Fly fishing gear

A word about fly fishing gear. Fly fishing or Spey fishing.The Science of Spey Fishing seems to have diversified along three main schools (or philosophies). Those are regularly called the Traditional, Skagit and Scandinavian methods.  Traditional fly fishing casting methods have evolved slowly over the past several hundred years.

Fishing Gear

More responsive tools lead to those new casting techniques as seen in Montana. Progress was slow because of the relative sameness of woods and animal fibers from which all fly fishing rods and lines were constructed. When superior synthetic materials for rods/line construction became available, casting techniques also began to change.
The Scandinavian and Skagit methods have each evolved over the last twenty years.  The Skagit method could be termed a Pacific Northwest winter steelhead method. Skagit and Scandi methods each have applications appropriate for steelhead fly and surf fishing.
At first the differences between Scandinavian Style and Skagit Styles doesn’t seem very apparent.  Both styles employ lightweight, medium-length two-hand rods and shooting head fly lines. Yet, within the subtle differences between rod/line designs and casting methods, there is an interesting variety in fly fishing application.

Fishing Gear

The Scandi rods store the most power in the tip of the rod, and Skagit rods concentrate power lower into the butt. Scandi lines are normally lighter in weight than Skagit lines. Skagit Casting uses the weight of the line to load the rod. Scandi Casting relies more on line speed to load the rod.  The Scandinavian method uses a very light anchor on the water and a slight deceleration and then reacceleration in the formation of the D-loop.  The Scandinavian cast ordinarily uses a longer, narrower D-loop than the Skagit cast. The Scandinavian method of fly fishing downstream at a steep angle that brings the fly across slowly on a steady predictable course for salmon fishing.
The ability to control speed during fly fishing is often the difference between blank days and the ones that result in many fish pictures.  Shooting heads concentrate the weight for loading a rod into a more compact area for ease of presentation while fly fishing. Because of various factors, most trout fishing in the Pacific Northwest is done at ranges of fewer than 100′, even by angler who can cast much further. Short lines are more easily propelled by shorter fishing gear. Two-hand rods are becoming both shorter and lighter in weight. Twenty years ago the most popular steelhead rod/line combination was a 14′ #9 weight. Now most rods for summer fly fishing rarely exceed 13.5′.  Most are 12-13 feet in length and throw from #5-#7 lines.

 

A deeper understanding of fly fishing line taper designs have allowed lines to become shorter and still reach fishable distances.

Fishing gear

 

Tactical Steelhead Spey Shooting Head
Take the loop and casting ease of a Scandi Compact head and couple it to the versatility of a multi-tip line and you have the Airflo Tactical Steelhead shooting head. With a smooth front taper and removable floating tip the newest two-hand line from Airflo will convert from a floating line to sink tip better than any existing line. The mint green colored heads come in a #5 weighing 400 grains all the way to a #9 weighing 670 grains. Unique to  Tactical Steelhead fishing gear is the 8 foot removable ridged floating tip. Airflo’s indestructible heavy duty loops connect the tip to the head and the head to the running line. All sizes are made on low stretch 30lb core. Remove the floating tip and connect your favorite sink tip and get down.

Fishing Gear.