New Spey Reels

[Chris C Crane]

Santa was good this year. I ended up with two new reels (Harris Solitude and a Scierra)

Now I need lines for both. I'd like to put a Skagit shooting system on one. and either a multi-tip mid spey or windcutter on the other.

What are the differences between a windcutter vs. mid-spey? Are there any advantages one over the other?

Thanks,

[Nick Pionessa]

the WC is a very similar line to the delta spey in head length, but is a much less agressive line. the midspey from rio has been discontinued. in my opinion because it was a lousy line to begin with. for a line of similar head length i would recomend the delta long if you like the shorter version you have. the rio line that replaced the midspey is the power spey which by no coincidence has a similar taper to the dleta long but is a bit shorter per weight. i have not tried one yet but i have a demo coming in to test out. i do have demo delta long lines on hand if you want to try one out.

skagits from rio and airflo are very different with the airflo NW line being strictly a head with a seperate running line. the rio comes as a head or as a full line. they rio's are short and very blunt making them a bit on the clunky side to cast, but they do move serious weight the best. the airflo is very powerfull but has a taper and therefore casts much smoother. the seperate running line is nice for trying different heads and being able to switch quickly. the down side is the loops at the back of the head that WILL go in and out of the guides a time or three when landing a fish. it is personal preference as to weather it will bother you or not. let me know if you want to test out some lines.

[Chris C Crane]

Sorry Nick I just saw your reply.

For now I have abandoned my Skagit quest. There aren't that many situation whereby I am fishing water much deeper than 3-4 feet. Skagit with heavy sink-tips seems overkill.

My current plans...change daily. I'll probably pick up another Delta mid-spey with multi tips. I do like that line with intermediate tips on my CND... it feels "right".

However for an alternative set-up I have a 7/8 Rio AFS Outbound coming my way. I really hope I can make that line work. I think it would be perfect for some of our smaller tighter pocket waters. I am hoping that line will be a good "PM" set-up for this spring. Some tough reviews so far on the AFS shooting heads. We'll see. I'll give it a chance. I am not concerned with really heavy tips or casts much longer than 60 feet for the PM or the Credit, just tight quarters.

If it doesn't work, I'll start over.

[Nick Pionessa]

i have those afs lines to demo as well, but i don't like them. the taper is long and fine at the front and does not turn over well with any amount of weight up front. it feels just like a WC to me and i'm seriously disapointed in them. the scandi head from airflo is about the same length and will turn over any polyleader. or the same from guideline. i hate to sound all down on Rio, but this is my truthful opinion and the more lines i try from other manufacturers, the less i like rio spey lines anymore. if you want to try one and give us a review of what you think i would be happy to loan you one. the original rio outbound is a better line for our area imo. same length but with a much more agressive taper up front it will turn over well with anything from a intermediate poly leader to 15' of t-14. if you look at the tapers shown the difference is obvious.