[Elvez]

I got in on that line swap thread a while back and wound up with a Rio Mid Spey 8/9 line that I'm using with a 15' Highlander 7/8/9. Got it out on the river last weekend and found that, hey cool, for the most part if I can keep my s**t together, I'm casting 75' without shooting anyting. Right on.

But I have some questions about the line, most particularly in regards to the loop-to-loop connections. I understand that the front section can be swapped out with other proprietary tips, which I did not get, I just have the floating tip that's the same color as the rest of the head. What can I use to approximate the sinking tips that were intended to go with this line?
Then: what's up with the other loop-to-loop connection something like 10' to 12' further up from where the tip connects? Is this some even cooler thing that I've never even heard of before?
Please advise. I'm looking forward to a winter without stripping.

 

[Peteo]

There is a section of intermediate line that comes with the set of tips that, if I remember correctly, Rio called a compensator. You take off that floating section behind the tips and replace it with the slow sinking section to get down deeper than tips alone. Kind of an early version of the intermediate heads available these days. I have used it a few times in winter and it works pretty well. It gets your fly down, and slows your swing, but is harder to get up to the surface to make a cast.
For tips I would think the Rio replacement tips in either 10 or 15 feet would work fine on your line. I don't know if the tips are rated in single hand or two hand line weights, though, so you might have to contact Rio on that to get the right ones. My original tips were 15 feet (I think), but I cut them back to about 10 feet and they cast much better in my opinion. My mid spey is still one of my favorite lines.

 

[fish0n4evr]

Sounds like what you have is a MidSpey tips-version and Peteo is correct. It is the sink-tip compensator which you would swap out for the number 2 belly section. The 8/9 tips-version has a set of five 15'DC tips (floating through type 8) ~130 grains each. You can weigh the floating-tip to confirm and match them with Rio DC tips or any similar product.

When I had the same line I found that the type 8 tip ran deep enough and I didn't use the compensator too often. So the MidSpey I have now if a full-floater cut and looped at 18' for tips. Honestly - with a well matched set of tips you will not miss out on much without the compensator. If you want to assemble the complete system though - you might try calling Rio or maybe find an intermediate-cheater (also discontinued) of the same weight and length as the No. 2 belly.

 

[shotgunner]

More often than not with tips if you get the weight and length close most will function (as mentioned above)

The Compensator serves in different ways as well as achieving more depth. One of the more beneficial is slowing your swing subtly. It also changes the presentation with a shallower less vertical angle. Say you rigged a type 3 tip with compensator in place of the type 8 off floating mid section (Tip 2) It basically allows more options in how you set up the business end of your line. Configure to best advantage. Below freezing days, repetitive casting on broad long runs with low water temps is what comes to mind for me.

I'll look and see if I have an extra Compensator (price of postage, if your interested) If not, you can bet ones not far away on this board

 

[Nooksack Mac]

I use the 7/8 version with my CND 13' 3" Solstice as its primary line. One other use of that No. 1 floating insert is that by removing it, you have a useful sort-of-skagit integrated line, one or two sizes lighter.

 

[stlfirehouse]

Elvez, what color is your line? I know the Windcutter (which was bright yellow) had the compensator option but I don't remember the Midspey (which was tannish color) having the compensator section. Is that portion of the line the same color as the belly and floating tip? My intermediate compensator section that came with my Windcutter was gray...while the floating section was bright yellow like the rest of the line.

Christian