tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53904611526653744132024-03-08T06:16:03.097-08:00D-Loop Spey CastingMah's Spey casting notebookYuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-39695169702164005912018-02-07T04:30:00.000-08:002018-02-07T04:30:08.925-08:00TFO Drift Rod Review 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
TFO Drift fly rod review. This post is a continuation of my <a href="http://yuenmah.blogspot.my/2018/01/tfo-drift-microspey.html?m=1" target="_blank">earlier blog post review of the TFO Drift fly rod</a>. After my earlier post a week ago, another YouTube video has popped up showing clear detail of this rod including closeup on how the innovative stripper guide system works. I have opted to include this very good video in my blog to give reader a clearer view of this rod system. Near the end of this video, recommendation is also made on what line weight / grain weight is suited for this rod.<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-83591374876882965972018-01-29T00:45:00.003-08:002018-01-31T05:11:38.762-08:00TFO Drift Rod Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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TFO Drift rod review. Finally TFO is getting into the Microspey game. Their new 3wt Drift rod is certainly a game changer. It is 4 rod in one covering 9ft dry fly fishing to 10' Euro nymphing to 11'3" or 12'3" micro spey / trout spey. </div>
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After my recent Bosnia trip fishing in river Una, I can certainly appreciate the versatility of having such a rod in my arsenal. In the morning with no hatch happening, I could be Euro nymphing with 10' configuration. Later as the trout and grayling warms up to slurping dry fly, I could easily shorten to 9ft by removing the 1' extension without needing to re-string, how sweet is that! Next day, if I fancy prospecting for big trout tossing wooly bugger across the stream, this same rod can be rigged as a 11'3" microspey casting sink tips on Skagit line... how neat is that :)<br />
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I recently got a chance to test cast this rod for a few hours, thanks to my friend, Nick, owner of Tackle Box Adventures Fly Shop in Subang Jaya. Here is my initial impression review of this TFO Drift fly rod.<br />
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I first strung up the 9ft configuration to cast a 3wt RIO intermediate line (It happens that I don't have a 3wt floating line). I must say that I initially struggled to get a good cast because the tip felt really soft. After taking a step back I realized the problem. I was pushing the rod too hard for distance. This 3wt 9ft configuration is supposedly designed for close in dry fly action, so I started working on 30 - 40 ft cast and the rod begins to perform. It excels in loading with minimal line out for delicate presentation cast meant for dry fly.<br />
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Next I wanted to know if this rod has the guts to handle distance. I extended the rod to 10' and hauled away. Immediately I can feel a change in character. The rod came alive with more power. The tippy action encountered earlier seems to have dissapeared. The rod now loads lower down with more power at my disposal as I made longer hauls. In the end I was gratified. I managed to clear the 90ft RIO Aqualux line. So if you meet stiff wind and need to punch for distance, set it up to 10'. At 10', the rod did not feel too tip heavy and I would be perfectly happy using it Euro nymphing the whole day.<br />
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Next and more importantly I wanted to know if this rod can Spey cast well. Since I can't test on water, I did the next best thing... which is to set up my anchored grass leader system to cast on grass. For those who are not familiar with my <a href="http://yuenmah.blogspot.my/search/label/Anchored%20Grass%20Leader" target="_blank">anchored grass leader</a> system please follow the link to see how it works.<br />
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I set up the rod at 11'3 microspey configuration and put on a 235 grain Wulff Ambush line with 15ft RIO versi leader. After making a few cast, I can feel that 235 grain is in the right ball park. The rod is not overly fast but it does load smoothly and dish out the cast with unhurried pace. I suspect that it will cast even better with Ambush 195 grain. Since this is casting on grass, I will not put to much judgement on how it will perform on water. Do take this as my very initial impression of the rod.<br />
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Next, just for curiosity, I set it up at 12'3" Spey. At this length, the rod slowed down tremendously and also very tip heavy. I can't imagine anyone wanting to use it at this length for Spey fishing. My advice is to stick to 11'3" for microspey and you should be happy. Hopefully I will get to test the rod on water eventually and provide a more thorough review.<br />
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Who should get this rod or why should you buy it? If you are new to the Microspey game or want to get into single hand Spey, this is a good way to start because you get a dry fly presentation rod and a Euro nymphing rod as bonus. Or if you want a 10ft nymphing rod and not sure if you would eventually venture into Microspey then this rod will do it.<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-55922301453837851182016-04-13T02:25:00.001-07:002016-04-13T02:27:07.151-07:00Sage Trout Spey vs Winston Micro Spey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a very good article by Gorge Fly Shop comparing Sage Trout Spey vs Winston Micro Spey. For those intending to make the foray into the small switch rod arena (2wt - 4wt), this is a good read.<br />
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<a href="http://www.gorgeflyshops.blogspot.sg/2016/04/winston-microspey-vs-sage-trout-spey.html" target="_blank">http://www.gorgeflyshops.blogspot.sg/2016/04/winston-microspey-vs-sage-trout-spey.html</a><br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-76059242850610663862016-02-19T00:21:00.000-08:002016-02-19T00:21:57.815-08:00Spey Casting Fundamentals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a very good video covering some spey casting basics by Will Turek. I decided to bookmark his video here because I find his explanation very concise and easy to understand. This would serve as a good reference for those interested in learning Spey casting.<br />
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I like how he explains the relationship between anchor and D-loop size and also the 180 degree rule of spey casting.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-65330651944334749922016-02-02T22:39:00.000-08:002016-02-02T22:39:41.503-08:00RIO Spey Lines for the Micro Spey Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a very good write up by George Cook of Sage on the choice of lines from RIO if you are into the micro Spey / Trout Spey / ultralight Spey game.<br />
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<a href="http://www.rioproducts.com/blog/trout-spey-lines-defined-by-george-cook/#more-3693">http://www.rioproducts.com/blog/trout-spey-lines-defined-by-george-cook/#more-3693</a><br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-57880106528856871692016-01-07T00:35:00.001-08:002016-07-10T22:47:42.601-07:00Making Sense of Switch Rods and Lines - by RIO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://cdn-tp2.mozu.com/15440-m1/cms/files/89659ea0-2a82-4802-b69a-a6c1d2700098">http://cdn-tp2.mozu.com/15440-m1/cms/files/89659ea0-2a82-4802-b69a-a6c1d2700098</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is a good write up by RIO on how to make sense of the plethora of lines offered by RIO for Switch rods. If you are ever in doubt as to which RIO Spey line to select for your need, read this and be enlightened.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-85968478261848943882016-01-07T00:26:00.003-08:002016-07-10T22:57:09.023-07:00RIO Spey Line Weight Table<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a table that I find very useful to quickly reference the Spey line offerings by RIO. This table allows me to quickly find out the length of and grain weight of each line type/model including the MOW tips. I though I will share it here.<br />
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Here is the link to the pdf file in RIO website:<br />
<a href="http://cdn-tp2.mozu.com/15440-m1/cms/files/4c16fc29-bcf8-490f-94f1-802b90ba281d" target="_blank">http://cdn-tp2.mozu.com/15440-m1/cms/files/4c16fc29-bcf8-490f-94f1-802b90ba281d</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIO 2016 Spey Line Weight part 1</td></tr>
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For those interested in RIO sink tip specifications, they are available here:<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-54666894118568586302016-01-05T18:05:00.000-08:002016-05-15T22:45:05.695-07:006 Piece Travel Switch Rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have been hunting high and low for a 6pc travel length switch rod for some time now. So, when a newly acquainted fellow angler pointed me in the direction of Shakespeare fly rods, specifically the Oracle EXP range, I was both delighted and intrigue.<br />
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Intrigue because Shakespeare has never been popular for their fly rods. Spinning rods ...yes, the famous Ugly Stick comes to mind but fly rods??!!. I kept an open mind and did some research on the web. There are not a whole lot of reviews that I can find but here are a few good ones:</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shakespeare.uk/posts/861613670519246" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/shakespeare.uk/posts/861613670519246</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.salmonfishingforum.com/forums/thread87597.html" target="_blank">http://www.salmonfishingforum.com/forums/thread87597.html</a></div>
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Here is the promo video by Shakespeare for this rod range:</div>
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In the end, I took the plunge and bought the Oracle EXP #7/8 11ft 6pc Switch. I had the rod for a while now and has been fishing with it to put it through its paces. Now I think I am ready to write a review.<br />
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The Oracle EXP #7/8 is AFTM rated. This means that it is equivalent to a single hand 7/8 wt rod rating. If we go by the US Switch rod rating, I would rate this as a 5/6 wt Switch rod. After some experimentation with different grain Skagit lines, I concluded the grain window for this rod is between 350 and 450 grains.<br />
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This rod amazes me with its recovery speed. Although not marketed as a fast rod, it does exhibit very good recovery and can generate some pretty good line speed. Furthermore, I like the progressive action of the rod. The more you load the rod, the lower down it bends and the more it powers up. I like how it launches the 450 grain Ambush head with ease, flexing progressively to the mid section.<br />
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Aesthetically, there is nothing to shout about. It is best described as low key and functional. The cork quality is no worse than my TFO and the blank is matte camo green to reduce fish spooking glare. I was impressed by how well the ferules fit together for a rod of this price range. It shows no sign of loosening or twisting even after pro-long casting. The reel seat is anodized aluminium which means I can use it in saltwater. Despite being 6pc, this rod does not feel heavy at all. In fact the swing weight is comparable to my TFO Deer Creek 6wt. This rod is also built tough and you can really yank on the fish without worrying about breakage.<br />
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Overall, this is a great rod and very affordable to boot. I like it that it can be broken down to 6pc and fits easily into my check-in luggage for travel. It cast well, it fish well and the 6pc design makes it a handy backup travel rod.<br />
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Here are some pics of fish I have done battle with on this rod.<br />
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Currently the Oracle EXP range of Switch rod comes only in #7/8 and #8/9. I wish Shakespeare would consider making a #4/5 and #5/6 version which I would buy in a heartbeat. I have also spent an hour or so test casting the Oracle EXP #8/9 rod with 450 grain Ambush line. The verdict is that this rod is casting more from the top one third of the rod. The flex is not as progressive as the #7/8. This is not necessarily a bad thing as this "tip flexing" action gives very consistent tight loops. I think the Scandi casters will like this action.<br />
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Note:<br />
Another option for multi piece travel switch rod would be the Guideline LXi T-Pac switch rod. It is 11'6", breaks down to 5 pieces and comes in #6/7, #7/8, #8/9 (AFTM rating).<br />
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*Updated 11 May 2016:<br />
I just came back from Thailand fishing trip using the Oracle EXP #7/8 rod. This rod has what it takes to handle big fish and is plenty tough too. There was an occasion when I accidentally whacked the rod tip onto a nearby tiled roof during a difficult cast and the rod survived. I was expecting the worst but the rod just went on as if nothing has happened.<br />
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Here are some pics of big fish I caught there pairing up the rod with my trusty Lamson Speedster and 400 grain SA Skagit Extreme line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Gr1xNO1rSk/VzKoyrqihsI/AAAAAAAAHmw/DELY601LMyE6V7xZUKOa6QCOXMXmHputACKgB/s1600/20160505_092207_HDR-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Gr1xNO1rSk/VzKoyrqihsI/AAAAAAAAHmw/DELY601LMyE6V7xZUKOa6QCOXMXmHputACKgB/s320/20160505_092207_HDR-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chao Phraya Catfish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KY1soM6PqWM/VzKoyoToAII/AAAAAAAAHm0/1u7HIS2K5-QEX-XNbBJHmFI4JOf_9SRUgCLcB/s1600/20160505_110506_HDR-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KY1soM6PqWM/VzKoyoToAII/AAAAAAAAHm0/1u7HIS2K5-QEX-XNbBJHmFI4JOf_9SRUgCLcB/s320/20160505_110506_HDR-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mekong Catfish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTDzM8ko3r8/VzKoytf_H8I/AAAAAAAAHm4/lO7G0ywELY8MWOJciJhcJEO8sbRgf7klQCLcB/s1600/20160506_164741_HDR-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTDzM8ko3r8/VzKoytf_H8I/AAAAAAAAHm4/lO7G0ywELY8MWOJciJhcJEO8sbRgf7klQCLcB/s320/20160506_164741_HDR-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Pacu</td></tr>
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-87645883931426575382015-11-30T18:30:00.000-08:002015-11-30T18:38:52.228-08:00All you want to know about RIO MOW tips<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q1QYtol_0Eo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1QYtol_0Eo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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If you are still all fog up as to what is a MOW tip, George Cook gives a great concise introduction on MOW tip in this video.<br />
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Instead of the traditional sink tips, MOW tips are increasingly used as weapon of choice for the Skagit guys targeting Steelhead and Salmon. You can refer to this a great article by Asland Fly Shop on how to tactically make use of RIO MOW tips for swinging flies.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/blog/jon-hazletts-take/get-tactical-with-rio-mow-tips/" target="_blank">http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/blog/jon-hazletts-take/get-tactical-with-rio-mow-tips/</a><br />
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MOW tips were designed by some of the most influential pioneers in Skagit Spey, namely Mike <b>M</b>cCune, Scott <b>O</b>'Donnell and Ed <b>W</b>ard. The <b>MOW</b> tip is named after the 3 of them.<br />
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MOW tips as part of the Skagit system were created for two main reason, consistency in depth control and consistency in casting control. In the past, people will just use sink tip of different length to fish different depth. For example if you are fishing a deep run, you may have been using a 10ft sink tip. When you next get into a shallow section, a 5ft sink tip may be more suitable. However, the 5ft sink tip will shorten the overall length of your Skagit set up and reduce the bite of your anchor. As a result you may find yourself ripping out your anchor more often than not unless you adjust your casting stroke to accommodate the change. With MOW tip, you will find that the overall length remains constant except for the fast sink portion. This consistency in length of the MOW tip results in good depth control without sacrificing casting.<br />
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An article here by Gorge Fly Shop gives a good account of not only the MOW tip but also the newer RIO iMOW tips:<br />
<a href="http://gorgeflyshops.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-cutting-edge-evolution-of-new-rio.html" target="_blank">http://gorgeflyshops.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-cutting-edge-evolution-of-new-rio.html</a><br />
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Note:<br />
Please do not confuse sink rate vs grain weight of the tips. Sink rate is ips (inch per second) whereas tungsten tips are rated at T8, T11 or T14 for example. "T" stands for tungsten coated. So a T14 means that the tungsten coated tip weighs 14 grain per foot. So if you have a 10ft T14 tip, the overall weight of the tip is 140 grain. Typical sink rate of T8 is 6-7 ips, T11 is 7-8 ips and T14 is 8-9 ips.<br />
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RO also makes tips rated in ips, for example <a href="http://www.rioproducts.com/fly-lines/spey/tips/intouch-15ft-sink-tips/" target="_blank">RIO InTouch 15ft sink tips</a>. So if you are using a 15ft sink tip rated at 3-4 ips you may be tempted to think that you are swinging your fly deeper than a person using 7ft of T14. You may be very wrong. T14 sinks at 8-9 ips so it will cut through the current much faster than a 4ips 15ft sink tip.<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-28392394123201114292015-10-14T18:37:00.002-07:002015-10-14T18:37:51.943-07:00Fixing Spey Casting Faults<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a good video by Jon of Ashland Fly shop showing and correcting common spey casting mistakes.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-28044458399532453372015-10-08T00:30:00.000-07:002015-10-08T00:30:14.179-07:00Skagit Fishing Sweden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a very entertaining video on Salmon fishing in Sweden using Skagit tactics. For those who love fishing on wild rivers and Skagit casting.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-51083842179926646222015-09-16T18:54:00.000-07:002015-09-16T18:54:54.269-07:00Snap-T or C-Spey cast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j3edGCp2CTU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j3edGCp2CTU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Here is a good video by George Cook on the Snap-T or the C-Spey cast. Although both are essentially the same cast, there are subtle difference between the two as demonstrated by George Cook in the video above.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-20232813534893360662015-09-02T18:56:00.001-07:002015-09-02T18:56:44.309-07:00The Perry Poke Revisited<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a very good instructional video I found showing the Perry Poke. Thought I will share it here.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-78367369317134683062015-08-04T01:38:00.001-07:002015-08-04T01:38:34.057-07:00Sage ONE trout Spey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f3YrK10Ao3c/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f3YrK10Ao3c?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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As an update to my earlier post on <a href="http://yuenmah.blogspot.jp/2015/06/trout-spey-rod.html" target="_blank">Trout Spey rod</a>. Here is George Cook himself introducing the Sage ONE 2 wt (10'9") and 3 wt (11ft) trout Spey, new for 2015. He also talks about the various RIO lines that will be suitable for this rod including the new 11' Skagit Trout Max line.<br />
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He made a very good intro to the Skagit Trout Max explaining why the line is designed so short...mainly for streamer fishing for Trout where it is necessary to strip the line in close without hitting the loop to loop connection.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-35529346596292239072015-07-27T19:34:00.001-07:002015-08-31T19:04:27.219-07:00Trout Spey Line<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is the new fly line from RIO to complement the new <a href="http://yuenmah.blogspot.com/2015/06/trout-spey-rod.html" target="_blank">Sage Trout Spey</a> for 2015. This line, the RIO Skagit Trout Max, is a Skagit line made specifically for trout fishing using Switch rod. It is a surprisingly short Skagit head.... 11ft only. I was caught by surprised how short this head is. I was expecting something in the 15ft range but I supposed RIO knows what they are doing.<br />
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This line being so short, one really has to be standing knee deep in water to cast it effectively. It is meant to be paired with a sink tip or versileader to have the right amount of anchor for the cast. Being a Skagit head, it is designed to lift heavy sink tip and fly to fish deep. This line comes as a head with no integrated running line.<br />
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I you plan to fish dry fly or emergers with your trout Spey, you will be better off with the RIO InTouch single handed Spey line, new for 2015.<br />
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Although designed for single handed Spey casting, this line is suitable for 2 - 3 wt Switch rod as well. To boot, this line also overhead cast very well.<br />
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An alternative to the new RIO Skagit Trout Max is this <a href="http://www.opskagit.com/commando-heads.html" target="_blank">OPST Commando Head</a>. Developed by Ed Ward and Jerry French for sustain anchor casting. It is supposedly designed to turn over MOW tip and heavy stuff.<br />
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This line starts at 150 grains to 475 grain. For Trout spey, the lighter spectrum of this line, 150 grain (12ft) to 250 grain (13.5ft) should be of interest to those venturing into 2wt - 3wt Switch rod for trout.<br />
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You can find more info on this line here <<a href="http://www.redsflyfishing.com/OPST-Commando-Skagit-Heads-p/opst-commando-heads-mp.htm" target="_blank">http://www.redsflyfishing.com/OPST-Commando-Skagit-Heads-p/opst-commando-heads-mp.htm</a>> and here <<a href="http://thspey.blogspot.com/2015/07/opst-commando-skagit-heads-pure-skagit.html" target="_blank">http://thspey.blogspot.com/2015/07/opst-commando-skagit-heads-pure-skagit.html</a>><br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-66568050978596413912015-06-17T02:24:00.000-07:002015-06-21T20:13:30.366-07:00Trout Spey Rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/129327269" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q74R5Z_jj5o/VYE7-mciyFI/AAAAAAAAHdU/aguJ_gjSLks/s400/Montana%2BSpey.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Montana Spey" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Finally Sage will be coming out with 11′ 2wt & 3wt (200-250gr) true trout spey! When I first acquired my Sage ONE 4wt Switch, I did secretly wish that they would produce a lower weight double hand rod that I can enjoy for smaller fish. Now they are finally doing it.</div>
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Sage ONE 4wt Switch is one of my all time favorite rod for its lightness and great response. When ONE 4116-4 first came out, it was labelled a trout Switch rod. I think Sage had big Alaskan Rainbow trout in mind when they did that. It is definitely not your typical small river trout rod as the power level is way too high for small river trout. Now that Winston came out with the 3wt MicroSpey, I think Sage is finally taking heed. Not sure if Sage will be putting these rods under the Sage ONE banner but I suspect so.</div>
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**22 June update: It's confirmed...these 2 & 3wt trout Spey will be under Sage ONE banner.</div>
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<a href="http://www.hatchmag.com/articles/sage-shakes-lineup-3-new-rod-series-expands-one-family/7712521">http://www.hatchmag.com/articles/sage-shakes-lineup-3-new-rod-series-expands-one-family/7712521</a></div>
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It seems Mike Mccune is testing the final version of these new rods. To boot, RIO is also coming up with "trout Skagit" line to match these rods. You can read all about it here.</div>
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<a href="http://www.headhuntersflyshop.com/new-trout-spey-stuff-video/">http://www.headhuntersflyshop.com/new-trout-spey-stuff-video/</a></div>
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-67402316800315427412015-06-08T02:36:00.001-07:002015-08-31T19:02:10.968-07:00RIO Scandi Body S4 review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock Bass caught with RIO Scandi Body S4 fast sinking line</td></tr>
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Last Sunday, I got the chance to test drive the RIO Scandi short fast sinking line (RIO Scandi Body S4). I paired the 305 grain line with my Sage ONE 4wt switch rod and made a trip to a reservoir fishing spot nearby that I know will do well plumbing the depth.<br />
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When I first received the line, I was a bit skeptical. I normally judge a short head spey line by how well it can roll cast with minimal D-loop. This is because a lot of my fishing is done tight against the bank where D-loop space is premium. That is why I love the Wulff Ambush line. Wulff Ambush excels in tight space roll casting and has been my go to line all this while.<br />
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From casual inspection, the taper for this line does not seems to be very aggressive and I was half expecting the line to perform poorly in this respect.... how wrong I was! Rigged with 10 ft RIO versileader (7ips) and a 8ft fluorocarbon leader tied to my favorite peacock bass fly, I started out doing some simple roll to lay out the line. The line rolled out effortlessly, much to my surprise. Then I turned up the throttle and really started to zing out the roll cast. The line shot out with no hesitation. Now I am impress. 60 - 70 ft roll cast is easy with this line. The only other fast sinking line the preform so well in roll casting has been my <a href="http://yuenmah.blogspot.jp/search/label/Fast%20sinking%20Spey%20line" target="_blank">custom fast sink skagit head</a>.<br />
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Next I moved on to sustain anchor cast. Perry poke was no problem and the cast fired out with very decent loop. I don't expect tight loop here since this is a fast sink line but the loop was very decent and it went a good distance. I did not get a chance to make 100 ft cast with this line that day because of the steep bank I am up against but I am sure it is possible if I am standing in open water with unrestricted D-loop. Somehow, fast sink line will cover the distance well even without tight loop because of how it slice through the wind.<br />
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I finished off the session catching five Peacock bass using this line set up in the one plus hour that I spent there. I am happy to report that this fast sink spey line exceeded my expectation and I have no reservation recommending it to anyone intending to fish deep with Switch rod.<br />
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Currently the fast sink version of RIO Scandi Body comes in 305 grain (#6), 350 grain (#7), 400 grain (#8) and 455 grain (#9). It is dark grey and rated to sink at 4-5 ips. This line comes in "body only" which means you will need to loop-to-loop it to your own shooting line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RI4lD2fKMg8/VZDR9hgHEDI/AAAAAAAAHdk/L4gSb4DAWvo/s1600/1-rps20150629_125831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RI4lD2fKMg8/VZDR9hgHEDI/AAAAAAAAHdk/L4gSb4DAWvo/s400/1-rps20150629_125831.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temensis caught with Scandi Body S4 fishing deep</td></tr>
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-24484773912675792852015-04-08T02:19:00.000-07:002015-08-31T19:03:38.257-07:00Switch Rod Buyer's Guide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TxetrPYQcOQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TxetrPYQcOQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Here are 2 good videos put up by Reds fly shop to guide you along in choosing the right switch rod. The first video covers the premium range of switch rods including Burkheimer Classic, Sage Method, Sage ONE, Sage Accel, Winston Boron III TH and Echo 3 Switch.<br />
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The second video covers the value range of switch rods including Echo SR, TFO Deer Creek and Redington Prospector.<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-35745604878942347652015-03-25T19:39:00.002-07:002015-08-31T19:03:11.982-07:00Spey Casting Principles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a good series of short videos with Simon Gawesworth conducting Spey casting clinic in Australia. He gives a good introduction to the various style of Spey casting and the principles behind Spey casting.</div>
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-1980501459167739522015-03-18T23:24:00.003-07:002015-03-18T23:26:34.975-07:00Traditional Spey vs Scandi vs Skagit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a good video that clarifies the difference between traditional long belly Spey vs Scandinavian Spey (or Scandi spey) and Skagit Spey.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-64413950578618907692015-02-08T22:33:00.005-08:002016-07-21T20:23:25.412-07:00Grain Window for Switch and Spey Rods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a good video explaining the meaning of grain window for Switch and Spey rods. A lot of people starting out in double hander get confused with the array of lines out there and how they should choose the right line for their rod. Most people are familiar with the single hand rating and it is pretty straight forward to match for example a 5wt rod to a 5wt line. However, things get confusing when it comes to the double hander arena.<br />
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Here are some notes that might be helpful to keep in mind.<br />
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1) Switch rod and Spey rod rating are typically different from the single hand rod rating. For example, the power level of a 5wt single hand rod is not the same as the power level of a 5wt Switch rod. Neither is the power level of the 5 wt switch rod the same as the power level of the 5wt Spey rod. You will need a heavier line to load a 5wt Switch rod compared to a 5wt single hand rod. Similarly you will need a heavier line to load a 5wt Spey rod compared to a 5 wt Switch rod.<br />
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2) The grain window listed for the Switch and Spey rods are typically rated for Spey type casting (either Scandi or Skagit type casting which forms a D-loop) and not for overhead casting. Scandi type spey casting will typical make use of the lower end of the grain window whereas Skagit casting will make use of the higher end of the grain window. For example TFO Deer Creek 5wt Switch rod has a grain window of 250 - 450 grain. If you plan to do Scandi casting with the rod, choose Scandi line with grain weight around 250 - 300. If you plan to do Skagit, choose Skagit line with grain weight between 350 - 450.<br />
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3) Not all rod makers list the grain window of their Switch or Spey rods. If the grain window is not listed, a convenient way to find the suitable grain weight is to refer to the RIO website for Spey line recommendation ( <a href="http://www.rioproducts.com/learn/spey-line-recs">http://www.rioproducts.com/learn/spey-line-recs</a> ).<br />
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4) If you plan to do overhead casting with Switch rod using line designed for single hand rods, the grain window does not apply. In this case, a good guideline will be to over line the rod by 3 to 4 line weight. For example, if you plan to overhead cast a TFO Deer Creek 5wt Switch rod, do not use a 5wt line, use a 8 or 9 wt line on the rod instead.<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-35431873120002689092014-07-17T23:55:00.001-07:002015-02-10T00:55:19.294-08:00TFO Deer Creek 4 wt Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Recently I had a visitor to my blog site asking about the TFO Deer Creek #4 switch rod. That got me thinking...why have I not done a review on this rod. I had this rod for the longest time and was my favorite workhorse before my Sage ONE switch #4 came along. I bought this rod because I like how soft it is..thinking that it would be perfect for the 1-2 lb Peacock bass in our reservoir. Back in 2009, there were no switch rod quite as limber as the DC#4. I paired this rod with a 235 grain Ambush line and was very happy with it. It cast really sweet and easy, flexing low into the butt and I was catching lots of fish with it.<br />
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After a while, I realized that this rod has great potential. TFO made this rod with Kevlar in its matrix and it is an extremely strong and tough rod. Sure, it is not as light as the Sage ONE, neither does it have the fast high modulus graphite response, but it is a very very good rod for the money. I have since landed many big fish with this rod and I have no hesitation using this rod on 20+ lb fish. I also like how versatile this rod is in terms of grain window. It can handle a very wide grain window of 200 - 400 grain. When I know I am fishing for smaller fish with small flies, I will use my 235 grain Ambush. When I have to cast bigger flies to target bigger fish, I will pair it with my 350 grain Ambush. I have a fishing buddy who even tried 450 grain on this rod and he says it still cast good.<br />
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I like it that this rod never fails me. It is a tough workhorse. Fish big or small, it will handle. Nowadays, I often bring it along on my trip to back up my Sage ONE 4116. This rod is a lot more limber than the ONE 4116 and will give a healthy bend when into one to two pounders. In comparison ONE 4116 feels a bit over kill for fishes that size.<br />
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Although limber, this rod is no push-over. There are plenty of reserve deep down in the blank. When into big fish, you won't feel the need to baby the rod because it is very tough at the butt. I think that is where all the Kevlar fiber is.<br />
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So for those considering a 4wt switch, and if the budget is right, this is the rod I would recommend. I feel that it is a better rod than the more recent Echo and Redington offering of the same price range. It has a lighter swing weight, very sweet casting and tough.<br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-5536931414112384022014-07-05T06:52:00.001-07:002015-08-31T19:06:38.994-07:00Spey Fishing British Columbia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Another beautiful slow motion Spey casting and fishing video done by Simms. Sharing for all to enjoy.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-22771068786699330232014-06-24T00:44:00.002-07:002015-08-31T19:06:54.361-07:00In Search of the Grab - Steelhead fishing Skagit style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a beautiful video by Simms that I thought I should share. Beautiful slow motion Skagit casting for Steelhead in late fall Oregon.</div>
Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390461152665374413.post-73977874637808376182014-05-07T02:00:00.001-07:002016-06-28T19:14:24.374-07:00Saltwater Fly Fishing with Double Hand Rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is my third consecutive year flats fishing in Maldives with Switch rod using Spey techniques. I must say I have really grown fond of Spey style fly fishing in the salt and probably would not be going back to using single hand rod any time soon ;-)<br />
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Switch rod is really a wonderful invention and development in fly fishing. Paired with modern short head Spey line, it is just an amazingly efficient fishing and fly delivery tool. Pre Switch rod and mini Spey era, I would be ripping my arm off, hauling and battling wind and crazy projectile like Clousers, trying to reach the distance. Doing that whole day for eight consecutive days can really put serious strain on arms and shoulders. With Switch rod, this problem melts away.<br />
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From the perspective of battling fish, Switch rod truly excel in my opinion. The 11+ feet length of the rod makes fighting smallish fish sensational as it amplifies every tug and struggle, giving the fish leverage advantage. On the other hand when hooked onto a monster, the butt strength of the Switch rod kicks in, complemented with high fore grip, provide superb efficiency for the battle.<br />
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During this trip, I used my trusty Sage ONE 4wt switch throughout. This rod never fail to amaze me with its versatility. Paired with Lamson Speedster 3.5 and the Wulff Ambush clear head 350 grain, It handled everything from spunky Spangled Emperor to Giant Trevally with aplomb.<br />
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There was a single day that I did switched over to my brand new Sage ONE Switch 6 wt but that rod broke while casting... big disappointment. Paired with 400 grain SA Skagit Extreme, it was performing really well earlier in the day but somehow folded near the butt in the afternoon while casting. Fortunately I could continue fishing with my buddy's Sage ONE Switch 5wt and that is another jewel of a rod. Paired with Wulff Ambush 400 grain, the setup zips through wind with ease and was a real pleasure to cast.<br />
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This year was a great year in Maldives for clocking up mileage for my Sage ONE 4116 and Lamson Speedster 3.5. Lots of good size Trevally were caught this year including a 22 lb GT. The 4wt setup performed flawlessly each time and this gave me great confidence and satisfaction. <br />
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I have not given my Lamson Speedster reel much of a review but this reel deserves more than a passing mention. It is extremely light for a super large arbor reel and balance nicely with the ONE 4wt. The sealed drag is easy to maintain and is consistently smooth with no start-up whatsoever. This year, the Speedster's drag was put to a real test when it was squeezed tight to stop the charge of a 22lb GT. I am really impressed that it managed to put the brakes on the GT without palming. I am sure the smoothness of the drag also plays a crucial role in preventing the break off of the 16lb leader. Kudos to Lamson!<br />
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<i>Note: You can access all my blog post on saltwater spey by clicking on the "Saltwater Spey" link located on the right hand side under Labels.</i><br />
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Yuen, Mahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14078173162831541702noreply@blogger.com14