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Post by randyh on May 24, 2007 18:41:53 GMT -6
My limited experience with the fly rod has been with a 6 wt. outfit I bought at the Hole. Now I don't consider myself an accomplished caster but I seem to be able to handle it quite well, and can achieve reasonable accuracy and distance with it. I have an 8 wt. outfit that I bought as a unit second hand - Martin rod and reel, and Brand X line. This is something else. It seems like I am constantly fighting to achieve any reasonable distance. I don't know if it might be the line (is it really an 8 wt.?is it a weight fwd.?), is it my casting stroke? (it doesn't seem like the rod really loads up) is it the heavier flies that I'm using? Is it a combination of things? Are there things I should perhaps consciously be doing differently when using the heavier outfit?
It just seems so much more "clunkier" in my hands. I imagine my problem could be due to many things but are there any thoughts you guys have?
**** one aditional thing I just noticed, is that the first 2 guides on the butt section on the 8 weight are substantailly smaller than the first 2 on my 6 wt. The overall dia. is smaller and the 8 wt. has a larger insert in the guide. The remaining guides on the tip portion of the 8 wt. are slightly larger than those of the 6 wt. I will probably pick up a new line for the 8 wt. and take it from there. Thanks for the replies.****
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Post by darrellmyskiw on May 24, 2007 19:47:13 GMT -6
i) check the line and see if it's a weight forward, double taper, or level line. Could be a double taper or level line (like if at all a double taper where the fat part of the line is in the middle of the line and doesn't leand much to casting distances).
ii) how is the rod action in comparison to your 6wt. Looser, more noodly, tighter ....... If its slower (limpy) than your 6 wt - problems will exist.
iii) what's the length ? Considerably longer than the 6wt ? Might add to confusion.
and
iv) is it an 8wt line ? ... if you have a vernier to measure, I think an 8wt floating line should be around .07 to .075" thick at the ends. ........... I think.
oh yeah - don't fight it - slow down. Feel it. Feel the rod loading. It will tell you when its ready to change casting directions (fwd cast to back cast). Had the same problem with my 9ft 9wt - slower rod than the old 8wt I had ......... fought it until someone somewhere ........ hmmms ,,,,,,,,,,, told me to slow down ......
darrell,
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2007 22:18:27 GMT -6
I'd offer advice, but then advice from a guy who is ecstatic to reach 40' is probably not what you need... Ken
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Post by Dale Martens on May 24, 2007 23:18:53 GMT -6
Something else to try is cleaning the line... That can make a world of difference. Just reel it through a clean paper towel and if you're really ambitious, you can buy some line dressing for it. Both cleaning and dressing will make the line slipperier and it will shoot better. Really dirty line can really hamper casting.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on May 25, 2007 8:20:02 GMT -6
My 1st guess based on your description is that it is not a balanced out fit.
If the rod actually reads 8wt then the line is probably not.
Again guessing base on your description it sounds like it is seriously underlined
Whether it was WF or DT it would still load.
If you get some time you could come over to my place and we could strap an 8wt line on.
Again guessing base on your description it sounds like it is seriously underlined
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Post by randyh on May 25, 2007 18:09:58 GMT -6
I added a bit of info to my original post - thanks to those who took the time to suggest answers.
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Post by randyh on May 28, 2007 9:00:41 GMT -6
just for info - picked up a SA wt. fwd. 8 wt. floating line on Thursday. A world of difference!!!!!!
Any problems now will have to be attributed to the guy waving the wand!
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