Anyone fish this rod that could recommend Skagit Flight head grain weight, ballpark? I have built many of the 11'6" and 12'6" models as center pin rods but am doing a spey build on one this go around.

Have a 625gr. head that is definitely on the heavy side, despite the rod's faster action and shorter length... Seems a 575 would be about right, but don't want to purchase what I don't need.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Can't help you Joe but while we're talking about pairing lines with rods, any suggestions for the Rainshadow 10'8" 7wt switch rod I'm building?

-AP

I think right around 500 gr would be a good fit, but I do like my Skagit heads on the lighter side. Some folks go 100 gr heavier than I do, but that's like casting a 6 oz banana weight on a drift fishing rod that likes 5/8" of 3/16" dia. pencil lead to me.

A suggestion: if you're building from a kit with pre-made upper and lower grips, do some tests to see where you want to grip the rod for casting and holding during the swing. (Tape the female ferrules before testing.) Also tape your intended reel to the butt section and move it around to see where you like it and get a good balance. When I made my first 11' 6" 6/7 I used the grips just as they came. Second time around I made both grips shorter, and the reel sits closer to the butt. But this rod has great balance and feel as a result.

I've got a NW Skagit @ 540 gr and a compact Skagit @ 525 gr if you want to try them.

Sg

AP,

I use a 400 gr Skagit on my Forecast 11' 6" 6/7. That might be right for your switch.

Sg

AP, et al.

Have you checked out the line recommendation chart on Rio's site? They have most mainstream rods and many of the lesser known varieties along with which line setup they recommend. I have followed their recommendations for a 7/8wt CND Black Spey and an 11' 7wt Z-Axis and have been very pleased.

http://www.rioproducts.com/photos/file/2011%20v2%20Spey%20line%20recs.pdf

Steve,

Not building from kit, turning rear cork at 5-3/4" and fore cork at 12-3/4", respectively.

Total reel weight with line is about 11 oz. so will make judgement call as to inlet reel seat for uplocking or downlocking, depending on where or if balance point can be achieved using these pre-determined handle lengths...might have to shorten or lengthen grip(s) as necessary.
I have loaded/test cast one of my 12'6" Forecast center pin rods, taping the reel in place where it will likely be mounted on the spey, yet feel this is a pretty ineffective way to see how things will work real time...

May take you up on trying your lines once completed, thanks for the offer.

AP,

I fooled around with a few different lines after picking up the 11' - 7# Cabela's switch rod. I really liked the SAS 9#, yet ultimately settled on the new Switch line from Rio. It both overhands and spey casts nicely. Went one line size up (460 gr.), but will be picking up the 410 gr. in the near future.

Thanks for the input.

Joe,

On the 11' 6" 6/7 I made the lower grip 4 1/4", with 3 1/4" exposed reel seat, and 12 3/4" fore grip with the reel hood inlet at the bottom for uplocking. I didn't weigh my reel, but with a St. John or Salmon Marquis #1 it balances well.

Sg

Hey Joe,

A friend has this rod and coincidentally was using a Skagit Flight on it for winter fishing. He loves the 525gr on it and I have to agree - sweet casting setup. You could easily go to 550gr if you like a deeper load.

The Airflo Skagit Compact would also rock on that rod - the one Salmo G has would probably be perfect.

Good Luck - it's a great speycasting rod. Works pretty good as a CP Chum rod too.

Cheers,

Brian

1000 Grain Deep Digger...gets the eggs down where the big ones reside.

Joe,

Once you complete the rod, you might drive down to Tacoma and give Anil, @ Puget Sound Fly Company, a visit. He's got a stash of demo lines that you can try to match with that rod.

Brian,

Appreciate your input, leaning toward the 550 zone...I think.

Never go CP chummin' without it! (You should see the Raven proto I was using last year though...)


Sam,

Thanks for the heads up.

Joe,

Mike Cummins aka "Poppy" from the Red Shed Fly Shop Peck, Idaho will send you what ever lines that you would like to field test, with the only commitment your return postage. He will let you field test just about anything in his shop.

Poppy has a wealth of knowledge of just about any spey/switch rod made and the line ranges for each. He is definitely worth talking to before lining any spey/switch rod.

http://www.redshedflyshop.com/index.html

Another excellent and knowledgeable person on spey lines is Steve Godshall with R. B. Meiser Fly Rods. His SGS (Steve Godshall Specials) spey lines have a great reputation and are very well liked by many, poly coatings same as Airflo, weld very good.

He will custom build a line for what ever rod you own, for about the same price as a factory line, just contact him and tell him what you need. He will also make custom sink tips for you, out of the awesome Zink Tip material.

http://www.meiserflyrods.com/speyshop.php

Thanks James for the reminder about Redshed/Poppy, great recommendation.