[glcaddis]

I have purchased the 13'6" 8/9 rod. I understand the rod was designed by Bob Meiser and Mike Kinney. The Meiser rod that matches it most closely is the Mike Kinney Special. The grain window on the TFO is 550-800 and on the MKS, 600-850. The skagit line recommended by Airflo is 660 grains on the TFO and 600 on the MKS. This doesn't seem quite right, but what do I know.

I plan on taking the rod to a clave in a couple of weeks and trying out several lines on it. But, I'm interested in any comments about the rod and your thoughts on where to start the line search. Primarily looking for Skagit/Rage type line.

 

[BH Spey]

I just got back from a week long trip to Alaska chasing Silvers and bought a TFC DC 13689 for the trip. I spent some time on day two with one of the guides getting it setup properly. He stripped off my traditional Mastery XLT 120' 9wt spey ling and put on a mono running line with a 660 gr skagit flight head and a 10' T14 mow tip 50/50 f/S and, though it felt a little heavy, I could throw the thing a country mile! I just ordered a 650gr and a 675 gr head for it (couldn't find the 660gr on sale)!

Good luck!

 

[Green Butt]

For my MKS rod of that designation I like very much the 630 gr Compact Skagit but have used the 550 Rio Skagit with a 5' cheater and a 650 without. If I'm throwing extremely heavy tips I like the 650 beer can Rio Skagit. I never got fond of the Skagit Flight, but that's just me.

 

[Robert Meiser]

Excellen tool ... Very powerful and extremely durable <> A great large Salmon rod.

For me personally on that rod:

Skagit: Head weight 600/650 grains @ 24/26feet in length with tips to 225 grains in weight <> 600 and longer head for casting off the tip ... 650 and shorter head for butt casting

Scandi: Head weight 575/625 grains @ 34/36 feet in length <> 575 for longer head, touch-and-go with leaders to 95 grains ... 625 for the shorter head with sink tips to 130 grains)

The TFO 13689-4 has very much the same power as will the S2H13689MKS-4 ...

... But they are much different rods in flex and weight in hand.

Meiz

 

[NVswitch]

I also have this rod. I am presently using a 630 gr Airflo Compact Skagit with whatever tip that you want, mainly sections of t-14.
I am happy with that line one it. Mike

 

[glcaddis]

Thanks everyone

I'll start my search at 600 grains and go up and down from there.

I have a Nextcast WA55 8/9 (630) that I want to use on it, any comments.

Also it is coming with an SGS Scandit line at 565 grains. What is the wisdom about tips on this line?

 

[fish0n4evr]

I'll start my search at 600 grains and go up and down from there.

I have a Nextcast WA55 8/9 (630) that I want to use on it, any comments.

Also it is coming with an SGS Scandit line at 565 grains. What is the wisdom about tips on this line?

Have you cast that line? If not, I think you will like it. I have the WA7/8 (full-line (head scaled @ 600gr)) and spent bit of the time casting it on a 13.5 MKS. I'm rusty and out of practice but when I hit it right - it would fly right-off casting 15' tips to 100 grains and unweighted patterns as large as 1/0. The 8150 was much easier on me. I would imagine the 8/9 will handle tips with ease and if needed - a larger lightly weighted fly.

Have fun getting dialed-in.

 

[sixheads]

Steve's Skandit

Gene, Meister Godshall's Skandit is my favorite line for winter fishing when I'm running the river from the estuary to the trib's. With the floater tip looped on you have a scandi, which will drive poly's commensurate with with the grain wt. of the line. With the the tip un-looped, you have a skagit driver, which will throw T or Zink stuff commensurate with the grain wt. of the driver.

Steve's spec sheet that comes with the line lists all the relative info.

If you fish water that you need/want both scandi and skagit lines like I do, a Skandit line is easier than packing two rods or changing out lines.

Steve's Scandoid is also a great line.

I'm sure you'll like it, let me know what you think when you get it dialed in.


Enjoy The Spey Journey,
sixheads

 

[fishinfool]

This rod is my primary use rod. I have fished it for several years and settled on an old Rio Beer can skagit head @550. I don't fish a lot of heavy T-type heads but type 8 15 footers work quite well.

I like the WA 55 in 7-8 for this rod instead of the 8-9. This is Poppy's recommendation and, as usual, it is spot on, at least for me.