Randy Kadish
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I believe a 12′ 6″ rod should be able to handle a Windcutter line, but a Skagit would be a little easier to cast – though the technique of Skagit casting is a little different. It is a water-based cast, so after your back sweep you have to let the line settle on the water a bit.
With a Skagit, you’ll have to retrieve a lot more line after each cast, and you’ll then have to manage the line. Also, Skagit lines can be a little “noisy” on the water. A quieter line would be the AFS, but it can’t handle the big flies the way a Skagit can.
Before you turn away from the Windcutter – which many people feel is a good all-around line – I’d try to see if you’re suffering from some casting defect which can be easily corrected.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I bought a shorter-head line thinking it would cure my casting, but it didn’t.
That’s my two cents.
Randy
Thanks so much for the info. I was wondering what the histogram was really for. I needed a point-and-shoot that I can take on the river, so I bought one that I can set my f-stops and shutter speed: Lumix LZ10.
I must say, however, I still like my small minox and slides. I hope slides never go away, in spite of the the cost of film and developing.
Randy
The big problem is that for many small publishers, like mine, it’s not easy to convert to the Kindle format.
Quark, unfortunately, doesn’t easily convert to HTML.
So if you have a book coming out I’d try to make sure ahead of time that the publisher will be able to convert to HTML.
Randy
I’d continue writing and publishing your stories. When you have the book almost finished I’d start querying commercial publishers, but the hard cold truth is that most fly fishing books don’t sell very much and commercial publishers aren’t too interested in publshing a book from a little-known writer.
If you self-publish I’d go with print-on-demand, but make sure you get a good proofreader and editor (someone who believes in your work).
Also, check out the requirements for getting reviewed in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. (Though getting reviewed in those magazinew will slow down the publishing process.)
And also query as many bloggers and outdoor columnists as you can before your book is published. Send copies to those that say they’re interested in reviewing your book. Make sure the copies are inscribed to the blogger or columnist, or stamped: review copy. That way, there’s less chance they’ll end up on the market as a used book.
(BTW, what’s really hurting me is that I’m selling so many more used books than new ones.)
Send copies to all the fly-fishing magazines.
Personally, I found that having a website doesn’t sell many books, but then again, I don’t keep my site active.
What does sell books, at least for me, is publishing stories on other websites.
Take a look at Dan Poynter’s book on self publishing and Morris Rosenthal’s book on print-on-demand publishing.
Join online book clubs. See who reviews fly-fishing books. If they have a lot of friends ask they if they’re interested in receiving a complimentary book.
Not to discourage you, but you’re looking at a very hard road ahead. The number of fly fisihing books published in relation to the market is very high.
Randy
I have an Echo Spey rod. It think it’s a great rod for the money. Everyone who has one seems to feel the same way.
Randy
I still believe 4-piece rods are slightly stiffer. Also, they are more likely to come apart when being cast. (I’ve broken several ferrules; so now I make sure I check my connections every two hours or so.)
Randy
In shallower water I fish streamers with a floating line, sometimes with a split shot.
The only time I’d use and indicator with a streamer is if I were dead-drifting.
Randy
I thought this was a very interesting memoir, from a writer I never heard of:
http://farandawayonline.com/?p=79
Randy
With an 11′ 6″ foot rod I would not use a long- , or even a mid-belly line, as casting will be very difficult.
I’d stick with a Skagit or Scandi line with a Rio or Airflo spey leader. If I want to use a conventional fly line I’d go up three to four weights.
(The rule of thumb is the belly shouldn’t be more than five times the length of the rod. IMHO, even that’s stretching it.)
Randy
For my fly rods, six- to nine-weight, I use the old Orvis shooting heads -38 feet – no matter what species I’m fishing for. In each weight I have three lines, floating, intermediate and a sinkiing.
For me, I feel pretty well covered. I’m not going to spend money on a bass line. I just don’t feel it will make much of a difference when it comes to catching fish. Also, I’ve found that some of these so-called specialty lines cast a little funny, maybe because I’m not used to them, which brings up another question: Do I want to have to adapt my casting to each line?
That’s my two cents.
Sante,
So, so sorry to hear. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We are all grateful for all you have done for our sport.
Wishing you the very, very best, and looking forward to seeing your posts here and elsewhere,
Randy
Spey casting from a boat offers its own set of difficulties as the position of the boat limits where you can set up your anchor. I guess
you’ll have to cast parallel to the boat or at an angle to it.Also, because you’re standing a few feet above the water, I imagine setting up the anchor will be different than if you’re wading in the surf.
One handed casting a 8-weight rod is exhausting, no matter how you much you adjust your stroke.
Spey casting would not be just an investment in money, but in time.
Last season I watched the videos – maybe not the right ones – and read articles, but still I struggled with spey casting on stillwater.
A lot of that had to do with getting the wrong info on what line I should use.
But even after I got the right line, I lost a lot of fishing hours because I had to practice my spey casting.
I think you should definately go with a skagit for the surf.
Randy
A two-handed rod will reduce casting fatigue, which is why I got into spey casting.
If you want to retrieve line, go with a skagit or a scandi line. Both are short belly lines. A skagit is better for heavy flies, and for cutting through the wind.
With a skagit line you might need a cheater (a line extender), depending on the length of you spey rod. Also, Versi leaders will help your casting.
I assume you’re casting in the surf, which is a lot harder than casting on a river. The moving water of a river will create tension on the line, and that will make it easier to set up your anchor.
If you’re casting perpindicular to the surf the water will create slack in the line.
Because I fish stillwater with my spey, when I begin my lift I actually retrieve a little bit to keep tenison on the line.
Simon Gawesworth has a good book on spey casting. Also, Spey Casting A to Z is a good video, but I don’t know if either of those cover spey casting in the surf.
But be aware: getting into spey casting will cost you. Besides the rod and line, you’ll probably need a Large Arbor reel.
BTW, I love my Echo rod and it was less than $300.00.
Check out this board: http://www.speypages.com/speyclave/
Randy
Dave Hughes has a good book on lake fishing.
I find lake fishing harder than river fishing. Lakes are harder to read.
There aren’t as many seams or as much structure.Randy
Yale Anglers’ Journal has been hit hard by the economy. They’re looking for financial contributions. I hope they pull through.
Randy
I wouldn’t. I believe a 6-weight rod is designed for 6-weight line. A full sinking line, I believe, weighs the same as a floating line. It just has thinner diameter.
Having said that, many anglers believe you cast a sinking line differently than you cast a floating line. I’ve never found that to be true. I use the same technique for both, except that with a sinking line I don’t let my false cast unroll as much.
That’s just my two cents.
Randy
I started spey fishing last season. It was quite a struggle, partly because I didn’t know what line to buy, even though I watched several videos.
The longer the rod the farther you will cast. I have an Echo 12′ 6″ Classic – great rod for the buck – but didn’t know I had to use a shorter-belly line, no longer than a Windcutter, but since I was fishing stillwaters and wanted to retrieve a lot of line after each cast, I went with a short-belly line like a Skagit or a Rio AFS, shooting head. The shorter the belly the less back cast room you’ll need.
(I guess I like the 4X rule. The belly shouldn’t be
