[brooklynangler]

Lines I like for the 5120

Spey/OH
6wt DT
7wt DT

OH
6wt DT
7wt DT
7wt WF
8wt WF

Lines I do not like
Sage UL Spey Line (what were they thinking???!!!)

Comments?

 

[Moose]

Thumbs up lines

Hardy Mach 1 and Mach 1 Plus (39 and 64 feet respectively, both 324 grains)

From what I understand there is an XLT prototype running around that is a long and fine 6 weight spey line (lighter than the previous 6/7 XLT). Wonder how this might fare with the 5120. Hopefully Way will chime in.

 

[Dr. Swing]

Don't forget the Windcuter 5/6. This line is a great match for spey casts.

 

[sinktip]

I second the 5/6 WC, it is a nice match with the 5120.

 

[GPearson]

I also dig the 5-6 WC on the 5120. Very fun.

Greg

 

[Grampa Spey]

Thanks for posting this.

Lines I like for the 5120

Spey/OH
6wt DT
7wt DT

OH
6wt DT
7wt DT
7wt WF
8wt WF

Lines I do not like
Sage UL Spey Line (what were they thinking???!!!)

Comments?

A Sage 5120 is being built for me with delivery in early May. I currently have a Rio WC 5/6 floater which apparently works quite well. I was told by a non board member that the WC 678 with tips 1 & 2 removed works well for Skagit Type Casting with the 5120.

Re the Sage UL Spey Line and your comment (what were they thinking???!!!), a couple of years ago I tried the 5120 with that line at the Marin Fly show. All of us who tried that combo blamed the poor performance on the rod. It turns out that the rod was okay, and the line was a miss match for most of us, who tried that combo.

 

[brooklynangler]

5/6 w tips?

Anyone try the 5/6 w/ tips?

Also, I guess other than the DTs I've been using, there are not really any long belly light spey lines on the market. Not that the 5120 is great for bomber casts.

BTW, the 5120 with a 7wt DT was my Erie Tribs steelie rod this past weekend. Awesome setup with a trout-length sinking polyleader. Water was super-clear and I was catching big, strong steelhead on size 14 and 16 stoneflies (using those cool, strong Kamasan black nickel 200r style hooks). Used 3x/4x flouro and was able to protect it with the 5120.

At the mouths of some of the "mile creeks" I was really able to get into a double spey/snake roll rhythm. Felt good.

Also used my Gillum 8'6" salmon rod to great effect.

ALSO used the 5120 with a 6wt DT out of my Kayak (thanks doublespey) for bass and pike in the Presque Isle Lagoons

 

[Dr. Swing]

Tips?

Yeah. With the right line, the little rod with throw tips well.
The line I made for it is cut from a dt 12 wt. It is cut at about 30 ft and flipped so the original front taper becomes the back taper. You could cut this back more than the foot or so I took off it. This is spliced to slickshooter. I looped the other end and it throws tips extremely well with water loaded casts. The heaviest tip I have cast on the rod is a 15 foot type 6 150 grain rio 10 wt tip. I am sure it will handle more, I just don't need anything heavier. With this line and sink tips 3-5 inch weighted sculpins can be cast with ease.

Ed posted a skagit line recipe for trout speys a while ago and I am sure his line would outperform the crude one I made up, if you can find the ingrediants.

 

[Grampa Spey]

Ed's Skagit line formula for the 5120

Yeah. With the right line, the little rod with throw tips well.
The line I made for it is cut from a dt 12 wt. It is cut at about 30 ft and flipped so the original front taper becomes the back taper. You could cut this back more than the foot or so I took off it. This is spliced to slickshooter. I looped the other end and it throws tips extremely well with water loaded casts. The heaviest tip I have cast on the rod is a 15 foot type 6 150 grain rio 10 wt tip. I am sure it will handle more, I just don't need anything heavier. With this line and sink tips 3-5 inch weighted sculpins can be cast with ease.

Ed posted a skagit line recipe for trout speys a while ago and I am sure his line would outperform the crude one I made up, if you can find the ingrediants.

Thanks. I couldn't find the specifics re Ed's formula or recipe for the Trout Spey Skagit.

However, the following deals with the weight that he has worked out:

"I am currently throwing 488 grains at 36' in length. This line is a bit on the heavy side (will feel heavy on a calm day, will reduce extreme distance casting capability), but the slight overload provides for more "punch" during conditions of wind, and also loads better at "close" distances for better accuracy and precision inside of 65', which is where I plan on casting the most with this rod. I am of course, still "playing", and will probably shave another 15 grains off just to see what it acts like. The current weight of 488 develops so much energy during the sweep of the cast that I am having a devil of a time conducting a DoubleSpey (line lifts prematurely from the surface of the river). However, by incorporating a Perry poke into the Double in order to gain more anchor, or by using a straight Perry Poke, this line will snap the running line tight at the end of a 65' cast, and even jerk a bit of line off of the reel. Cool!"

 

[roguespeycaster]

long belly lines

I have tried the prototype XLT line on an Anderson 1265 and it worked good. Others who tried it raved. I heard from the source that it should be out in the next two months. I use a 8wt SA Mastery Nymph on my 1265 and it works great. It has about a 70ft head (my measurement) and a taper very similar to the XLT. I bet it will work on the sage.

 

[SSPey]

how many grains on that nymph taper head?

 

[Grampa Spey]

Rogue Spey Caster, thanks

I have tried the prototype XLT line on an Anderson 1265 and it worked good. Others who tried it raved. I heard from the source that it should be out in the next two months. I use a 8wt SA Mastery Nymph on my 1265 and it works great. It has about a 70ft head (my measurement) and a taper very similar to the XLT. I bet it will work on the sage.

Thanks. Do you have grain weights for the head of this line?

 

[MJC]

The grain weights and head lengths for the Mastery Nymph WF7F, WF8F, plus the Steelhead Taper WF6F, WF7F, WF8F, WF9F, and WF10F are posted on my SA Lines page. http://www.redshedflyshop.com/SA-LINES.html?1113497554370

 

[roguespeycaster]

grain weights

MJC,
Great info - thanks.

My real world experience verifies these weights. When I have 50-70ft of line out the rod loads deep into the butt section, which is the way I like it. Technically, I guess I should be using the 7wt since the rods recommended grain window is between 350-400?

 

[fredaevans]

I couldn't agree MORE!!

"..Sage UL Spey Line (what were they thinking???!!!)"

First 'totally useless' fly line I've ever run into. Vis a vis the 512, the general 'thread' with folks who have this rod (I don't) is the WC5/6 is the 'best' line they've run into for the rod.