JimH wrote:Great topic.
I recently aquired a DH Surf rod from Beulah (special birthday present). This is not a switch rod nor is it a spey casting rod, but no doubt you could do both with the rod to some degree. Its designed for overhead casting in the surf with short headed lines like Rio's OS or Beulahs own brand Serum - the rod I purchased was the #7/8 11'-0" version which I load with a 450 grain serum line.
Because of my SH experience I have to adapt my cast to be more bottom hand oriented and less top pushy - having said that and believe me I'm no expert I have over recent days developed a cast where I begin my backcast quite low and out to my right and bring the rod around overhead into a normal stop (it a bit of a bastardised belgian thing) but for me it works or at least a version of it.
I finish the line off with 12'0" tapered polyleaders and then 2'-0" of tippet (am playing with this) the flys I have casted range from 2 to 12 inches and no problem sending them where I want to (not all of the time mind)
The ability to cast far with big flies with little effort is definitely a plus - but for me the real change was where I felt much more control over lines and hence fly with the extra two feet especially when drifting in current - I had nice fish last week late in the day for Wexford. I loved the whole thing and cant wait for 2015
I have 'resisted' big rods with heavy lines and stayed entirely singlehanded but can I blind cast and double haul big flies for a number of days in a row without feeling it a little? I dont think so, however is an 11'-0" or 12'-0" rod with 450 or 500 grains a match for the fish we catch?
PS I did consider importing Beulah Surf Rods but felt that there was no possible chance of retiring with vast wealth based on the fact that there are possibly very few Saltwater DHander's in Ireland. A small number of madmen..... I did hear Mike Oliver of Stripers Online fame is in Ireland shortly perhaps we should do something...
Return to Saltwater Fly Fishing
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests