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Post by robmason on Feb 22, 2018 15:52:35 GMT
Although I'm pretty much a dinosaur when it comes to moving with the times I am beginning to see a place for a skagit set up in my armoury. There is a river I fish with very high steep banks that makes even spey casting difficult. In the summer months a switch rod is fine with its relatively short head I can manage to avoid tangles with the bankside vegetation. In the spring and after heavy rain the river is an altogether different beast and I would need heavier tackle to fish it effectively.
So I'm thinking- what do I need to equip myself with to "skagit" it?
Assuming I stick with my existing rods, what would work best- 12' Norway? 13' Powelite Speycaster? 14' Norway? What Skagit line would you recommend? I'm assuming a floating line with a selection of tips and again what tips would be recommended? The river in question has some deep+ slow pools but also some fast flowing+ deep pools. I usually use a fast sinking tip even in low water.
Last season I did try a regular shooting head but fancy the skagit may get me down more effectively.
Rob
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Post by G Ritchie on Feb 23, 2018 22:12:40 GMT
The skagit line should be ideal for that type of river, I would stick with the 12ft rod if casting space is limited. A line in the 525 to 550grain range and either some 10ft polyleaders or 12 to 15ft tips from a multi-tip line on the end.
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Post by robmason on Feb 23, 2018 22:30:17 GMT
Yes, the shorter rod make sense. Any line suggestions?
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Post by almosthadapull on Feb 24, 2018 20:26:10 GMT
Hello Rob, Talk to James at Gaelforce (www.gaelforceflyfishing.com). I was the same as you when I decided to try one of these "new fangled" contraptions. I told him about the rod it would be used on and where I would fish with it and he came up with all the suggestions for me.
As with all his other lines, it's a great bit of kit and I like having it in the tackle bag to use on those very windy days. Hope this helps, Roy.
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Post by robmason on Feb 24, 2018 21:16:32 GMT
Roy, thanks for the suggestion. I might well do that. Rob
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Post by robmason on Feb 25, 2018 19:39:56 GMT
The skagit line should be ideal for that type of river, I would stick with the 12ft rod if casting space is limited. A line in the 525 to 550grain range and either some 10ft polyleaders or 12 to 15ft tips from a multi-tip line on the end. So Graham, I dont need the MOW tips or level Tungsten tips- just a regular polyleader or sink-tip?
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Post by G Ritchie on Feb 25, 2018 21:18:45 GMT
Depends on how deep you want your flies to fish, on the rivers I fish I find that the regular sink tips from a multi-tip line are more than enough in most cases and very seldom have to use the T material or MOW tips.
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Post by robmason on Feb 25, 2018 22:15:05 GMT
Thanks Graham
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Post by spaterunner on Mar 8, 2018 13:47:43 GMT
The original Skagit concept was developed to enable anglers to fish very heavy flies and or very heavy tips to get down into deep holes in the very fast flowing Skagit River near Washington USA. If you are using a floating or an intermediate Skagit with only regular poly leaders or tips then with the greatest of respect you will not be able to fish any deeper than with a regular shooting head with the same tip or poly leader attached. The beauty of Skagit with level T or MOW tips is that you can plonk the fly above the deep hole and let it drift in and then drag it out quickly and manipulate it far more effectively than with regular shooting heads. You also have the ability to 'high stick' the line keeping the vast majority of your running line out of the water which will reduce the drag on your Skagit head and help you to slow the whole swing down in faster water. This really is what Skagit is all about. It will never be however a one size fits all fishing method. As regards selection you have loads of choice. Rio, Vision and Airflo all do pretty good stuff. The Vision stuff is however made by Airflo.
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Post by robmason on Mar 8, 2018 20:04:20 GMT
Well so far I've gone for an Airflo compact skagit line in 550 and a solitary MOW tip. I will give it a whirl and see how I get on. The tips are a real investment at £20 a pop! Rob
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Post by spaterunner on Mar 14, 2018 9:08:14 GMT
I have a bulk spool of T14 tip material. If you want a couple of tips making up then let me know what length you want them and PM me your address. You can have them for nowt. They come with a welded loop each end so are ready to go straight out of the envelope.
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Post by robmason on Mar 14, 2018 12:22:28 GMT
I have a bulk spool of T14 tip material. If you want a couple of tips making up then let me know what length you want them and PM me your address. You can have them for nowt. They come with a welded loop each end so are ready to go straight out of the envelope. That’s a very kind offer. You have a PM. Rob
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Post by jamieboy72 on Mar 16, 2018 14:24:04 GMT
I use a Gaelforce 550 with my 13ft Gillie It's a joy to use & does what it says on the box heavy tips & fly's are not a problem.
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Post by robmason on Mar 25, 2018 17:29:26 GMT
Well I had my first outing of the season today and my first "go" with the skagit set up. The Airflo Skagit compact in 550 grains coupled with a MOWS tip (7.5 float/ 2.5 ft T14) seemed a little heavy for the Norway 12' but a good match for the Powerlite 13'. I would certainly be happy fishing with it in typical spring conditions.
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