Thanks for the info. I built myself a shooting head system for my 8 wt. IIx using a section of 10 wt. spey line and .027 SA running line. It works pretty good casting on grass (to find the right belly length ~ 29 ft.) with a length of sink tip on the front but I've found it behaves differently on the water. I can't roll it out without putting the belly splice inside the guides especially when hip deep in water.

Maybe your shorter system would eleviate that problem. What do you think?

John P.