
The 12.5' of T8 seemed to "stick" more then the others and with a snake roll was hitting the 100' mark and still barking the reel...
The single spey was also strong but i had to get my lift a bit more powerful to get it around me better...

All the tips on this line reached further then I would ever care to actually fish...managing 60+ feet of running line is not my idea of fun but when holding 3 big loops ( i don't mind 2 but 3 is a bit much) it lifted off the water easier and was no problem hitting distance...

I had on new 50lb OPST running line as was fighting the kinks and trying to stretch out this new line...I have found on heavier heads I prefer the heavier running line but it needs to be stretched a whole lot more then the 40lb does..I may go back to the 40lb? I don't know, even with the problems it cast way far and I like the control 50lb gives me with these heads.

So with all of that I still felt I could have reached out even further if I ever had to...The reel was still barking at 100' with all the tips , snake rolls are my stronger cast right now and that was ridiculous with this line...incredibly powerful feeling and casting line....

I'm hooked!!! I tried out a couple (45,55') winter authorities and ended up going back to the "zone" and deciding I will use it for everything i need a tip for and find a Fall Favorite for everything else....

Something I'm really interested in with this line is not so much getting deep, as that was obvious...but to use the intermediate tips to stay not so deep but in the zone more...a slower swing or one i can control the swing better with.....
I'll need more time to work out some tips but i personally think this line could be good for winter and summer run fishing...at least thats what I plan on trying it for..

I like this head better then any other floating or intermediate skagit head i have tried...by far the best "skagit" type head I have cast.. I also like the color of the head , white at the back then dark....so much easier to see where your running line is not being green like the w.a. and FF heads....

Two thumbs up on this line....nothing I didn't like!!

 

[sazan]

Thanks for the report !!!

Do you think if you had cast a true 580 gr head it would still work well for a lighter feel ?

One thing I have noticed ( still to have cast the zone) is that either it is 475 gr wt.6, 550 gr, 7/8 or 580 gr , wt.8 they all share the same tapered funnel comprising 10' of the fast intermediate and 5' of a floating section ( for example weight and OD) and OD and weight/foot of the leveled rear section is also the same. The only thing which changes is the length ( and consequently weight) of the head/leveled rear section.

So, one can always easily cut back the head and adjust the head's weight/length downward .

Mine heads are within 0.25g ( 4 grains) and few inches inches as advertised, based on a laboratory balance.

 

[xgolfman]

Hmmm don't know? it felt really good at 620...i wouldn't change a thing for my rod...

I have to look at mine as I would swear when I was holding it against my rod the rear white section was at least 15' and the tip was then 14'?

I'll check that tomorrow..

 

[sazan]

The white section includes part of the funnel ( 5') and leveled section. The total on 610 body only should be 29'

 

[klickrolf]

The white section includes part of the tunnel ( 5') and leveled section. The total on 610 body only should be 29'

Is that "Tunnel" or "funnel" I don't see a funnel taper on that head? Simon's funnel taper is excellent on longer bellies but I doubt it would be worth the trouble or cost on heads of this length. The Zone looks like a skagit head.

 

[sazan]

I will cast it soon, but if you compare Scandi Body by Rio, let say wt.9 and 5/6 or 6 wt. Zone, these two should cast like a pure Scandi with 10-15 ' tip in 90-120 gr on 8/9 to 9 wt rod.

The taper on the Zone is much smoother and longer then on any Skagit lines.

 

[klickrolf]

I will cast it soon, but if you compare Scandi Body by Rio, let say wt.9 and 5/6 or 6 wt. Zone, these two should cast like a pure Scandi with 10-15 ' tip in 90-120 gr on 8/9 to 9 wt rod.

The taper on the Zone is much smoother and longer then on any Skagit lines.

Diagram shows 15' of taper and ZERO funnel. Maybe this is the scandi/skagit taper? Then again both scandi and skagit heads are short (too short) so they wouldn't look much different in such a diagram regardless of taper, just like the Wulff ambush TT with a mostly continuous taper.

 

[xgolfman]

Is that "Tunnel" or "funnel" I don't see a funnel taper on that head? Simon's funnel taper is excellent on longer bellies but I doubt it would be worth the trouble or cost on heads of this length. The Zone looks like a skagit head.

I would say the zone is quite similar to a skagit head, a bit longer and IMHO smoother to cast...much again IMHO smoother then the intermediate heads i've tried....

 

[Big K1]

Thanks for the review. I can't wait to try these!

 

[sazan]

I have updated in the previous post the taper's profile from NC site. The new one is much more accurate, as the floating section taper/funnel is much shorter then rear leveled belly. The previous diagram had it inaccurately reversed.

In the SF Zone there is also more noticeable drop in OD form the floating to the fast intermediate section of the taper.

 

[Greenbuttbomber]

lines

Fellers.....

I have been following this post with interest. I have a new Classic Burkie 8133 and haven't decided what line to put on it for this fall up in BC. I'll be using this rod for getting down a bit as in maybe 10 or 12' of T11 or T14 type fishing.

So I am following your discussion of these Nextcast lines and need to go to school on it I guess as I am a bit confused with so many offerings.

I also am interested in anyone's experience with the custom lines built by Steve Godshall?

I hope not to change the drift of this original post but am interested .......

And really, thanks for these posts and questions and discussion.......this s a great site!
Loren

 

[GR8LAKES FLYER]

PM sent Loren


Mike

 

[xgolfman]

I started using the nextcast lines as I started to become more interested in longer lines and wanted something with more balls then the delta multi. which was about the only thing we had a choice of then....I have and use all the lines from 45-70....For ME, these lines have been my go to lines for a few years now..

These new offerings i think will be very popular with average or newer casters who found even the 45' line to be a bit much....the zone IMHO is the best skagit type I have cast and i'm very interested in some of the other new lines in all configurations..

On this run, which i was fishing with one of Gr8lakes flies...Christian was using either his Meiser 15 mks or a 16' powerlite, I had my 15' and our LJB had his 16' 5 pound loch o loma B&W from the 40's....the long lines were flying BUT!!! i also ran the zone though on the inside of the big casters and it was right at home..

 

[GR8LAKES FLYER]

Paul, thanks again for swimming my flies through that beautiful river
Love the photo my friend !!


Mike

 

[xgolfman]

Paul, thanks again for swimming my flies through that beautiful river
Love the photo my friend !!


Mike

Thank you Mike...i have all those flies on my desk and try to emulate them the best i can!!! i need to ask you what hook you used by the by?

 

[GR8LAKES FLYER]

The Dodger that is pictured is tied on a Daiichi 2271.
I can't remember the other flies I sent you


Mike

 

[SaltyCutt]

I felt that the intermediate Skagit compact I was using really bogged my rod down and I tended to work too hard during the lift/set, so after reading this review I picked one up to try and just spent three days swinging and I freaking love it.

I barely noticed the stick during a snap T, and I felt like I was casting more of a Scandi than Skagit. I was throwing the 7/8 550 grain Zone F2 with a Burkheimer 8134 and it handled heavy iMOW tips easily. I ran the 2.5/7.5 T14 and weighted marabou tube flies and was really, really impressed. A wicked fun head to throw and I felt it slowed down my swing perfectly in some heavier water so my fly had time to slip into the bucket. Unfortunately, I didn't find any steelhead too confirm any of this. Great head, and I think exactly what I was looking for. Check it out

 

[sazan]

The Zone 475 gr with 10' 85 gr tip or even 11-12' of T-10 works really well for a lighter load on CFB 9135-4 and so 500 gr. Both feels like Sandi and the rod generates a high line speed with underhand cast.

Considering the there is a difference of about 70-90 gr ( Skagit or Scandi head) between these two rods, I am pretty sure your 8134-4 will cast 475 or 500 perfectly. I will have to try 8134-4 with these lines.

450 gr works beautifully on CFB 8128-4 and 525gr for a heavier load.

 

[NVswitch]

Just making sure for clarity. From there site, there are three types of Zone heads: a full floating, a floating with a 10' intermediate end, and a full intermediate.
When talking about the Zone line here, are you using the floating with the intermediate end?
How does it compare to the Coastal head?
Mike

 

[sazan]

I was talking about Float/Intermediate to which tip is attached to complete the head.

BTW, there is no full intermediate head, but Intermediate/S3 which can be combined with tip at minimum rate of S3.

I have not used Costal, which is a shorter head, with a shorter funnel section.