Do I need a skagit cheater?

[john_in]

I recently bought a skagit line for my switch rod (7 weight 11'). It casts terrible mainly because it acts like a heavy front line. I am wondering if I need to add a skagit cheater to make it behave like a WF fly line. The way it is now, I can cast the line but the line is going to land like a brick.

Thanks

[Possum]

what rod do you have and what skagit line did you buy, make and weight.

[thegreatscout]

How long is the skagit line you are using? Are you using a sink tip(t14 etc) As far as a general guideline your shooting head + sink tip should be between 33' and 38.5' for an 11'rod. 3 to 3 1/2 times the rods lenth is the guideline. But I would recomend that you try your line with a sink tip and about a 10' leader and see if you blow the anchor. If you do blow the anchor then you can add a cheater and test it out. When you no longer blow the anchor you should have you rod dialed in.
Try different lines if you can. I personally have used Rio Skagit and Airflo Compact Skagit. I like them equally. Hope this helps...
Tight Loop & Long Lines,
thegreatscout

"Welcome to the Dark Side......Seems like a pretty good place to be....."

[thegreatscout]

How long is the skagit line you are using? Are you using a sink tip(t14 etc) As far as a general guideline your shooting head + sink tip should be between 33' and 38.5' for an 11'rod. 3 to 3 1/2 times the rods lenth is the guideline. But I would recomend that you try your line with a sink tip and about a 10' leader and see if you blow the anchor. If you do blow the anchor then you can add a cheater and test it out. When you no longer blow the anchor you should have you rod dialed in.
Try different lines if you can. I personally have used Rio Skagit and Airflo Compact Skagit. I like them equally. Hope this helps...
Tight Loop & Long Lines,
thegreatscout

"Welcome to the Dark Side......Seems like a pretty good place to be....."

[john_in]

Thank you for asnswering my post. My rod is made by St. Croix in seven weight and 11' long. It is considered fast action. But it feels like a moderate fast action. I love the rod. I have a 350 grain skagit line. I have no problem casting the line. The problem is, when it is casterd, the line won't land on the water like a fly line. Because the head is so thick and heavy, it has no taper, it won't land like a fly line. The best it will do is to land like a sinking line. My question is: Is a skagit line designed to go with a skagit cheater or sink tip? Will skagit cheater change the way it lands because it has a taper in the line?

Thanks.

[thegreatscout]

Cheaters are generally the same thickness or slightly skinnier than the skagit line. If you are going to use a surface type fly Rio makes a 15' floating tip that works pretty well and has a taper to it. You really only need the cheater if you are blowing your anchor. If you are you will hear the line snap like a whip. Keep messing with it, it will come. I would also recomend that if there is FFF THCI(Federation of Fly Fishers Two Handed Casting Instructor) in your area spend the money on a casting lesson. Also if you can attend a speyclave or spey gathering.

[john_in]

I did hear the snap of the line. I have ordered a skagit cheater. Let me find out if it wil fix the problem. By the way, why skagit lines are so short? They are expensive to start with and are short. I don't like skagit line for those reasons.

Thanks.

[shotgunner]

John, your asking the line to do something it was never intended for. They were engineered/designed for a specific job.. Deliver sink tips and larger than average flies.

Solid advice from thegreatscout, a floating tip will tame it down some. A cheater will lengthen it, add weight, and still have no fwd taper.. leading to the same crashy delivery you dislike

[john_in]

I misunderstoond cheater for being a floating tip.

[thegreatscout]

A skagit cast is a sustained anchor cast. Which means that you are using the friction of the water to create the bend in the rod. Once you get good with a skagit cast you will be able to cast dead chickens on 10ft of T14 without any issues.
Are you using a full skagit line or just a shooting head?
What casts are you attempting to do? Single spey, double spey, snap-T etc???
You can do a single spey with a skagit line but it aint pretty. You may want to try a traditional line like Airflo Delta short or a Scandi head.
On another note a 350 grain Skagit line sounds a little light for a 7 wt rod in my opinion. I use a 9wt and throw anywhere from 550-700 grains.
thegreatscout

[john_in]

theGreatscout,

I sent you a PM. Did you receive it?

John_in

[john_in]

Thegreatscout,

Like you sai, I have no issue with a regular spey line.

[Possum]

I was talking with my local spey expert and he was saying that your cast may be your issue. if you making your sagit cast correctly the line should not land that hard. His guess was you where finishing your cast to low.

Hope this helped.

Possum

[john_in]

I was talking with my local spey expert and he was saying that your cast may be your issue. if you making your sagit cast correctly the line should not land that hard. His guess was you where finishing your cast to low.

Hope this helped.

Possum

Possum,

Thank you.

John