[Gone’r]

Since I started spey casting last winter I've been focusing on my form and casts and not so much about the pile of slack around my waders. Since my casting and the distance I'm shooting has taken leaps I'm finding myself trying to figure out how to manage my slack properly with my compact skagit.

For instance, yesterday on the river;... Standing in relatively slack water I did fine just letting my slack hit the water and pile up. setup, cast, line would shoot, no problem. At the end of the day, on the best water we saw all day, i was thigh deep in current and the hydraulics wanted to suck the running line under. when i went to shoot my line, the drag killed my distance and I wasnt hitting the seam like i wanted. so i started holding loops of slack which half the time turned into birdsnests in my first guide.i tried holding all the strips in my hand, tried seperating several strips between different fingers. it was all kinda sketch, and typically resulted in a tangle.

anyways, how do you manage your slack?

 

[gone johnson]

The first loop should be larger then the next one. The second loop should be larger than the third one. I try to keep it down to just two loops, but will go to three if required to get more distance. And...I try not to get over knee deep.

 

[herl]

iagree

Big loop (say, 5+ strips) hangs on the pinky of the bottom hand, next loop (a strip shorter) hangs on the next finger, etc. Release the loops on the forward stroke. It works ~85% of the time.

Stripping basket if there is a lot around for you to tangle on, or if wading deep.

Eric

 

[constructeur]

Sean- Glad to see you got out and were able to wet a line!

Big loop (say, 5+ strips) hangs on the pinky of the bottom hand, next loop (a strip shorter) hangs on the next finger, etc. Release the loops on the forward stroke. It works ~85% of the time.

That's how I'm trying to manage life too, the key word being 'try'..it's taking a bit of practice to actually get it down. I've noticed that stretching the line pre use is key, otherwise I'm getting knots damn near every cast on the first guide.

 

[Big Tuna]

I just grab the big loop of running line in the middle and it works well most of the time. I used to do the multiple loop thing, but then watched the Simon G dvd and started just grabbing the loop midway. It gets the line off the water and shoots pretty well. At times it will birdsnest a little, but I'm not sure that can be avoided.

 

[Gone’r]

Sean- Glad to see you got out and were able to wet a line!

That's how I'm trying to manage life too, the key word being 'try'..it's taking a bit of practice to actually get it down. I've noticed that stretching the line pre use is key, otherwise I'm getting knots damn near every cast on the first guide.

i got some more "practice" in this evening. messed around a bit but was coming up with the same problem. seems like everyone is suggesting less loops which i think is my problem. less but larger loops. felt good to fish this weekend after working an 80 hour week. hooked 2 fish, lost em both.

 

[John Hicks]

When I'm using mono for my running line, I strip in the running line and fold it in half and pinch. I tried this with Airflo's ridgeline, does not work as well. BTW I have learned to hate the ridgeline. Mono all the way for me now.

 

[Brian Thomas]

The first loop should be larger then the next one. The second loop should be larger than the third one. I try to keep it down to just two loops, but will go to three if required to get more distance.

Big loop (say, 5+ strips) hangs on the pinky of the bottom hand, next loop (a strip shorter) hangs on the next finger, etc. Release the loops on the forward stroke. It works ~85% of the time.

I do it the other way around . The last loop I form is the largest . It will be the first loop going back out . That leaves plenty of energy to carry out the last (smaller) loop . If that makes any sense .:hmmm:

 

[KerryS]

Learn to carry loops with your lower hand. There are as many ways to hold the loops as there are fishermen. I hold all my loops with the first and second fingers of my lower hand. I use two fingers so as not to have a death grip on the line and to keep my grip on the rod light but again this is a personal choice. Start carrying the loops on every cast. Experiment with the different methods explained in this thread and you will find the one that you prefer. It is going to take a day or more to get confortable with carrying loops but soon it will become natural. You will likely add 10 to 15 feet to your casting distance once you get it all figured out.

 

[James Mello]

The first loop should be larger then the next one. The second loop should be larger than the third one. I try to keep it down to just two loops, but will go to three if required to get more distance.

Big loop (say, 5+ strips) hangs on the pinky of the bottom hand, next loop (a strip shorter) hangs on the next finger, etc. Release the loops on the forward stroke. It works ~85% of the time.

I do it the other way around . The last loop I form is the largest . It will be the first loop going back out . That leaves plenty of energy to carry out the last (smaller) loop . If that makes any sense .:hmmm:

If you're going to do that, also make sure you grip it from pinky to forefinger. Otherwise you'll run the risk of more tangles as the largest loop (in the back) may grab the smaller loops either in the water or in your hand.

 

[Brian Thomas]

If you're going to do that, also make sure you grip it from pinky to forefinger. Otherwise you'll run the risk of more tangles as the largest loop (in the back) may grab the smaller loops either in the water or in your hand.

That is what I do . . Smallest loop in the pinky finger , larger loops in the next finger . I should have clarified .:beathead:

 

[steve s]

I carry all my loops on my pinky. I make five strips and loop on pinky, make four strips and loop on pinky, make three strips and loop on pinky. Rarely have any issues but might have to start carrying the loops so that the largest shoots first.

 

[yuhina]

When I'm using mono for my running line, I strip in the running line and fold it in half and pinch. I tried this with Airflo's ridgeline, does not work as well. BTW I have learned to hate the ridgeline. Mono all the way for me now.

John,

can't agree with you more! I have two ridgelines, and they are collecting dust now... I love the mono - Amnesia!

 

[Guest]

Use a loop threader like a zap-n-go.

 

[Gone’r]

i have the rio running line. the baby blue one. its the only one ive spent time with so i cant comment either way about it. it works. thanks for the input guys i think i got plenty to work with next weekend.

 

[k2flyfisher]

30 or 25# amnesia here too, all year round. two big loops off the bottom hand pinky. not really sure if one loop is larger than the other, but it makes sense to have the bigger one shoot first. having that slight bit of extra friction from the loops coming off the water on the lower leg of the loop also seems to help keep the line from turning over too quickly on the shoot.

 

[Guest]

"I do it the other way around . The last loop I form is the largest . It will be the first loop going back out . That leaves plenty of energy to carry out the last (smaller) loop . If that makes any sense ."

Same here...when you start getting the casting part down, line management is as important as anything else...I've found I can only cast as far as I can manage the line..

The skag. is a strange river, quick current by your knee's but the gradient is flatter then just about any other river I fish...Timing and proper stroke seems much more important on her then other rivers I've fished where the current helps lot the rod easier...

Was up on Sat. and to reach and fish the slot I was fishing took 20+ big strips...I found that when I got more then 6 strips in the first loop it was hard to pick that last one off the water...So I went 5-6, 8, and 8 or 9 up to my overhang...I've picked up the last loop at times and others I leave it floating as it goes out first..depends on current..I've tried pinching the loops as well but found it caused more birds nest then not...

Nothing is ever going to work perfect all the time...I still get line up the guides here and there...

Still just trouties so far...still hoping for a suicidal salmon...Gotta say, fishing T 14 all day is kind of a drag..(no pun intended)

 

[James Mello]

30 or 25# amnesia here too, all year round. two big loops off the bottom hand pinky. not really sure if one loop is larger than the other, but it makes sense to have the bigger one shoot first. having that slight bit of extra friction from the loops coming off the water on the lower leg of the loop also seems to help keep the line from turning over too quickly on the shoot.

Ditto on the hard mono. I have a mix of 50# slick shooter and some 30# Amnesia. Went to it the winter before and have never looked back.....

 

[Guest]

Interesting what your using J.M. I've been beating that around in my head as well...The 50lb to the head seems to throw a bit better but pulling off big loops with it versus the 30lb, the 30 flies better....How did you join the two together? Assuming it's a blood knot?

 

[constructeur]

two big loops off the bottom hand pinky. not really sure if one loop is larger than the other, but it makes sense to have the bigger one shoot first.

Tried two loops this weekend and it gets the thumbs up from me.