Micro Skagit/Spey

[Ed Ward]

Oh yeah,
Another common reason for "heavy" floaters... fishing chuggers and poppers! Quite a few of the Pacific North West salmonids can be brought to the surface with large flies designed to create extreme surface disturbance - chugging and popping. The incentive for doing this type of fishing isn't necessarily to catch the most, but rather to experience the very explosive and violent types of takes that are usually inspired by chugging/popping flies. These types of flies offer up a lot of resistance, both water and air and thus require a heavy line to cast!

[Unregistered]

Aitor,
Thanks for your contributions, your guidance and patience. I hope that you will continue to add to this conversation, if/when you feel it is necessary.

Thanks Ed. Really appreciated. It is always interesting to read your views. Anyway you have shown much more patience than me.

I have nothing else to contribute.

Cheers.
Aitor

[easterncaster]

... in the distance I hear the faint sounds of "Kum ba yah"

[Ben_d]

Thanks Ed, I get all that and it makes sense. I think the reason the whole floating Skagit tip thing seems so wrong to me is that at the time of year I am fishing something on or very close to the surface the Skagit head would be packed away in my bag, I see it as heavy gear thing. Never tried poppers for salmon, I'm fairly sure however that it would likely result in being escorted from the river and told not to return in many places here They do definitely work for sea trout though.

Back to the timing of your cast..... Do you think the way you cast Skagit stuff has evolved with the reduction in head length that we are seeing?

Cheers

Ben

[Lee Watts]

What an excellent thread.

I always have a lot of respect when a casting/fishing 'name' turns up to take instruction exams, and similarly, post on loops. Some have more to loose than others. Very refreshing.

For me a Spey cast is is change of direction followed by a roll cast. Some of the D loop provides wt to cast with. I don't think the line knows what cast is throwing it about, and neither does the cast know what line it's shifting...I think pigeon holes are for us.

I use 4,5 and 6wt Wulff ambush lines a hell of a lot on singlehanders, upstream and swinging. How does the line you using differ from these Ed (can't play your video right now)?

Ta, Lee.

[Paul Arden]

Popping for Salmon on the River Don... I could get into Salmon fishing. I think you'd be fine Ben so long as you wear tweed.

[Ben_d]

Popping for Salmon on the River Don... I could get into Salmon fishing. I think you'd be fine Ben so long as you wear tweed.

I was referring to one of the posh rivers Paul, the ones that Knoles fishes when he comes over You are still allowed to fish Rapalas with three barbed trebles on some beats of the Don so I don't think a popper would be an issue, the tweed jump suit might be though... Will maybe give it a bash this year if we get any fish.

I don't think the line knows what cast is throwing it about, and neither does the cast know what line it's shifting...I think pigeon holes are for us.

That sounds like the beard talking Lee

[Lee Watts]

That's racist!

Ta, Lee.

[Ben_d]

That's racist!

Ta, Lee.

I don't see that wearing you head the wrong way up has anything to do with your race, Lee

[Lee Watts]

Your just a bell end then.

Ta, Lee.