Jack Cummings
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I’m a CCI but feel I need a bit more time under my belt before going for my Masters,
But then again, I’m not getting any younger so I’m thinking of trying out for the Masters and if I don’t make it I’ll use the experience as a lesson.I doubt a toon with a 35pd thrust trolling motor could be beat me in race in my canoe or yak. Especially if its into the wind. Toons even with trolling motors are painfully slow.
If Im on a lake a storm blows in Id rater be in my canoe. I’ll get to shore faster.Great evaluation Mr. Bennett!
If I had to argue one point though…As someone said, the only upside to a yak is speed. That is, until you mount a trolling motor on your ‘toon then all bets are off!I had the JWO that Zach has and used to have to stash it so the boss wouldn’t see it in the company car. The most time spent assembling it was pumping it up. It also car-topped easily as Zach can no doubt attest to.
I’m about to order another ‘toon as the Bucks Bags South Fork I now own just ain’t for me. After selling a good canoe years ago, trying a few ‘yaks and watching my float tubes age in the garage, there is no option for me but another ‘toon.
Since I use them only for fly fishing, I never liked the idea of contantly swapping my fly rod for an oar or paddle as you have to do with a yak or canoe to maintain position. With them you’re at the mercy of wind and current. Also both are not nearly as easy to get in and out of. Ease of entry and exit are good traits if you like stopping to fish runs or holes.Cons of ‘toons
Not fast without a trolling motorPro’s of ‘toons
Light weight
Stores in little space
Hard to capsize
Ease of ingress/egress
Can gain and hold position for hours and mles by using fins
Has dry, stable, and ample storage space including seat back storage, side bags and rear decks
Can store assembled rods easily without as much damage worry
Quick release anchor systems allow rapid deployment and retrieval of anchor
Can simply stand up and fish, sit back down when done, no balancing act involved
Are dry and stable
Can get a casting platform and leaning bar set-up which moves out of the way when not in use
Chicks dig ’em 😉Those Scaddens are what I have my eyes on now! I’m torn between the Skykomish Sunrise and the newly designed Outlaw X5. Whichever I get will have the casting platform and leaning bar.
A strip set works pretty good in helping set the hook on those toothy critters. Rod position helps too. If you can get the butt sections of the rod to help set the hook, much like you do in distance casting, it works out pretty good.
Actually, it’s all good, that’s why there are so many rod actions available today. Most people are bound to find an action that is just right for them and their particular needs, wants and styles.It would depend a lot on what you want the rod to do IMO. Throwing 400 grain shooting heads or cutting into the wind from the deck of a flats boat with a fat tapered saltwater line I’d stay with a fast rod. I own and use several 7, 9, and 10 wt outfits and I can honestly say each time I switch over to my Xi2’s its like butter. I can’t for the life of me imagine what a moderate 9wt would be good for.
People like moderate rods when they don’t feel the need to aerialize tons of line to make a rod work, when people don’t know how to shoot line properly or when the fish can be found at all ranges, including not far from the boat.
Many people don’t need overly stiff fly rods to punch into the wind. They do work well for heavy shooting heads and such though.If I didn’t have an old-school Loomis GLX 9 weight, I would look long and hard at the Orvis Helios and Winston BII-Mx. I cast them both repeatedly for three days at a recent show and was won over. I would take either without a whimper!
The Sag[ch279] Bass rod/line combo’s were a blast to cast! I’m not sure they would fit your perticular needs but I can see one of them as mine in the future. I’ve never tried a Sag[ch279] that impressed me like those bass rods did. 80′ right on target with one back cast then, acting as if I missed the strike, I was able to pick the line up and lay it right back on target. I can see it kicking some conventional gear butt when the bass are eating on top.I keep my trusty, old water resistant Pentax WR-33 in my vest and at the tying desk for good macro shots of bugs… both alive and man made!
Being the generous sort, I bought my bride the Oly Sty 790 for Christmas with no ulterior motive in mind… kind of!
I just have to!
Someone found a good crop of cork!
I can’t say I’ve seen any better on a fly rod… custom or production models.
Do you have to be a FFF member to attend? I don’t see anything on cost to attend.
No Josh, you don’t have to be an FFF member to attend but the FFF is having a membership drive right now. Join through a FFF charter club and get a one year membership for only $10.00.
The 4 quarterly magazines are well worth that!
If you don’t happen to have an FFF club near you, I just happen to know one that will accept your application!If you’re anywhere near the Southeastern U.S., you don’t want to miss this event.
I’ve gone 4 years running and always come away grinning and full of good information.
I did a presentation last year on preparing for the FFF Certified Casting Instructor test, but learned far more by associating myself with the likes of Mac Brown, Bruce Richards, Tom Jendra, Dave Hughes and a host of other ‘rock stars’ in the business. This year Steve Rajeff and Lefty Kreh are also on the bill.
The fishing for hybred bull bluegill in their private ponds ain’t bad either! 😉 and the BBQ on Friday night at the bass lake is always worth the trip!
If you have a significant other, there is plenty for them to do also.
More updates will be available as they happen at: http://fffsec.org/Michael, A two-hander? I’m afraid to go there! Got all of Simons books and video’s as well as others, am intrigued but it’s all about the cash outlay and the need. I think the only place around here I might need one is the salt and I don’t get there enough to justify it.
I do use spey casting single-handed on small streams, thanks to Simon Gawesworth’s demonstrations and explanations.Sorry ’bout the hijack!
I think some of the respondants have enough experience to have a very good idea of how rod will perform by test casting. Even though it’s not a Sag[ch279], the Orvis Helios is a darn fine rod that should make the other players go back to the drawing board.
All I’m saying is that in many years of test casting rods and in buying quite a number of rods in all line weights and sizes I’ve yet to be dissapointed in my purchases and with none of them did I need a trial to make up my mind.Well, you could discuss about whether the 6-weight rod is specially nice or the Helios series as a whole is great?
Jay
I cast the 5 and the 8 weights a number of times over a three day show.
Those two were some of the finest rods I’ve cast. I really can’t speak for the entire series.After years of really over-hyped and cleverly named rods coming out of Manchester I have to say, Orvis certainly raised the bar for all rod manufacturers with that Helios series.
Really incredible stuff!How does one decide that it is time to give up on a floating fly line?
Thanks!
danielIf they’re cracked, don’t float well, have coils that can’t be straightened or just plain slow down on the shoot no matter what treatment I use on them they’re goners.
It’s funny though, I haven’t had many ‘goners’ in years! That speaks highly either of the manufacturing processes or of the sterling treatment I give them!Why Patagonia? A couple reasons:
Sometimes it’s wise to look beyond initial price.
When my kids were small we bought a lot of Patagonia for them. Why? Because we knew the gear would last through the growth stages of several kids!
Believe it or not, some of the absolute toughest conditions on clothing is sailboat racing. It is paramount that the clothing do what it is supposed to. That includes fit well, keep you either cool or warm as need be and last a long time without failure.
The warranty was so good on the Patagonia foul weather gear they once made that they had to stop making it! No foul weather gear, and I do mean NONE, will stand up to the constant abrasion non-skid decks provide. Everyone I raced with who inevitably wore out the seat and knees of their gear had them instantly replaced by Patagonia. THAT is why we pay the big bucks.
The design of Patagonia gear is so good it is copied by many. Look at the original SST then look at all of the other major players in wading jackets. Up until lately it was hard to tell the manufacturers goods apart. If you didn’t know that style jacket was originated by Patagonia you might think that other major player thought it up.
The designs are simply well thought out and constantly tweaked. Put on an SST and cinch everything down so you’re protected from wind and water intrusion then notice how your vision isn’t blocked in any way and that you still have complete freedom of movement.
The stuff just works right. [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]When I started buying Patagonia the warranty was simple… If you are ever not happy…!
It has changed somewhat but is still right up there with the cream-of-the-crop!Another reason, Patagonia gives back 1% of their profits to the planet as well as works on other issues surrounding our playground.
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/contribution/enviro.jsp?OPTION=ENVIRO_ARTICLE_DISPLAY_HANDLER&assetid=1809Yet another reason. Chicks dig it. [smiley=laugh.gif]
One last good reason to buy Patagonia? If you keep an eye out and know where to look you can find often find it at montrous savings because they tweaked the style or color!
I’m looking into getting one of those for my wife for Christmas. The only downside I can find is it seems to lack in macro capability which I… ooops… she might use for taking pictures of flies. I only tried extreme closeups in the store. Did I do something wrong?
A new Scadden with casting platform and leaning bar.
Waders.
Double-sided clipless pedals that will double for both road and mountain bike with shoes that will prevent this klutz from crashing and burning while walking in them! (Not fish related but certainly ‘wish’ related!) 😉
A host of heavily discounted fly lines to play with like Sharkskin, Rio Gold!
Water to fill the rivers, streams and lakes around here!
