Old Spey Dog, New Spey Tricks

[jctrout]

Had a nice but fishless day on the water today swinging flies with my spey. Today's outing was all about throwing my new Airflo Compact Skagit with T14 heads after many years with my Windcutter and Type 6. I enjoyed throwing the line but was caught a little off guard by how much less control I felt I had over the swing. Mending was tough and I felt much more at the mercy of the currents. Any thoughts out there from others that have made the transition?

[Nuchal Rouge]

You just need to set it up once it hits and let it swing. You really can't mend it once its swinging. You can lead it or follow to change the tension but need to leave it alone. You can try and mend it in the air before it hits as well. Good luck.

[SSPey]

you are noticing the reality of it, and nuchalrouge explained well how to adjust. Instead of thinking about "mending" the line, I find it helps to think instead about "steering" the head around. I also focus more on slipping heads down into slots to stall the swing in sweet spots.

[cphatts]

I think SSpey nails it...you want to "steer" the back of the head as opposed to mending. Because Skagit heads are so short, mending is not usually required in most good swinging water. The exception would be if you are fishing water with a lot of tricky cross currents between you and your fly, but in most cases mending should't be required as long as you can maintain good line control and steer the back of the head. I also try to keep as much running line off the water as possible to maintain better control of the back of the head....this is much easier to do with the thinner diameter running lines most people use today with shooting head systems. The only time I really mend anymore is if I want to put some slack in the line to get the sink tip to sink deeper (not for line control).

[jctrout]

Thanks, the place it really got me was in a favorite tailout that has some cross currents I was trying to navigate. Not always easy to keep up with advances once you are comfortable.

[Zugbug66]

That head kinda creates an anchor or pivot point. Cast, one strong mend, then controll the swing by either following, pointing twards, or leading the line, depending on the speed of the current. The compact skagit is a great winter line.
Wayne

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by Zugbug66

The compact skagit is a great winter line.
Wayne

Pretty good summer line as well.

[Zugbug66]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

Pretty good summer line as well.

Yes, I remember your tip with the floating tip on the skagit head....Good one. It worked well. Thanks for the advise!
Wayne