Jack Cummings
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Some will say if your leader is long and thin enough it makes no difference… others that the contrast of the line on the water will make it appear like a shadow to the fish.
I’m of the school of using the brightest line possible for practice casting and teaching and leaving them home for fishing. It’s not the color of the line ON the water I fear as much as that line flashing around in the air above the water when casting.Price reduced:
Scott S3 9’6″ 7 weight:
List price: $650
My price: $375.00 shipped.St. Croix Legend Elite 9′, 10 weight, as new:
List price: $570.00
Reduced price: $300.00 shipped.Just as almost everyone finds their favorite series, I’ve found mine in the BIIx series.
My first was the 9′, 6 weight. My first casts with it were in the 10 – 20′ range. It worked so well that close there is no way this rod can cast far, thought I as the entire line flew out of the guides!
That made it a keeper! It’s about usable range. This rod nicely handles dry flies, streamers, popping bugs for smallies, wind and everything else a 5, 6 and 7 weight rod is made for.
It’s also about weight. On a non-calibrated kitchen scale it weighed less than my 4 weight GLX!
It’s also about workmanship and beauty. I admit that rod was bought in the heat of the ‘boo boys debacle and a guide was not mounted perfectly. Winston took care of it and an off-set end cap and every subsequent BIIx I’ve bought has been near perfect. Many consider this to be the crown jewel in the BIIx line.
I also have another that many consider to be the best of the series, the 8′ 6″, 4 weight. I can name 4 people who each purchased one after casting mine. I used it just yesterday on a mid-sized stream and was, as usual every time I break it out, in awe.
I also have the 9′, 5 weight BIIx but that rod doesn’t get nearly the play the 4 and 6 weights do. Maybe I haven’t given it a fair shake because the other two rock my world so much!
If I can ever sell my 9′ 6″, 7 weight Scott S3, that same configuration in a BIIx will be mine for steelhead and some smallie work.If I had to pick one of them for the usage you mentioned it would be the 6 weight… hands down!
Let me add two more, Winston BIIx 6 weight. One heck of a rod that can easily act as a 5-6-7 weight and throw dries, streamers and most bass bugs equally well.
Loomis GLX 9 weight. ‘Nuff said.Integrated shooting lines are great for all of the reasons mentioned but separate heads offer a few distinct advantages… the ability to switch heads to reach differing area’s of the water column, they are a LOT less expensive than buying separate lines altogether to get to varying depths and they are easy to change and store.
If money were no object I would have intergrated shooting lines and the associated extra reel spools to cover me.I definitely do not think it is necessary to have for the means of teaching. If you have spent enough time on the water, I think that is enough SOMETIMES in order to teach, of course it depends.
I am sure there is one somewhere, but I cant think of a single fly fishing guide where I come from, and here, that has their certification in anything besides being a trout bum, and they teach fishing for a living.
I’ve been handed the business card of a guide/fly casting instructor. He talked a good game and his card looked ultra-professional. When it came time for his CCI testing he failed… miserably… twice.
Not only could he not explain what was going on with different casting techniques, he just plain could not cast!
I’m sure many have gone out with this ‘guide’ and thought they learned a lot from him on the art of casting well. I have high doubts they really did though.
What you said about CCI instructors holds true in guides too. Just saying you’re a guide and getting the license ($10.00 here in NC) does not mean you’re a GOOD guide. To pass the CCI exam you’ve proven to at the very least to be able to pass a certain measure of standards set forth by some of the finest casters and instructors in the world.Your point is well taken on becoming a CCI for chest thumping purposes. One question I ask of people who desire lessons is what they want to try and accomplish. Many times I hear they want to become certified instructors. When pressed further it’s because they think doing so would be cool. I let the masters who test deal with them when I’m done!
one should stick to one instructor since the instructor is instructing how HE casts.
Jay
I’m not so sure about that. Most instructors I know do not teach style.
I tell people they will develop their own style. I usually dwell on the outcome and the principals it takes to get there. If they follow those principals (like straight line path, proper acceleration and stop…) they usually do quite well.
I’ve had classes from Steve Rajeff, Jason Borger, Lefty, Bruce Richards, Mac Brown, Bob Clouser, Simon Gawesworth, some FFF CCI’s and masters, friends whose certain casting techniques I admire and others. Just like fly fishing itself, there is always something to learn.If you want to see an interesting and fun casting demonstration, try to see old Castwell from FAOL. I saw him last summer in Michigan. He duplicates perfectly the style of several of the big names. He then reverts back to the style he has personally developed over the years. It was a hoot watching him though!
The process seems to work. They stress a common language that does make it easier to communicate with other casters and students.
The best part of the process comes after the test. There’s just something about watching people improve their cast right before your eyes.Ian, I found the pliers. I was told they’re getting scarce and my web searched proved it.
Ebay item number 320027426291
They work perfectly with that roll of lead that was posted.Zach… BIG problem! I can’t have the boss knowing when I’m surfing! Real names pop up on Google quite readily when used on forums.
Hope you don’t mind that I stay incognito!When I lived in MIchigan we used to stick our split shot in parachute cord, melt it shut then attach it to a 3-way swivel using a snap hook for chuck ‘n ducking. You can make a batch of those up very inexpensively before going to the water. Much like pencil lead they don’t tend to get hung up.
Just prior to my moving I was given a roll of thick lead and special pliers to cut it the lead, flatten the end and pierce it. I only had the chance to use this set up a few times but it worked like a charm!Speaking of Scott rods, I had the chance top cast a few of them this weekend. The A2 really clicked for me and it’s not even their top of the line. Nice casting rod!
My friend stuck a Scott in my hand to cast and asked me not to look at it, just to cast it.
It took a little getting used to at first. It felt REALLY odd. Once I started carrying some line with it it flew!
It ended up being a 7′, 7″ – 12 weight! Talk about a nitchy rod! It’s made for things like tarpon fishing out of ‘yaks. It was the most interesting rod I’ve cast in years!My favorite used to be SA, now it’s Rio. The main reason being the Rio’s float right out of the box.
I’ve not noticed if the Rio ST is thicker than the equivilant SA Trout nor have I noticed its affecting presentation.
I’m sitting here with a box of new Rio Windcutter on my desk. I’m anxious to find out if it’s an option to my SA Expert Distance.Zach, you might want to know Rio lengthened the head on the Nymph line according to the rep at the Charlotte show last weekend. Can’t wait to see how that works out!
Update: Troutwag, you were right! I’m shipping the rod out soon just paying shipping and handling! Thanks!
Troutwag, thanks for the response. I’m going to give it another shot. There’s still maybe an 1/8″ of gap left but I’m pretty sure that won’t heal itself.
Scott’s a reputable company, maybe I hit the CS person on a bad or busy day.
Thanks again!Is it possible you weigh the first 30′ (minus the level tip) of those two lines?
That’ll mean more than the dimensions for telling you what’s going on.
It could be the two lines you mentioned are not the weight you think they are.What has happened to the US. Have the unions and the workers here gotten too darn greedy? S.D.
Trust me… it ain’t just the Unions and workers, though they are the easiest targets.
I get in many shops throughout the year. The workers here have given up pay raises, worked harder with fewer people and all but gave business everything they asked for except sub-minimum wage earnings and the tossing of health, safety and environmental standards to that of Communist Red China.
Those products went off-shore with the savings of doing so going to a very few, select people.I drive around and see nothing but chained and locked textile and furniture factories. Those jobs are history. The companies still exist and milk the name they built over the decades for all their worth but greed just took over. Not only at the bottom but mainly at the very top!
Those at the top could give a rat’s bottom what my kids and their kids will do for a living. Those business ‘leaders’ and politicians are set for several generations and they’re getting while the getting is good.
It peeves me to no end not to have American made options in many things I buy.
Here’s a question for you Scott fans…
I bought a 7 weight, 9’6″ S3 when they first came out. Great rod! One of the ferrules is running out of gap (spigot ferrules) When I called Scott to ask about repairing it they wanted WAY too much money! Understand that I’ve owned and used spigot ferrules for two decades on other rods and NEVER had a problem with them. Right now I must have a dozen spigot ferrules on different rods and none are even close to wearing out. Heck, the other two ferrules on that same rod are perfect with plenty of gap left. That should tell Scott something!
I need help on getting Scott to back up the workmanship on that rod. Any suggestions?From my understanding, early in the last century America was loaded with casting clubs. They competed at local, regional and national levels. They say every large town had several casting clubs.
I would like nothing better than to be part of a good, local casting club. If you find the key to making a club work, I’m all ears!
