[hendersonbaylocal]

Anyone have any thoughts on this rod? I just picked up a blank for cheap.

 

[jeff bandy]

O.M.G. I tried one out last year. Hit the far bank on the second cast. It was flybill's rod and I loved it. I'm sure he could give you some suggestions on lining it.

 

[flybill]

I own one, you won't be dissappointed! Throw a 550 Skagit on it, or something in that grain window. An Airflo Delta should do well on it, but I can't remember what dry line I use.... maybe one of my old Hardy Mach I's...

 

[jeff bandy]

There's a 550 Skagit for sale in the classifieds.

 

[flybill]

I have the SA Skagit 550, but it shouldn't make a difference. Enjoy the new rod! I would build a new one if I could get a good deal on the blank, but don't really need it with my new CND Solstice 14'3"! It rocks w/ the 550 Skagit, CND 7/8 GPS and an old SA Short Spey 9 wt line... These lines would probably cast pretty well on the 9140 as well. Try the GPS 8/9 as well..

 

[hendersonbaylocal]

Thanks guys!

Flybill - I'll probably go the Skagit route. I have a couple other lighter spey rods that I think I'll use as my dry line rods if I ever get the opportunity. The RIO website says 550 skagit with a 5 ft cheater. Are you using a cheater or just the straight 550?

 

[hendersonbaylocal]

so i'm confused. can't find much information on the VPS spey series. is this the same 9140 "brownie". it's brown.

 

[flybill]

I just use the Skagit head, no cheaters. I don't think that you need it for this rod, imho.

 

[k2flyfisher]

keep in mind that the sa skagit deluxe is 31' long, instead of the 27' rio skagit that is recommended with the 5' cheater. personally for 14' rods and above, i prefer some sort of "cheater" just to keep my anchor from blowing. another advantage is if you pick up an intermediate cheater, it will help you get down past the surface currents and keep your swing deeper.

 

[Brian Thomas]

but don't really need it with my new CND Solstice 14'3"! It rocks w/ the 550 Skagit, CND 7/8 GPS and an old SA Short Spey 9 wt line...

OFF TOPIC...
flybill , if you can find a 2nd generation Rio Grandspey 7/8 , GET IT .
That line is magic on the Solstice .

 

[Porter]

found this on an oregon store site....for what it might be worth

Based on the McCune-O’Donnell formula, Rod/Line match ups work out as follows:

7-weight rod matched with a 450 grain (7/8) Skagit line.

Rod length 13’6’’ or under go with straight Skagit 450 (no cheaters).

Rod length 14’ formula = 450 Skagit plus 5 (5 foot cheater).

Rod length 15’ formula = 450 Skagit plus 10 (10 foot cheater).

8-weight rod matched with 550 grain (8/9) Skagit line.

Rod length 13’6’’ or under go with straight Skagit 550 (no cheaters).

Rod length 14’ formula = 550 Skagit plus 5 (5 foot cheater).

Rod length 15’ formula = 550 Skagit plus 10 (10 foot cheater).

9-weight rod matched with 650 grain (9/10) Skagit line.

Rod length 13’6’’ or under go with straight Skagit 650 (no cheaters).

Rod length 14’ formula = 650 Skagit plus 5 (5 foot cheater).

Rod length 15’ formula = 650 Skagit plus 10 (10 foot cheater).

As you can see from the above the basic Skagit line/rod formula will depend on rod length with the enhanced use of the Skagit Cheaters (cheaters of matching size). The cheaters come in 2.5', 5’ and 7.5' lengths, to further customize your line to your specific rod. When selecting the appropriate set of cheaters follow the Skagit number, for example a 550 Skagit is a 8/9, use a 8/9/10 Skagit Cheater.

Below you will find a run down of Sage Rods with appropriate Skagit Line match-ups;

6126-4 Z-AXIS - Skagit 400, no cheater

7136-4 Z-AXIS - Skagit 500, no cheater

8129-4 Z-AXIS - Skagit 550 or 600, no cheater

8134-4 Z-AXIS - Skagit 550, no cheater

9143-4 Z-AXIS - Skagit 600 + 5’cheater or Skagit 650 + 2.5’cheater

10150 Z-AXIS - Skagit 700 + 5’cheater or Skagit 750 + 2.5’cheater

10150 Z-AXIS - Skagit 700 + 7.5’cheater or Skagit 750 + 5' cheater

Skagit Lines are purely a design for use with sink-tips. To be sure most fishing will be with type 6,8 and T-14 tips in 9,11,13,15 foot lengths. With 15’ being the standard sink tip length. Aqualux as well as type 3 tips can and will apply depending on strategy or seasonality.

However, Skagit Lines combined with either a floating or Aqualux tip have gained extreme popularity for fishing dry or damp when there is hard wind or lack of room to form a longer D-Loop. These short head lines are extremely easy for beginners to learn with.