Slicing and Dicing

Wow. This had to set the record for my longest blog post in the making. I set out to write this months ago, but one thing led to another and it just didn't get done. Until now! Yay!

If you've spent any time with two-handers, you'll quickly see that there is a large contingent of people out there that like to slice and dice lines. Trying to come up with that perfect setup- to improve their casting. From the outside, it seems like a fun thing to do. However, the last thing I need is another hobby to take up more time that I don't have. So, for now, I'll live vicariously through the people that do. And any knowledge they share, I can use when picking off-the-shelf lines.

The problem with off-the-shelf lines are that you pretty much pick a line type (i.e. skagit, scandi, etc) and then a grain weight to match your rod. That is about as customizable as it gets. Well, at least that is what I thought. Keep reading to see how I was wrong with that conclusion.


Back to people cutting up their lines. While perusing Speypages, I eventually came across Steve Godshall's name. People seemed to invoke his name whenever an expert opinion was needed on lines. So when I was browsing Meiser's website and saw that Steve builds a Scandi line for Bob, and not much longer, learned that my friend was using one (and got a chance to cast it)- I became curious to know more.

Steve lives up in the Rogue Valley and has been fly fishing for more than a decade. As a rod builder he had a chance to learn a lot about rods and how unique each one is. In fact, he came up with something he calls "blue printing". It is a system to quantify rod casting quality. This has become part of the prototype process for new rod designs from Gary Anderson, Bob Meiser, and of course Steve himself.

At this point, Steve realized that the rod is only part of the equation. So, he turned his focus to lines.

A couple of years ago, Gary Anderson started including a line with every spey rod he built and sold. Because clients were making poor line choices, he wanted to get them off to a great start. Steve was asked to develop a Scandi head to fit a couple dozen of his rod models. Also working with Bob Meiser, Steve further developed a base Scandi head to something that he could offer to his clients as well. (Meiser sells them as "SGS" and Anderson as "Steel Heads".)

Here's how it works. And this is the cool part. From 9 base line sizes, Steve can produce 100 lines for 100 different rods. And to get even more of what you are looking for, if Steve is available and if you are in the neighborhood anyway, maybe you can go to the river and cast a handful of lines. From that, Steve will write you a custom line prescription. Just like a doctor. But less painful.

Besides the Scandi lines, Steve also has a Skagit. Although, according to Steve, he looks at casting styles as the difference between skagit and scandi. Not so much the line themselves, because both are basically shooting head systems. As someone who casts both lighter scandi and heavier skagit lines with the same sustained anchor casting, I'd go along with that.

I know what you're thinking. What's up with the advertisement? Just to be upfront, I'm not getting paid for this or getting any freebies. I just think what Steve is doing is pretty slick. I mean, you aren't going to find this sort of custom stuff from the big manufacturers. Don't know about you, but I haven't the time to figure all this out on my own.

The whole reason for writing this to begin with is really because of his "Skandit" lines Steve builds for Meiser. This is what got me excited about what he is doing. The Skandit system is a multi tip short shooting head with a floater and 4 sinking "zink" tips. He doesn't stock the system on a shelf. It is built for each caster because, as Steve says, “the magic is in the match”. The idea is, put on the floater and you have yourself a power Scandi line. Put on the zink tips, and you have yourself a light Skagit. Nifty.

Maybe sometime in the near future I'll pick up one of his lines and report back to you on my feelings and how it compares to my current skandi and skagit lines.

Scandi vs Skagit

Common thought is that Skagit lines are what you should use when flinging sink tips and heavy flies. Unfortunately, over a typical day, I switch back and forth between fly sizes and tips so often, that going between a skagit and scandi is too much of a headache. (Yeah, I know, you can use a skagit line with a floating tip and small flies, but I prefer a more delicate presentation.) So, for those seasons that are not Winter, I'll probably be sticking with my compact scandi now.

Reason is, I performed a little test yesterday. I took a 120 grain versileader and put it on my 420 grain compact scandi. To the end of the tippet, I attached a 3" barbell intruder. On the first cast, I was ready for the fly to go absolutely no where. To my surprise it casted very nicely. The line laid over straight and I was able to hit 70-80 feet with no problems shortly thereafter.

Now I'm wondering what the max tip grain weight is that I can put at the end of that setup. We'll have to find out the answer another day. For now, I'm happy with these results. Now I know I can put on a heavy fly and decent sized sink tip on the scandi and expect it to work.

I won't be giving up on the skagit. For those days that I know I'll be using nothing but heavy tips, I'll put the skagit on and leave it on.

American River

As mentioned in an earlier post, I've decided to try and make my reports more helpful. Now, when I say more helpful, I really mean more helpful for me. This blog was originally intended as a journal I could return to, so that I could remember what happened and where. Problem is, after re-reading a few previous reports, I've found they aren't very helpful at all! Woops.

Access	Paradise Beach, William H. Pond
Air Temp	Low 38, High 64
Water Temp	~56 F
Flow	~1900 cfs
Time in/out	7:30am, 5:30pm
Leaders/Lines	Compact Scandi
	3.9 ips sink leader	Morning
	7.0 ips sink leader	Afternoon
	Intermediate sink leader	Evening
	12 lb FC tippet
Flies	Various soft hackles	0 fish
	3” black intruder w/ dumbell eyes	2 half pounders, 15-18 inch
	2" bead head black rabbit strip leech	nips/plucks
	Size 8 blue steelhead spider	1 half pounder
	Various hairwing steelhead	nips/plucks only

Arrived late due to the car accident mentioned in a previous post. Started at Paradise Beach and worked the area most of the day. Went to William H. Pond in later afternoon. Never before at this spot, had trouble finding good water. Next time, will park closer to foot bridge and work that side.

Later in the morning, I decided to try something I hadn't done before. Put a heavy and good sized fly (3” intruder with dumb bell eyes) with 120 grain leader/tip on the end of my 420 gr compact scandi line. Had always used a skagit line for something of this weight. Guess what? It casted as well, if not better than the skagit line. Much to my surprise, 70-85 foot casts were not a problem with great turnover. Next time out, I'm going to try 10 feet of T10. At 100 grains, it will be a slightly lighter tip, but grains will be spread out differently. Want to see how smoothly it goes. If successful, I'll keep upping the grain weight to see exactly where it all falls apart.

Overall, this was a decent day on the water. I was a little frazzled from the excitement that took place in the morning. Won't be fishing next week because of Thanksgiving. Hope everyone has a good Holiday.