Can't wait for June 1st on the sky. Just got a new curado bsf and a 1081 9' rainshadow rod (in the process of building prob 2 more days) This is my first time building a custom rod What do you think a good set up for summer runs drift fishing? Put 8# maxima ug for mainline and plan on using 6# for leader.

Keep your tips up...

Rich

Rich, Rainshadows are nice rods and that setup should work well for you. As far as fishing the Sky on June 1, I will suggest going heavier with the mainline and leader. The water will be running very high due to snowmelt and not clear enough to worry about fish seeing your leader. I use 12lb. main and 10 or 12 leaders until the water starts to drop, then I go to 10 main and 8 leader with 8 main and 6 leader only when the water becomes gin clear. Hope this helps and good luck out there on the opener, I am chompin' at the bit to fish it too!

I usually go with 10# and 8#, but was concerned with overloading my new rod. Since it is rated 4-8. I might go with 10 and 8 at the beginning of the season. Thanks for advice.

Keep your tips up

Rich

Rich, sounds like a great set up. I've been fishing a BSF since the beginning of the year, it's a fantastic reel, you will love it. I don't know if you have ever used a Shimano with the adjustable brake weights, but use them. It's so easy to adjust to different tackle that you can end up with a sweet casting reel with whatever you have on the end.

How was building your first custom rod? I've been thinking about taking the plunge. Did you have a book or a guide of some sorts? If so what?

Good luck on the Sky and let us know how it fishes......

Shane

TR, good point about using the brake weights...if your not using those...you ain't fishing!

FJ...out.

trailrat actually i am building this one at Greg's in Lk Stevens. $25.00 and he gives any instruction you need and supplies the epoxies and finish coats. plus he has a lot of tools i didn't want to buy on my first rod. pretty good deal and prob better a real person than a book.

Keep your tips up..

Rich

Right on, northforker, Greg is a great guy and great rod builder. I took that same class from him years ago and built a fly rod blank into a spinning rod and it is swwweeeet!

I agree that 10 main with 8 leader would be the way to go with that rod. Didn't clue in on the model# being a 1081 until I read your post again. That is a light stick! Should be awesome playing summer runs on it. I was thinking 1083, oops my bad!

Good luck and good fishing