[carlz]

I took forever to get around to building this rod, and another couple of years before I got it on the water. From my reading of old posts, the forecast 1266 is closer to a 7wt than a 6wt (this is the blue/teal blank). Does anyone have first hand experience with this rod.

Now I realize that figuring out what line will be good is going to take some time. I'm primarily fishing for Smallmouth. (poppers or streamers)

I'm thinking a Scandi line will do best but I would love to hear options.

 

[yoda1]

That blank was/is a dependable "blue collar" stick, suitable for both sustained anchor and touch and go casting, even overhead if need be.

I used a Rio Skagit flight 525 grain with T tips for Skagit work, and a Rio AFS 7/8 (460 grain) for touch and go casting smallish flies.

It will also handle many of the earlier integrated lines well, such as the Airflo 7/8 delta at around 51 feet.

If you're throwing poppers and other wind resistant flies for smallmouth, I would think an Airflo Rage head to be a good taper match, probably 480, maybe even 510 grains if you have to buck wind. Matching that head with 10' poly leaders would be sweetness.

If I remember correctly (and often don't!) the Oregon guru mapped this rod and rated it around a 7.4 in strength.

If you stumble upon it's little brother, the 1166 6/7, grab it--it was the sweet spot in that lineup.

Hope that helps...

 

[speysack]

Yoda,

If you stumble upon it's little brother, the 1166 6/7, grab it--it was the sweet spot in that lineup.

I have the 126 dialed but my 1166 has me puzzled, what line do you like?

 

[speysack]

BTW,
I like a 560 SA Skagit Extrem on the 126 forecast.

 

[Peteo]

Just built this rod up myself. Batson said a 375-425 grain Scandi so I tried a 385 Beulah elixir on it and found it a little light for my taste and it wouldn't turn a sinking poly over very well, but I think this is more of a line design issue as it turns over a mono leader quite well. I talked to Steve Godshall and he built me a 410 grain Scandi head for my rod. I took it out a week ago and it rips. Nice casting rod and it handed a couple bright summer steelhead very well. It's going to be a lot of rod for smallmouth unless you're getting fish over 4 or 5 pounds though.

 

[yoda1]

1166 6/7 line choices

Yoda,

I have the 126 dialed but my 1166 has me puzzled, what line do you like?

Speysack, I sent a PM so as not to drift the thread. That said, the 1166 6/7 is money on the N. fork of the Stilly, Methow, and similarly sized waters.
Greg

 

[carlz]

That blank was/is a dependable "blue collar" stick, suitable for both sustained anchor and touch and go casting, even overhead if need be.

My build is even a bit more "blue collar" I used graphite sliprings on it to be able to use it as a float rod if I ever decide to get a centerpin reel.

Thanks everyone for you suggestions. The one time I had it out on the water, I had some lighter lines (thinking that it really was a 6wt). I'll try a bit heavier.

As for being a bit heavy for smallmouth, It may not bend a ton, but you can feel the 2 pounders pretty well. Now the bluegill are another story.

 

[yoda1]

There you go Carlz,
It's not a spongy rod (it was sold as a 7/8), so to get it to bend into the lower section (so you feel the load and maximize the timing window) you need to load it up. You might test drive the 510 gr Rio steelhead scandi (34') or the Airflo Rage in the same grain weight (29') as a possible match to your intended purposes. Either should work well enough to get you in the game.

I'm not a "pinner" myself, but I'd bet it's not nearly "noodly" enough to be a standout?

 

[carlz]

Speysack, I sent a PM so as not to drift the thread. That said, the 1166 6/7 is money on the N. fork of the Stilly, Methow, and similarly sized waters.
Greg

Maybe we can drift this thread in that direction. I was just out practicin and realized it was a 11' 6" 6/7 rod
It's been sitting in the tube for too long for me to remember.

So what's this rod good for?

 

[yoda1]

What's the 1166 6/7 good for?

It's only one of the most versatile blue collar blanks ever made (OK I may exaggerate a bit here). Mine sees use on waters where expected fish range from several pounds to 12 pounds, and expected casts range from 60 to 85 feet, often in tight quarters with obstructions overhead and nearby.

Strong tip section, loves both Skagit and scandi heads. I prefer heads 24' and longer, just so I feel like I'm still flycasting, and with the strong tip section mentioned above, this is important to extend the timing window for the forward stroke.

Skagit setup: Rio 500 grain 25' flight with T-tips to 10' and 140 grains, medium and large flies.

Scandi Rio 450 grain Rage 28' head with 10' poly tips and medium to smaller flies or Rio steelhead scandi (finer front taper) in the same weight at 32'.

Of course you can go on either side of these grains and still do fine. I like these because they let you feel the blank load into the lower 1/3 of its length. Some use as little as 400 grains.

That's (just) my opinion.

Greg

 

[copsamps]

I also have the 11 1/2 6/7 blue boy.I mostly cast a Rio 410 Steelhead scandi on it.After all these years it's still one of my favorite rods.I have a backload of 6 and 7 weight switches but this length and weight rod is ideal for summer salmon fishing,not many rods of this length and weight out there now and that's too bad.
Tight lines
Copsamps