WHAT is the BEST line for Redington 15 ft Red.Fly Spey Rod?

[mark_vogt]

Greetings Spey Fishers,

I'm an avid single-hand fly fisherman who just bought his first spey rod on eBay - a Redington Red.Fly 15 ft 9/10 weight 3-piece.

Living in Chicagoland, I sought the able assistance of Andy at Chicago Flyfishing Outfitters, Ltd. He recommended the Rio Spey VersaTip 10/11/12 wt. All around it DOES appear to be quite versatile...

However, I am wondering if anyone can tell me of any other lines I should be trying? Or ways to configure the VersaTip so as to get the most distance when trying to fish for steelhead for my first time ever up in Milwaukee next weekend?

I'd also like to know what kind of distance I should be expecting from this rod? Thus far with the main line, "tip1" and "tip2"(floating tip) and a 9 ft leader with a #4 wooly bugger, the best I can do is double-spey cast about 75 ft - a far cry from the 120 ft claims I've heard about, and I'm 6'-1", 220lbs, and athletic enough to be no slouch when it comes to casting. In fact, I can thus far double-haul my 7/8 single-handed rod farther, which is why I'm wondering if I've matched the line to the rod correctly...

Any advice on how best to set-up this Redington rod would be MOST welcome.

Cheers,
-Mark Vogt 630.781.9978 cell | mark_vogt@hotmail.com

[fisherking]

That's a real thunderstick. I haven't cast that particular rod but most of the Reddingtons I have casted performed best for me with a lean towards the heavier grain weight. I'd guess something around 750 grains. For a multi-tip line I like the Airflo Deltas over a Rio Windcutter. Skagit lines, with a cheater in your case, is another option if you plan on swinging small rodent-sized flies. Another line to look into is a Guideline shooting head. Either way, I would recommend trying as many differnent line combos as possible to see which works best for you. It's kind of last minute but there is a spey clave up in Newaygo, MI this weekend. There's bound to be a line that will fit your needs. Other than that you need to hook up with someone that has a number of lines that would suite the rod, whether that is a fellow angler or a shop that can loan you a demo (Redshed). Good luck!

[attackmode]

rather than looking for the magic line i would first buy video such as the rio one and work on technique...120 ft casts may take years of practice to achieve consistently...

[Dhise]

Greetings Spey Fishers,

I'd also like to know what kind of distance I should be expecting from this rod? Thus far with the main line, "tip1" and "tip2"(floating tip) and a 9 ft leader with a #4 wooly bugger, the best I can do is double-spey cast about 75 ft - a far cry from the 120 ft claims I've heard about, and I'm 6'-1", 220lbs, and athletic enough to be no slouch when it comes to casting. In fact, I can thus far double-haul my 7/8 single-handed rod farther, which is why I'm wondering if I've matched the line to the rod correctly...

Cheers,
-Mark Vogt 630.781.9978 cell | mark_vogt@hotmail.com

It has nothing to do with athleticism, it has to do with technique and timing. The Rio Windcutter or the Orvis Mid Spey would be good ones to start with.

[mark_vogt]

Greetings fellow Steelheaders,

Thanks for the feedback on optimal lines for my new rod.

For those who felt compelled to interpret my description as being "athletic" for being "unskilled" please grant me the benefit of the doubt. We all know that skill trumps strength all the time, every time.

Here's some all of you might be interested to know - the line I bought IS listed as the Rio "Windcutter". In fact, it's got one of the longest names I've come across (which it SHOULD, considering the $149 price tag )...
It's name is as follows on the box:

Rio Spey VersiTip
High Performance Spey Line
10/11/12 TIps (S11 WindCutter Head 56 ft (17m))
750 gr (49 gm)

That means weight-wise, at 750 grains it seems to be right in the ballpark with FisherKing's suggestion...

That means that is IS the "WindCutter" recommended by Dhise...

That means, size-wise it IS "slightly heavier", since I have a 9/10 rod and I'm told the line's designation of 10/11/12 means it's really an "11 weight" line, with a portion of it 10 weight, and a tip that is a 12 weight, but mostly an 11 weight.

So, I find myself pretty satisfied that this IS indeed a very well-matched line for this rod, and I can concentrate on technique, instead of worrying about low distance being a result of poor matching.

THAT SAID, can anyone help me manage my expectations about what kind of distances I should expect as a novice with this 15 ft 9/10 spey rod, and a well-matched line? Sure, I've HEARD about 120ft casts, but what do newbies get? What should we being trying for?

Thanks again in advance for your feedback as I continue to work on my spey skills...

Cheers,
-Mark

[speyrod1]

Its not the distance of the cast as a newbie its getting the casts right to start learn as many casts as you can at short distances and perfect them then start to shoot for longer casts learn to cast both right and left handed
I have only been spey casting a little over a year and im getting roughly a 100 foot cast now with some consistencey of the casts looking good at that distance

[voodoofly]

THAT SAID, can anyone help me manage my expectations about what kind of distances I should expect as a novice with this 15 ft 9/10 spey rod, and a well-matched line? What should we being trying for?

56' head + 15' rod + 5' to 10' leader = 76' to 81' or so, reel to fly. Once you can turn the line over all the time, then you can shoot line to add distance. One to two rods worth of shooting is pretty good.

Set your expectations to turning over the line.

[Dhise]

Distance does not matter, get the fly to the fish. Distance is a testosterone thing. If females spey fished, they would catch more fish because they aren't concerned with distance.

[brwntrt1219]

Distance does not matter, get the fly to the fish. Distance is a testosterone thing. If females spey fished, they would catch more fish because they aren't concerned with distance.

C'mon Dave,

Its not about distance, its all about the length of the rod.

If 2 handers were all about catching fish they would call them center pins.

[shotgunner]

"Distance does not matter, get the fly to the fish"

Can be a conundrum I'm inclined to agree for the most part but wading big water easier said than done..

Accurate jab re the Pin

[Dhise]

Okay, distance is important on some of the larger waters but that is what boats are for. Most of the streams that most of us fish are easily fished with fairly average casts.

[speyday]

I agree with John Hazel when he siad to learn to cast and getting everything to land properly with the shortest amount of line out thats possible. It kind of forces you into the proper form first, before power and personal ego beg you to throw for the hills.

Once thats mastered, stripping of a length and re-doing, re-mastering until your cranking out 80 footers.

[bad fish rising]

i have a redington rs4 7wt with a scientific angler short head multi tip
and if your redington is anything like mine just slow down, be smooth ,let it go high and it will fly

[SSG Steelhead]

If your first outing is like mine set your expectations like this.
1) hope not to remove a fly from your body at the end of the day
2) hope to turn over at least the head, tip and leader
3) avoid colison loops and wraping the line around the rod when casting.

Go from there, if you get these done and happen to get a pull at the same time, Great!

Having single handed for 12 or so years prior to picking up my 2 hander I can tell you this SLOW DOWN, ALWAYS WATCH were your fly is, LESS TOP HAND MORE BOTTOM hand!!!!!!! and a good positive stop just like in a single hand rod.

Keep us posted and good luck, welcome aboard.