Michael Exl
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Abe,
I guide for smallmouth bass and throw bass bugs a lot for them. When I fish on my own I use my 6wt. Z-axis with Rio’s VersiTip in a 6wt, and use the Clouser floating tip. With clients I use a couple different Sage 7wts. with Rio Clouser lines in 7wt. All of the rods are fast action. I have never had any problems or my clients had problems casting bass bugs with these set ups. It is all about finding a comfortable casting stroke. I can cast over 60ft. easily with a bass bug on my 6wt. Z-axis, I just adjust my stroke a little bit. I also have a 6wt. TCX that I use and have it loaded with the Outbound short in a 6wt. One word, cannon. This thing casts a mile and throws big flies like nobody’s business. The 8wt. Outbound short would be a great choice to get for your Xi2, you canget an 8wt. Clouser line for your Xi2. This set up would be just fine. Either way these two lines would work great on your Xi2. I have fished both on a 7wt. Xi2 with the corresponding line wt. and thought they worked great.
-Mike
Tim,
June 6, 09. Spey Gathering: Focus on Spey Fishing Techniques.
Henning Park, Muskegon River. Newaygo, MI.
Will Turek of Midwest Spey will be presenting on Switch Rods.
For info on the gathering: http://speypages.com/speyclave/Sept 26-27, 09. Spey Clave
Henning Park, Muskegon River. Newaygo, MI.
For info on the clave: http://www.greatlakesspeyshop.com/Looks like a nice clave. I got a couple myself that I am going to. Wish I would have made it up there to see Simon.
Stay away from the Riverwalkers!!!
Just a honest piece of advice. The boots are ok if you don’t really fishMark,
I did catch a couple on some of the swaps flies earlier in the year, but that day it was sz. 6 pink/white clousers with no flash and a fly that my buddy and I designed, which we are going to sumbit to Umpqua.
-Mike
The biggest advantage of fishing the two hander is distance. I’m able to get casts out to fish that you would have to be casting into your backing with a single hander. Another advantage is when I am fishing Lake Michican I can wade out and still have the advantage of being able to make long casts due to the length of the rod. Another advantage is the power in the butt section of the rod. The average carp that I am catching is right around 20lbs. I can also throw sink tips such as 15 ft. of Rio’s T-17 to get down to fish that are deep.
Disadvantage is short casts, but I can usually basically do high stick nymphing to over come any fish that come in short. I can even just do a small roll cast to get the ones in close.
The main reason that I fish the two-hander though is that its fun and unique. It’s all about getting out and enjoying yourself.
-Mike
Thanks guys. I actually got Sage to post a picture of me on there website. They must have been thinking what the heck is this guy doing using a two-hander for carp.
Here is another photo I forgot to post.
Zach,
As far as I know I am the only one fishing a two hander for carp, at least Lake Michigan. I’ve talked to a few guys that fish for carp and they all think I’m insane for doing it. I will say though after using the two hander for them it will be hard to switch back to a standard fly rod up there.
Tim,
Not yet, I saw maybe twenty fish, but no schools along the shore line. I’m saying 2 weeks, I’ll keep you posted.
Water temp was 44, it was a bit on the cold side when I was wading.
It is sometimes the nature of the beast in this sport, especially for amazing fishing at times. Also might as well do it now while some of these places are still around, from what I hear the fishing in Kamchatka may becoming a thing of the past. I have heard that one major operation over there is thinking of pulling out after being in business for over a decade.
What can I say I know how to manage my money and play the stock market. More on topic of this thread just got an email from my boss who is in the Seychelles right now. He told me that they caught a ton of bonefish. This is the best bonefishing spot in the world in his opinion, and he has fished in the Bahamas, Mexico, and Belieze. He has hooked a couple of GTs, milkfish, and is going for triggers today. The joys of fishing a place so isolated.
I have been able to make casts into several inches of water to carp and not spook them.
Mike do you think this line really impacted your ability to catch carp? In my opinion, it seems like you’ve obviously done this more than most and have the skills to catch them, with or without this line.
In situations like shallow water, yes. I do feel that the certain skill set has to be there though as well. By no means is this line going to help improves one ability to catch a carp if they can not cast accurately. Accuracy is the name of the game here. If one can cast on target I feel that this line gives the angler an extra tool. I love the fact that the line is an olive green color, I have had many ocassions where I know the line color has spooked the fish.
As far as the comparison to the Rio Classic, the Carp line feels different to me, more supple. I have both lines in WF6F and casted them and notice a difference in the line. Also I will add that it is difficult to aerialize a lot of line with the Carp Line. I find that the Classic is much easier to cast.
Now as far as my choice of fly lines for fishing for carp, given all different situations, I will admit that the Carp line is not my top pick.
The Rio VersiTip gets my nod. If I’m fishing lakes, and small streams then it is the Carp line. Heck my go to line when I fish Lake Michigan for carp is a skagit line, where I can add sink tips.Wish I had $10,000 to spare.
…says the guy who just got back from Patagonia… 😉
My trip was less then half of that. Not to mention the shop that I work for is a booking agent for the lodge that I went to, which helps.
But touché. On your point.
I’ve had the line since last September. The line is fantastic. I probably fish for carp more then anyone and I can say that the line is just not a marketing gimmick. The presentations that this line make are incredible. I have been able to make casts into several inches of water to carp and not spook them. Everyone thinks that carp are some big dumb bottom feeder, but they are just uneducated. I would put carp up in the realm of being as challengin as a permit. Now those that mean they are not easy to catch at some times, no. These fish are so tuned into their surroundings it is amazing. I have seen carp spook at the dead fall of a foot from 40 feet away from someone on the bank. They have incredible eye sight as well. Carp are a growing popular species to pursue on the fly and Rio and other companies realize that. So why not serve the needs of their customers and provide them with a product to help them satisfy their needs.
