|
Post by alexcontino on Jul 10, 2012 8:42:22 GMT -5
Just a couple of two handers on summer vacation. A nice warm day in July is great for many things; a picnic, beach volley ball, golf, bike riding, a hike, maybe another picnic, maybe finding some shade (my priority in the summer months). However, yesterday I decided to spend the money I had saved up for a new spey rod on... a new spey rod. I don't live in the Buffalo area, but I was up that way to look at a car for sale and visit a friend who turned out to be in Rhode Island... maybe next time on that one. Well I deposited the final check needed for my purchase and walked into Oak Orchard. After some wiggling of rods and discussion with Emanuel, 30 minutes later I walked out with an Echo Dec Hogan 6126. I had previously used the Tim Rajeff 6126, but found it too rigid for my liking and subsequently I sold it. I just need to sort out the line situation for this new rod. Too bad it's July and the steelhead are on Summer vacation, probably busy doing some of the activities mentioned earlier. Emanuel, Thank You for the advice and help.
|
|
|
Post by Nick Pionessa on Jul 10, 2012 9:26:58 GMT -5
great rod and the 6's have really become the rod for the area. funny too that in this region the DH has far outsold the TR. i also think the 6126 is one of the easiest casting rods ever.
for lines i like the compact scandi in a 360 or 390 and the tactical in the 6wt. i have not tried the rage line on it yet but i would guess the 390 or possibly the 420 if you like it bent deep. i do have demo lines in all of those if you want to test them out too. thank you and let us know if we can help with sorting line out too.
|
|
|
Post by WylieSchroederHaggerty on Jul 10, 2012 14:59:49 GMT -5
Have been thinking about steelhead a lot lately myself.. could be because Spey Nation is this month or just because the chromers pull that hard.
Can't go wrong with the 12 1/2 foot 6wt I am impressed just how much fish a 6wt can handle. If you travel up to Altman this Saturday there will be plenty of people with steelhead on their mind.
|
|
|
Post by alexcontino on Jul 10, 2012 17:40:24 GMT -5
This will be the second year that I will have known about, and yet somehow missed Spey Nation... pesky day job. For now I'll have to keep my excitement contained. Once, I get a line for my new rod, I'll be patiently waiting for the steelhead to come back in. I am super stoked on my new rod. I agree, the 12' 6" 6wt rods seem to suite our larger waters quite well. At times 12' 6" feels too long, but that's why I have to 10'6" 6/7 switch. I think I have a well rounded selection to cover most bases with those two rods.
|
|
|
Post by chris hershey on Jul 10, 2012 18:07:10 GMT -5
Any thought on how they may handle the occasional salmon hookup? If fishing a mix of Erie and Ontario tribs, may it be best to go a little heavier?
|
|
|
Post by B.Ingersoll on Jul 11, 2012 7:40:23 GMT -5
Nice choice, I think you will find the 126/6wt fishes "close" very well via it's sweet moderate action. Summer Spey Casting/Two Handed Fishing - Here are some quick snap shots from last Sunday morn. Good morning despite very low water, all top water, a few dinks besides these nice chunky natives for inland river Smallies. Actually, top water even the "dinks" are fun......... Very enjoyable wet wade in warmth, spey casting, top water. As of late mornings have been more productive than evenings. Can not beat a gurgler............. Should not have to roam far for some spey cast,two handed,top water river smallies..........if your viewing this forum.
|
|
|
Post by B.Ingersoll on Jul 11, 2012 8:05:07 GMT -5
It's just a gurgler with some spun deer belly hair , clipped top and bottom if you like, with bat wings left. Note - it does not have to have the spun belly. I use some of both. Spun belly creates a bit more V,pop,gurgle.....I like them in riffs better than non. Fast forward to 7:15 of the video. Look closely at the wrist movement technique of working the bug via swing. Think of a rope laid on the floor and you want to send a loop down it from your hand/wrist = thats it. A scandi head with a leader 8'-10' to 12# test maxima ultra green. Shorter rods = short leader, longer = longer. Lighter rods like a 4wt switch bump up to 15# tippet, heavier can go down to 10#. Scandi head is ideal but, dialing in the leader length, tippet # needed per does take a little mess'in with for proper stick........well worth it! Most enjoyable way to fish. The river Smallies rarely miss unlike the Steelhead apparently. If the river/creek is low, less flow, approach a "frog water" area that looks really good.........easy, two hand over head and strip. Important to use light grains in the head, not to overly powerful head, for both not blowing top water , spey cast anchors and also ability to two hand over head cast big frog pools between riffs. Soooooo much fun !!!!!! Addicting way to fish and HIGHLY effective for river Smallies in summer. My best colors / gurglers - 1) camo with black back (shown) 2) closely followed by all white 3) a distant third black Simple.......all you need See 7:15 of video below for wrist action. BTW- although a skagit / worm weight master Scott H is using a AFS Scandi head for this...........seems like a nice guy but, he did not invent,come up with, etc..........any of it either.........Atlantic Salmon fisherman did and Jack Gartside = Gurgler
|
|
|
Post by alexcontino on Jul 11, 2012 8:39:46 GMT -5
Tinman, I guess thing only thing stopping me is the "where." The 4wt switch seems appropriate for some inland river smallies. The line is a 275gr royal wullf ambush. Which does feel a little more on the skagit side at that weight, but I think it will turn over these bass gurglers just fine. It's funny, I actually planned on doing some lake run smallmouth fishing this spring, I only got out once, but I think I was too far upstream to find any hungry bass. That's why I tied these flies. Any hints or tips on where to go from Hornell, NY?
|
|
|
Post by SteveKowalski on Jul 11, 2012 10:19:30 GMT -5
Alex, If I were where you are, I would try mid-Genesee river and possibly the Allegany over by Olean. I've never been to either... but I know they have river smallies. If you don't catch shit, you just there for "casting practice" (bring beer)
|
|
|
Post by B.Ingersoll on Jul 11, 2012 12:36:53 GMT -5
Alex,
what gi steve said + Chemung. There is a lot of inland river Smallie fishing in WNY-CNY along w) NWPA to CPA.
Plenty of quality fattys not just "dinks" - young ones. Summer river small fly fishing is quite different from the pre spawn-spawn only, most pursue.
I am do West of you along the border, just South of Chautauqua Lake. If you want come over some weekend morn. Currently I am fishing Pa near the A.N.F. a Pa. license is needed.
I typically do not fish the Allegheny R. East of Salamanca but, if you would like we could meet near 219 some time. I am sure, wading amongst the island riffs we would get into some quality fattys, top water, this time of year, early mornings. I know I have right amongst the bridges of Salamanca. A res. license ........same as Catt. required.
I think you have plenty of quality river smallies right near you............it's just a "different game" in summer that few in WNY/CNY whom flyfish pay much attention to nor care to learn after the easy pre spawn - spawn bite, particularly Lake or Lake Run, unlike Maine,Virginia,Central Pa. etc. WNY has many choices. Personally, I will take the native river smallies over , certain other choices.
About time for Nick & OOFS to have a river smallie, gathering,picnic,clave....etc. of some kind...... especially with these new little spey rods..........it's right under your noses (most noses anyways)...........specific. They don't just pull up a truck and dump em in. There are small/young and large/old.........nor are they 'easy".......they are at least as weary as non pressured wild Trout in summer. So many WNY'ers have a mis-conception because of lake run post spawn - spawn............way different. They expect to go out in the summer and just use the same Clouser and easily catch many...........sorry............and btw Clouser's are not so hot in summer inland.........especially if seeking older fattys.........better for young dinks.
|
|